PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR

Transition Heriot-Watt

Applicant Information – Reference No. 332/14

Transition Heriot-Watt

Transition Heriot-Watt (THW) is a successful Transition group which works with the staff and students of Heriot-Watt University to support sustainability and carbon reduction through behaviour change. THWis based at the University’s Edinburgh Campus and has recently been awarded funding from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) to continue its Low Carbon Community project at the Edinburgh Campus until March 2016.

Job Description

The full-time Co-ordinator will manage project delivery on behalf of the THW Steering Group. This includes supporting two part/time and two full time development officers. A key aspect of the role will be to support the University community in transitioning to a low carbon future working with University managers, staff and students.

The Co-ordinator reports to the Chair of the THW Steering Group and the Steering Group and the Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) on project and budget progress and CO2e savings from the projects activities. It is important for the Steering Group that the emission reduction targets agreed with the CCF are met and that the project puts in place a strong legacy so that behaviour change and innovation continue to happen at Heriot-Watt after the end of funding.

The Co-ordinator should be highly organised and self-motivated. They may bring a variety of skills to the post, which will include an excellent knowledge of project, team and budget management, ideally experience within the FE or HE sector, and they should have some interest or experience in most of the areas the project will cover: sustainable transport initiatives (particularly surrounding commuting), material re-use / free-cycling initiatives, community food projects and broader engagement activities surrounding sustainability. They should have an ability to convey simple yet powerful messages to the target university community group. The co-ordinator should have good IT skills, and should have excellent communication skills. The candidate will need to be an energetic and enthusiastic individual who can demonstrate initiative and self-motivation, a passion for low carbon sustainable living, and the ability to communicate that message to all levels.

THW has one year left of a five year programme of funding from CCF. The Co-ordinator will be expected to support the Steering Group in investigating opportunities for new funds to continue and extend the sustainability initiatives currently being delivered on the campus.

The role will involve occasional evening and weekend working and is based at the University’s Edinburgh Campus, at Riccarton to the west of the City.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The key responsibilities and duties for the role include:

  • Management of project delivery of the Transition Heriot-Watt Low Carbon Community project, to meet outcomes agreed with the project’s funders, the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) managed by Keep Scotland Beautiful.
  • Management of the Transition Heriot-Watt project team (two part time and two full time staff).
  • Working with project staff, University staff, Heriot-Watt University Student Union staff and community volunteers in the delivery of relevant programmes, including participation in sustainability events.
  • Management of the project budget (approximately £130K for 2015-16).
  • Liaison with and reporting of progress to the Transition Heriot-Watt Steering Group and CCF / Keep Scotland Beautiful, including the submission of regular reports to CCF/KSB.
  • Representation of the group at relevant sustainability events and in associated networks and groups, including the Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges (EAUC).

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.

Contractual Information
Job Title: Project Co-ordinator
Service: Transition Heriot-Watt
Reporting to: Chair of Transition Heriot-Watt Steering Group
Duration of Post: to 31st March 2016
Working Hours: As required to fulfil the role
Disclosure Scotland Requirement: Yes / Grade/Salary Range: Grade 6 £24,775 – £28,695
Pension Scheme: USS
Annual leave: 33 days plus Buildings Closed Days
Sickness benefits: 6 months full pay, six months half pay
Start Date: As soon as possible
Person Specification

This section details the attributes e.g. skills, knowledge/qualifications and competencies which are required in order to undertake the full remit of the role.

