About Kent Community Energy
Kent Community Energy is an exciting organisation to work for. We develop community-owned renewable energy that fights climate change, tackles fuel poverty, and reinvest profits back into local communities. We recently raised over £575,000 in our 2025 community share offer, to fund a pipeline of community-owned solar and battery projects on local care, charity and heritage buildings across Kent. As a very small, hands-on team, you’ll play a meaningful role, with the opportunity to shape projects from idea through to delivery and see the direct benefits for communities across Kent. The organisation is growing rapidly, with strong momentum, growing support, and ambitious growth plans and prospects for the years ahead.
Role Purpose
To lead the external public relations strategy for Kent Community Energy, driving community investment and stakeholder engagement across Kent, while providing essential governance and administrative support to the Board of Directors.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Communications & PR
* Communications & Engagement Impact: Develop and own the Communications & Engagement Strategy, ensuring all activity directly supports the business objective of increasing community investment and membership. Develop and present regular communications metrics to the Board, providing the Board with evidence-based insights into what is driving stakeholder engagement and investment.
* Media Relations: Act as the primary point of contact for media; draft media strategy, materials, and pitch stories to position the organisation as a leader in Kent’s community energy.
* Digital Presence: Oversee the content strategy and calendar for social media, blogs, and newsletters. Supervise website updates and manage relationships with external web/design agencies.
* Brand Advocacy: Develop a consistent "voice" for community energy in Kent, ensuring all outreach and messaging aligns with organisational goals.
* External Events: Identify, coordinate, and staff presence at relevant Kent-based climate, business and community events.
* Reputation Management: Maintain a basic Reputation Management protocol; for 'crisis' communications to ensure KCE’s messaging remains professional and transparent.
2. Community & Shareholder Engagement
* Outreach: Proactively build links with Kentish environmental groups and community organizations to grow the "investing member" base.
* Lead communications with the existing shareholder base including email communications and periodic newsletters.
* Stakeholder Management: Maintain and expand the database of contacts (CRM); manage the membership registry and email distribution lists. Act as the lead for Data Compliance (GDPR), ensuring all shareholder and contact data is stored, processed, and updated in accordance with UK data protection laws.
* Fundraising Support: Assist in the production of professional "Share Offer" documentation and lead the PR campaigns surrounding fundraising events.
* Partnership Building: Support the Managing Director in identifying and approaching potential clients in the public and private sectors (Schools, NHS, Local Councils).
* Market Research: Conduct ongoing research into the community energy landscape in Kent to identify new opportunities.
* Relationship Liaison: Provide cover for the MD in relations with key partners (eg. Asset Managers, Ethex, Community Energy England).
3. Governance & Office Management
* Board Support: Coordinate quarterly Board meetings; ensure reports from all Directors are distributed on time; take and file accurate minutes.
* Corporate Administration: Manage company documentation, including business insurance renewals and statutory filings.
* Financial Admin: Assist the Finance Director with basic administrative tasks as required.
Qualifications
Essential Experience
5+ years in a PR, Communications, or Marketing role.
Desirable Experience
Experience working within a micro-enterprise or a "start-up" environment.
Communications Strategy Development: Ability to create an annual communications plan that aligns with KCE's business goals.
Stakeholder Mapping:
Ability to identify and segment different audiences (investors, local councils, community groups) and tailor strategic messaging to influence each group effectively.
Data-Driven Evaluation: Experience in using analytics (from social media, web, and email) to demonstrate the "Return on Investment" (ROI) of communications activities to the Board.
Expert Copywriting:
Essential
The ability to pivot your writing style from a technical Board report to an engaging social media post or a local news press release.
Desirable
Media Pitching: Regional media contacts or experience in successfully pitching stories to local press.
Digital Tool Proficiency:
Essential
Hands-on experience with tools like Mailchimp (newsletters), Canva (basic design), social media scheduling platforms.
Desirable
Experience updating WordPress or similar website platforms. Knowledge of managing membership software or contact databases.
Data Competency: A solid understanding of GDPR as it relates to managing membership databases and email lists.
Self-Starter Autonomy: You will often be working independently. Ability to manage your own workload effectively across just 15 hours per week, prioritizing high-impact tasks. You must be comfortable identifying what needs to be done and doing it without waiting for a daily task list. In a small team, no task is "beneath" anyone. You are as happy talking to a local councillor as you are filing business insurance paperwork.
Attention to Detail: Whether it’s a legal document for a share offer or a link in a newsletter, you are the final line of defence against errors.