Sustainability First

Part-time Admin and communications assistant

One year fixed term contract with possibility to renew

2 days per week at £28-30,000 per annum pro rata

Job Description and application process

About Sustainability First

We are avery small but highly regarded think-tank and charitythat promotes practical, sustainable solutions to improve environmental, economic and social wellbeing through thought-leadership - primarily in the areas of energy and water.

Within these subject areas, we focus on promoting a ‘public interest’ agendawhere consumer and environmental issues come together and yet there areoften trade-offs between managing near-term pressures against the need for longer-term thinking and actions for sustainability.

Our 2018-2020 strategy applies this public interest thinking to the energy and water sectors in three cross-cutting areas:

  • clean growth;
  • data and digitisation; and
  • inclusive and fair public interest outcomes.

During the next three years, we may expand into other sectors, potentially including waste.

Our work covers issues such as policy and regulation, corporate governance, innovation, stakeholder engagement, prices and tariffs, fair treatment for vulnerable and low-income consumers and citizens, and the broad agendas for affordability and efficiency.

We concentrate on GB practice and policy, but we look more widely in drawing comparisons and best-practice examples.

We are an independent and trusted convenor on complex policy issues, and have a strong track record of bringing together senior decision makers with wider stakeholders in multi-party projects.

We work constructively and in partnership with public interest groups (consumer, citizen and environmental), companies, government, regulators and academics.

We publish discussion papers and reports, hold round tables and conferences and blog and tweet. However, we are not a direct campaigning organisation.

Our values

Sustainability First is underpinned by the following values:

  • We are strongly motivated by our charitable objectives to educate and inform a wider public on sustainable energy and water policy and practice.
  • We seek to make a difference and exert influence via evidence-based work - from which to promote discussion and debate and influence senior decision makers.
  • We are a non-political and non-campaigning charity, independent of any particular lobby. We are non–partisan and non-dogmatic in reaching conclusions, and not seeking pre-determined outcomes.
  • Once we reach considered conclusions from our analysis and research, we aim to make our voice heard with policy-makers, regulators, companies and other stakeholders.

Sustainability Firstis a not for profit charity. We run on an Associate model where Associates work on specific projects. We have use of office space in central London but mostly work from home. For more information, please see our website:

The Role

Key responsibilities

The post carriesthe following responsibilities:

  • Administrative support for Trustee and othermeetings (around 12 main meetings a year): liaising with internal and external stakeholders; planning and organising meeting logistics; collating materials for papers and printing these;taking concise, accurate and prompt minutes;sharing minutes, papers; gathering meeting feedback etc (70%)
  • Communications: liaising with colleagues to keep mailing lists, website and newsletter up to date; helping to produce draft slide packs for presentations etc (20%)
  • Research: to undertake basic background desk research on specific issues, as requested by the Director (10%)

Qualifications and Experience

Essential:

  • Proven admin experience (organizing meetings [planning agendas and meetings, papers, logistics, invitations], taking minutes, writing E Mails, setting up and using mailing lists etc) and ideally qualified to degree level.
  • Fluent in English (written and spoken).
  • Advance knowledge and good experience of using Word, Power Point and Excel.
  • Experience of: working in a charity or think tank; the field of sustainability / the environment; consumer, regulatory or policy issues; or in organisations working on energy, water or waste.

Desirable:

  • Communications experience: writing blogs or newsletters etc.
  • Research experience: desk research, drafting reports, interviewing people etc.
  • Substantive interest in the area of sustainability, the environment, energy, water or waste.

Essential Personal Attributes & Skills

The ideal candidate will have the following attributes:

  • Excellent communication skills, with a clear, concise and accurate communication style.
  • A reliableand organized self-starter with a can-do attitude with excellent planning and time management skills.
  • Comfortable working both independently and as part of a small team.
  • Willing to roll up sleeves but also get to grips with the substance of what we do.
  • A professional and polite person who can form good working relationships with a wide range of people.
  • An empathy with the objectives of Sustainability First.

Location

  • The post holder must be able to work from home but may potentially also be able to work at Sustainability First’s shared offices in London SW1. However, the candidate must also be able to attend meetings in central London. The candidate must be able to work in the UK.

Salary and Conditions

Salary based on £28-30,000 per annum pro rata (depending on skills and experience) for part time working hours which will be equivalent to 2 days per week (14 hours) based on a full time equivalent of 35 hours per week. Equivalent Full time salary would be £ 28-30,000 (depending on skills and experience).

The initial contract is for one year but may be extended, at which point the number of days worked may also be reviewed.

How to apply

If you believe you fit this candidate specification and you would like to apply for this post, please:

  1. Provide a covering E Mail summarising your relevant experience and explaining why you wish to apply for this position and fill in the application form that can be found on our website
  2. Follow the instructions contained within it, explaining your interest in the job and showing clearly how you meet the job and candidaterequirements.
  3. Send your completed application form early marking the title of the email: ‘Sustainability First:Admin and communications assistant - application’.

All applications must reach usby 9am on 14thMay. We expect to hold interviews on the 23rd and 24th Mayincluding skills testing which should take around 1.5 hours in total.The anticipated start date would belate June / early July.

Sustainability First strives to be an equal opportunities employer and undertakes that there shall be no discrimination in employment policies or salaries on grounds of race, ethnic origin, gender, disability, religious or similar belief, sexual orientation, age, gender reassignment or marital and civil partnership status.

1