JOB PURPOSE
The overall purpose of the role is to lead and be responsible for the development, co-ordination, implementation and evaluation of EA’s Climate and Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan, providing a road map for reduction of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and improved climate resilience across Schools and the EA Estate.
The post holder will have overall responsibility for the provision of an effective and efficient climate and sustainability management service which complies with statutory requirements and relevant legislation, across the EA’s diverse estate.
The post holder will have a critical role within the EA as a recognised authority in climate mitigation and adaptation planning, climate literacy, carbon emissions reporting, environmental management and implementation of sustainable initiatives, to drive climate performance improvement across Schools and EA services.
The post holder will manage the transformational change in climate education and data management and will implement new structures, strategy, policy, procedures and processes as required to meet legislative requirements and ensure that climate change is embedded in decision making in the programme of work across the Schools and EA Services.
The post holder will work in collaboration with other services, external partners and senior management to ensure the EA’s climate ambitions are joined up and appropriately aligned to the achievement of the EA’s overarching goals.
The post holder will oversee data collation, analysis and reporting to support the work of the Energy Bids Manager, Net Zero Buildings Manager and external stakeholders to inform decision making, optimise investment, reduce carbon emissions and promote behavioural change in climate and sustainability within schools, across the EA Estate and fleet.
The post holder will serve as a recognised authority in designing, developing, implementing and maintaining complex business processes in relation to climate and sustainability on behalf of the QES Service. They will also work on complex assignments, prepare performance evaluations and write reports in relation to EA’s climate objectives.
The post holder will work with EA colleagues, Schools across all sectors, Department of Education (DE), Suppliers, External Stakeholders including APSE to ensure continuous service improvement and delivery on key performance priorities.
The post holder will advise and support the QES Senior Manager in the development of the strategic direction for their service and will work closely with the Head of QSHE, QSHE Senior Managers, other senior EA colleagues and the EA Corporate Leadership Team to ensure that all climate and sustainability priorities are clearly identified and communicated in line with Service requirements.
The post holder will be expected to provide strong leadership and direction to ensure the significant ongoing change and harmonisation process to create and implement a fit for purpose climate and sustainability function. In acting as an integral member of the QES Team, the post holder is required to fully contribute to all climate and sustainability issues related to the Corporate Plan, operational Business Plan, service Development Proposals, savings proposals and Risk Register to ensure that the Directorate operational plans support the overall strategic direction of the EA and the achievement of its objectives in line with its vision, mission and values.
As part of DE’s Transformation of Education and the EA’s Transformation Programme, it is recognised that the QES service and the services which it provides will play a key role both within the Facilities Management Division, across the Operations and Estates Directorate and the wider EA in securing external funding to deliver transformational change in energy decarbonisation.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The post holder has the following service-specific responsibilities:
Support the QES Senior Manager in leading responsibilities listed below:
1. To develop, co-ordinate, implement and evaluate EA’s Climate and Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan, including supporting programmes and procedures, to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, improve climate resilience across Schools and the EA Estate, align with EA’s climate ambitions and support the attainment of carbon emission reduction targets in the NI Climate Change Act 2022.
2. To manage and actively promote understanding of EA’s Climate and Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan across all services.
3. To manage EA’s compliance with the Climate Change (NI) Act 2022 and provide statutory returns on climate performance, including climate change mitigation and adaptation reports as required by the Climate Change (Reporting Bodies) Regulations (NI) 2024.
4. To lead on the innovative use of new technologies, data platforms and carbon emission reporting models, to ensure that climate data streams are accurate, captured efficiently across all EA services and monitored against internal and external targets.
5. To manage the transformational change in climate literacy across the EA and implement new structures, strategy, policy, procedures and processes as required to ensure that climate change is embedded in decision making across all EA Services.
6. To co-ordinate and provide insight into the development and delivery of necessary climate and sustainability actions across EA departments, in line with strategic corporate objectives, identifying and progressing any capacity building to support delivery.
7. To provide expert technical and professional advice to all EA services to ensure programmes and strategic projects support climate and sustainability objectives.
8. To be responsible for the design and implementation of transformational change in climate and sustainability initiatives to drive forward climate performance improvement across Schools and EA services.
9. To establish systems, structures and processes both manual and IT based, for monitoring, recording and evaluating scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions across all EA Services.