Attributes / Essential / Desirable / Means of Assessment
Education & Qualifications
(technical, professional, academic qualifications and training required) / A degree in a relevant subject, or at least five years’ experience in a relevant field / Application form / certificates
Experience
(Examples of specific experience sought. For Academic posts state type of publications expected as well as teaching, research, professional / industrial / commercial, consultancy, managerial and administrative experience) /
  • Experience of managing staff and complex projects
  • Experience of working with senior managers and developing strategic partnerships
  • Experience of financial management of a similar sized project
  • Experience or understanding of behaviour change
/
  • Experience of organising successful environmental initiatives or projects;
  • Experience of working in or with students’ associations;
  • Experience of working in the higher or further education sector
  • Proven use of social media and ICT to communicate a message;
  • Experience of monitoring and evaluating projects;
  • Experience of community food projects, sustainable travel initiatives or waste reduction / re-use projects.
/ Application form and interview
Competencies, Skills& Knowledge
(e.g. effective communication skills, initiative, flexibility, leadership etc) /
  • Managing budgets of over £100k;
  • Effective team management;
  • Strong project management including the ability to deliver to deadlines with minimum supervision;
  • A good understanding of key sustainability issues including climate change and how it impacts our economy and society;
  • Excellent organisational skills;
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
  • Confidence and experience in presenting to various audiences;
  • Excellent influencing and networking skills;
  • IT literate including Microsoft Office, Excel;
/
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Project;
  • Creative problem solving;
  • Ability to co-ordinate groups;
  • Ability to produce high quality communications materials;
  • Ability to keep accurate records and project administration.
  • An understanding of student groups and societies or experience in working with such;
/ Application form and interview
Other Attributes/Abilities
(if applicable) /
  • Ability to work well on own initiative;
/
  • A positive approach to work, proactive target driven;
  • Great team player;
  • Demonstrates a personal commitment to being an active part of an environment that promotes equality of opportunity whilst recognising and valuing diversity;
  • An understanding of and commitment to working effectively within a democratic environment;
  • Commitment to providing an excellent service to the community.
/ Application form and interview

Essential Criteria – these are attributes without which a candidate would not be able to undertake the full remit of the role. Applicants who do not clearly demonstrate in their application that they possess the essential requirements will normally be eliminated at the short listing stage.

Desirable Criteria – these are attributes which would be useful for the candidate to hold. When short listing, these criteria will be considered when more than one applicant meets the essential criteria.

Other Relevant Information

Further information regarding the Transition Heriot-Watt project is available from the group’s website, at:

Candidates who would like to informally discuss the role should contact the University’s Environment & Energy Manager on 0131 451 4086.

The interview will take 45minutes, to include a 5 minute presentation from the applicant on “Making Behaviour Change Happen in University Communities”.

Application Process

Applications should be completed on our application form, available here if you are unable to access this please call 0131-451-3022 for a paper application form.

Forms should be returned to Human Resources no later than 31 March 2015. Applications can be submitted by email to or by post to Human Resources, Lord Balerno Building, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS.

For all applications and correspondence about your application, please quote ref: 332/14

The University is committed to equality of opportunity.

Heriot-WattUniversity and Values

With a history dating back to 1821, Heriot-WattUniversity has established a reputation for world-class teaching and practical, leading-edge research, which has made us one of the top UK universities for business and industry.

We’re a vibrant, forward-looking university, well known for the quality of our degrees with employers actively seeking out our graduates.

Heriot-Watt is also Scotland’s most international university with an unsurpassed international in-country presence. We deliver degree programmes to 11,800 students in 150 countries around the world, have a campus in Dubai and Malaysia and boast the largest international student cohort in Scotland.

At Heriot-Watt we’ve created an environment that nurtures innovation and leadership - where our researchers, staff and students can realise their potential and develop their ambitions.

We’re proud of our collegiate atmosphere and integrated teaching and research approach which has helped to build a community of committed academics and highly motivated students. Our focus on careers delivers results and we’ve an excellent reputation for graduate employability.

We have campuses in Edinburgh, the Borders, Orkney and Dubai and Malaysia where we aim to provide stimulating, supportive environments conducive to effective learning and research, and where staff and students can excel.

At Heriot-Watt, we have an established set of values that help us to nurture innovation and leadership, and show our commitment to continuous improvement and development in all our activities.

Our values describe our deeply held beliefs and our community spirit. They characterise not only how we are as a higher education institution but also frame how we want to be.

Our values are:

  • Valuing and respecting everyone
  • Pursuing excellence
  • Pride and belonging
  • Shaping the future
  • Outward looking

As a learning, living and working institution, we use our values as the building blocks of how we go about doing our work and how we conduct ourselves as part of Heriot-WattUniversity. They represent what binds us together as a University community and help us to become the best at what we do.

It's key that all our staff feel part of our achievements, and our values provide your link to our success.

For full details on our University please view our website,

Heriot-WattUniversity is a charity registered in Scotland (SC000278).