Some key information
* Location: Bridgwater
Please note that this is a hybrid role and an element of office-based working will be required.
* Fixed term contract for 2 years
* Full time, 37 hours per week
Join us at Somerset Council as a Graduate Retrofit Coordination - Housing. A unique opportunity for aspiring professionals to make a difference in the improving energy efficiency for residents' homes across Somerset.
The Graduate role is designed to assist in the delivery of projects to provide low carbon and energy efficient measures through our grant funding schemes. The role is aimed at monitoring and maintaining our retrofit projects, reviewing properties that could benefit from improvement with retrofit measures and assisting residents with energy savings advice.
What will I be doing?
You will be assisting with the delivery of the Council's government funded retrofit projects by assessing each property on a case-by-case basis. Working with the Councils Retrofit Coordinators to evaluate what are the best options we can do to help our residents. Assisting with monitoring the project to evaluate how the measures are improving the community. Report our findings to both internal and external stakeholders. You will be working closely with the Project Manager by reviewing and analysing data to track our progress and reporting this to heads of service and Service Directors to demonstrate our performance.
As a participant in our Graduate scheme, you will be exposed to a wide range of software, policies, data and organisations that will help and provide comprehensive support throughout your journey. Engaging in challenging real-world customers, you will play a vital role in enhancing the lives of our valued residents, fostering thriving communities by promoting our services, and supporting local areas with retrofit information that would benefit vulnerable residents..
This key role in the Housing's Retrofit Team offers hands-on experience in delivering vital information about energy efficiency. You will play a crucial part in planning and coordinating our retrofit works, helping to improve the lives of vulnerable residents across Somerset. Along the way, you will develop skills in communication, stakeholder engagement, organisational structures and policies, problem-solving, while gaining practical knowledge of risk management, home heating retention and carbon emissions whilst contributing in a project coordination capacity. It's an excellent opportunity to build a strong foundation for a rewarding career in the housing sectors. Our Graduate scheme offers a platform for you to utilise your talents and skills to their fullest potential while contributing to improving healthy homes across the County.
There is over 252,000 homes in Somerset where households could be living in fuel poverty, many who are in desperate need of advice and support services due to crisis and or condition of their housing. If you are seeking a rewarding and meaningful career, we invite you to join our team, where you will have the opportunity to make a tangible difference.
As a Graduate, your role will be central to advancing the retrofit business plan, retrofit projects and improve energy efficiency in somerset. Engaging with the projects and initiatives, our residents, colleagues and stakeholders to ensure that services are person-centred, cost-effective, and aligned with strategic priorities and statutory obligations. Our retrofit services aims to be more self-funding as your role develops to supporting the service to the community. You'll be responsible for assisting with reporting data to stakeholders and managers who will be able to review and understand the projects outcomes in line with PAS 2035:2023, target identified properties, and spending controls.
The post holder will also liaise with internal teams and external partners to support the delivery of high-quality services that promote independence, wellbeing, and inclusion.
The role is 37 hour per week fixed for 2 years. This is a hybrid role with 3 days a week working in the office (primarily Bridgwater) with some expectation to travel county-wide for contract reviews/appointments/training.
Although for the first two months a greater proportion of time will be required in a council location to allow coaching and software support. During your contract you will receive peer support as part of Somerset Councils Graduate Programme which include courses relevant to PAS 2035:2023 and Retrofit Coordination plus opportunities, subject to agreement, to experience other service areas within the Council.
What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?
We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But it will really help if you:
* Have knowledge of energy systems, building materials and construction techniques.
* Have knowledge of how to assess the current state of a building and identifying potential upgrades.
* Have experience of problem solving; to resolve unforeseen issues that arise during projects.
* Have experience of project administration; including the use of Microsoft software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
* Are able to work collaboratively and have experience of working with multiple stakeholders.
* Have strong written and verbal communication skills.
* Have a Domestic Energy Assessor, NEA Level 3 Award in Energy Awareness, Retrofit Advisors or Coordinators qualification
* Are qualified or working towards becoming a Level 5 Retrofit Coordinator
* Have a relevant and recognised degree at a minimum of 2:2 attained within the last 3 years. We will accept applicants with a degree in any field.
We're proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.
We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there's anything you want to talk about before you apply.
What's in it for me?
We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.
We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:
* We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
* Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave
* Staff discounts in gyms.
* Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
* Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
* A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
* My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more
Anything else I should know?
For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Christian Trevelyan - Head of Commissioning - Existing Provision - or Ben Ambrose – Retrofit Coordinator –
The salary for the role is Grade 12, £28,598 per annum, increasing in set increments as per the Graduate scheme to a final salary of Grade 11, £32,597 per annum.
The Graduate scheme is fixed term for a period of 2 years.
The recruitment process for the Somerset Council Graduate Scheme will be structured into 3 stages, explained below, please note any application without a personal statement will automatically be rejected:
* Application Submission – Including a personal statement setting out how you meet the attached person specification – sifted based on entry criteria.
* Formal interview – If successful at the presentation stage, you will then be invited to attend a formal interview. You will be asked to complete communications related task before the interview which will be discussed as part of the interview.
*Please only apply using the link at the bottom of the advert - please do not email your CV to the recruiting manager*
When completing your application/CV please provide your full employment history and ensure that any gaps in employment are explained. Please start with your current or most recent employment.
If you have all the information you need, just hit the apply button - we can't wait to hear from you.
Job Reference: SCC05864