10. To lead, monitor and report progress against national, regional and EA climate targets and coordinate responses to relevant regional and national consultations.
11. To develop strong partnerships at regional, sub-regional and local levels with a range of external partners and stakeholders including government departments or agencies, businesses and other bodies in the delivery of major climate and sustainability programmes with positive outcomes.
12. To co-ordinate climate and sustainability audits across the EA, consult with relevant service managers and implement recommendations to minimise climate impacts.
13. To implement an Environmental Management System aimed at improving environmental compliance and performance across EA services.
14. To monitor the EA’s environmental performance via external environmental benchmarks.
15. To be responsible for identification of new and innovative cost saving opportunities to support Business Cases across a range of climate and sustainability projects.
16. To manage multi-disciplinary teams, internally and externally as required, to deliver on all aspects of climate and sustainability programmes.
17. To collaborate with other services, external partners and senior management to ensure EA’s climate and sustainability agenda is joined up and appropriately aligned to the achievement of key performance indicators (KPI)s and the EA’s overarching goals..
18. To engage staff at all levels to change and improve working practices and promote behavioural change to embed climate and sustainability into decision making across all service areas.
19. To ensure that climate and sustainability actions are embedded in relevant EA policies and service plans.
20. To develop guidelines and provide advice on how to implement programs to support climate and sustainability across the schools and EA Estate through staff training programmes.
21. To lead on climate and sustainability actions and performance in the QES Business Plan and Risk Register, in line with the QSHE and Directorate Plans and EA strategic priorities.
22. To be responsible for researching current and proposed legislative requirements relating to climate and sustainability and ensuring compliance.
23. To serve as a recognised authority in designing, developing, implementing and maintaining complex business processes in relation to climate and sustainability on behalf of QES Service.
24. To work on complex assignments, prepare performance evaluations and write reports.
25. To improve governance, accountability, strategic management and reporting arrangements for sustained longer-term success in climate and sustainability.
26. To provide clear, strategic leadership to staff to ensure the climate and sustainability team has a highly skilled, flexible and motivated workforce.
27. To ensure that corporate climate and sustainability priorities are delivered to a high quality, provide value for money, support the delivery of Departmental policy and are consistent and integrated in approach across all areas of the EA.
28. To keep abreast of climate and sustainability related policy developments at local, national, and international levels.
29. To develop skills in Climate related areas such as Carbon Accounting, Sustainability Reporting, Carbon Credits and Carbon Trading opportunities.
30. To work closely with the EA’s Procurement Service to support the delivery of procurement processes from specification to contractual negotiation and appointment.
31. To ensure compliance with all best practice guidelines, legislation, regulatory inspection matters, Departmental directives and other statutory requirements.
32. To respond to enquiries and complaints from School Principals, Contractors, Board members, MLAs, MPs and other public representatives on all issues relating to service delivery, including correspondence such as AQs and FOIs.
33. To publicly represent and act on behalf of the EA in engagement and negotiation with Contractors, School Principals, Boards of Governors, senior Civil Servants, MPs, MLAs, Utility providers, industry groups and leaders in private sector organisations on high-level, complex matters including those relating to policy.
34. To support the QES Senior Manager with staff training and development.
35. To support the QES Senior Manager with recruiting, managing, mentoring and developing placement students, graduates and interns.
36. To deputise for the QES Senior Manager as required.
37. To co-ordinate and prepare EA Board and Committee papers as required.
38. To co-ordinate responses to Assembly Questions, Freedom of Information requests and complaints relating to the work of the Directorate as requested.
39. To support the QES Senior Manager to fulfil the EA’s statutory responsibilities under for example GDPR, Equality and Climate Change legislation.
40. To contribute to emerging service developments and service reviews as required.
41. To liaise with the HR directorate regarding recruitment and selection processes, and participate in selection panels as required.
Leadership/Management
The post holder will be expected to:
42. Line manage employees in the QES service based within the climate and sustainability Team.
43. Provide specialist support in developing operational capabilities, identify skill requirements, assist in the development of training programmes and undertake training and assessment of staff.
44. Lead and support employees in the team in the effective and efficient operation of services.
45. Undertake such training as may be required for his/her own personal and professional development.