About The Role We are looking for a highly motivated, experienced ‘Assistant Director Heat Networks and Energy Services’ to lead Islington’s world-leading service of heat networks and energy professionals. Islington Council is leading the way in delivering low carbon heat networks. With its ground-breaking Bunhill Heat and Power Network, it is the first in the world to take waste heat from an underground train network to provide lower cost, greener heat to local homes, schools and leisure centres. We are also taking forward an ambitious buildings decarbonisation programme to address the climate emergency, the most recent example being the decarbonisation of the council’s, until recently, most polluting building with its highest gas consumption: the Waste Recycling Centre. A combination of heat pumps, air handling units, condensers and more than 1,000 rooftop solar panels (covering an area enough to cover 10 tennis courts) has removed all reliance on gas and is expected to generate more than 500,000 kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, including to power the council’s increasingly electrically powered vehicle fleet. It forms part of one of the Council’s key missions of creating a greener, healthier Islington and delivering Net Zero Carbon by 2030. Islington is a busy inner London borough and is one of the most densely populated local authorities in England, as such best place to introduce heat networks. It also contains some of the country’s most deprived neighbourhoods in close proximity to areas of very considerable wealth. Whilst this brings challenges, the Council has a clear vision to create a more equal Islington, and the delivery of heat networks form a key part of this. We are looking for a highly motivated experienced heat networks and energy professional with both extensive management experience leading teams and services and a track record in managing and delivering heat networks and decarbonisation projects, to lead our energy services teams to take forward its heat networks and decarbonisation ambition and lead the teams in delivering wider energy services. Key responsibilities: - Lead the council’s strategic direction on heat decarbonisation policy and strategy - Lead the operations and management of the Council’s existing and growing network of heat networks - Lead the programme management of the large and complex development and delivery of new heat networks, other heat decarbonisation capital projects and energy revenue projects - Pursue active participation in relevant professional networks, helping cement Islington’s position as market leader and investable borough - Build relationships with external stakeholders and identify opportunities for securing external funding, implementing them as needed - Lead the procurement and management of the Council's energy contracts for its own use - Lead the Council’s SHINE energy advice service, supporting residents in fuel poverty by advising them in saving energy and their energy bills. If this is you, then we want to hear from you. For further information or a discussion about the role, please email Martijn Cooijmans (Director Climate Change and Transport) to arrange a time for an informal conversation: [email protected] or call: 020 7527 2776. Working for our organisation Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future. We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive. To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about. Watch our video to hear more about our mission and how you can help us achieve it from the Leader of the Council, Cllr Kaya Comer-Schwartz. Recruitment information It is the policy of Islington Council that no user of service, present or future employee or job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of their sex, perceived or actual sexual orientation, marital status, race, religion or belief, age, creed, colour, nationality, national origin, ethnic origin, or disability, or on the grounds of their association with someone in one of these groups; nor is disadvantaged by any conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justified. We welcome applications from Black and Minority Ethnic candidates and acknowledge our responsibility to mitigate against racial discrimination. Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service. The post is subject to a qualifications check and 3 years referencing. Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.