Could you support a team of expert advisors helping schools, colleges and nurseries across England become zero carbon? 

Ashden’s Let’s Go Zero campaign for all schools to become zero carbon by 2030, is launching a new network of climate advisors. This network will inspire and empower educators, sharing connections, resources and bright ideas.  

We know schools and students are eager to take action – by investing in green buildings, cutting the carbon impact of meals and transport, tackling waste, and boosting biodiversity on school grounds. Our network of advisors will give them the confidence and information to be more ambitious and create even more impact – but they need someone to equip them to do that effectively which is where the Climate Action Specialist comes in.  

Working with our wide network of partners, as Climate Action Specialist you will draw on your experience in climate change, sustainability or education to identify the essential knowledge and skills needed by advisors, draw on other sources of information and create great materials for them to use with schools in their area. You will use your experience in training and capacity-building to develop and deliver training programmes for our climate advisors around the country, including workshops and webinars, and offer them ongoing support and mentoring.  

You will establish mechanisms to gather and act on feedback from schools and advisors themselves, use your budgeting and management skills to manage the Let’s Go Zero training and resource budget, appoint and manage training contractors. You will also share insights internally via reports and monitoring, and externally, working with our communications team. 

If you have the skills to help thousands of schools become zero carbon, please get in touch. 

Interviews will take place online Tuesday 5 September and in person Friday 8 September.

Job purpose:
To play a pivotal role in supporting Let’s Go Zero climate advisors to help those working in the education sector address climate change through decarbonisation. Identify the essential knowledge and skills needed by advisors, gathering and distilling relevant information from partners and other sources into user-friendly formats, preparing and training advisors to effectively share this information with schools, further education colleges and nurseries, and continuously gathering feedback and insights to improve our resources.

Terms and conditions:

Permanent employee

3-5 days per week (flexible)

Based in Ashden office in London Victoria and working from home as appropriate/agreed.  

Reports to: Head of Let’s Go Zero

Responsible for 2 direct reports:
Climate Action Fund Co-ordinator
Let’s Go Zero Administrator

Duties and key responsibilities 

·         Identify climate advisor support needs:

o   Conduct thorough assessments to identify the knowledge, skills and resources required by climate advisors to effectively support the education sector they are working with.

o   Collaborate with LGZ partners, networks and sector experts to understand the specific needs and challenges of those working in education settings to achieve zero carbon.

·         Gather and share information:

o   Research, gather and curate information, best practice case studies and resources on climate action in education settings.

o   Distil complex information into accessible and easy to use formats to enable climate advisors to share information effectively.

·         Prepare and train advisors:

o   Develop comprehensive training programmes and materials to equip climate advisors with the necessary knowledge and skills to engage and support schools.

o   Deliver training sessions, workshops and webinars to equip advisors to deliver information and provide guidance to schools effectively.

o   Provide ongoing support and mentorship to advisors, ensuring that they have the resources and guidance necessary to fulfil their role.

·         Gather feedback and improve resources:

o   Establish mechanisms to collect insights and feedback from climate advisors and schools regarding the effectiveness and relevance of the information provided.

o   Analyse feedback and data to identify areas for improvement and update resources accordingly.

o   Collaborate with the wider LGZ team and partners to continuously update and improve the quality and effectiveness of materials and training programmes. 

·         Manage the Let’s Go Zero Climate Action training and resource budget (approx. £30k per year) - ensuring that it achieves maximum impact, influence and legacy to deliver on the ambition of decarbonising UK schools by 2030.

·         Produce reports for internal and external impact assessments.

·         Through budget management support the Development Team and Sainsbury Family Charitable Trust Finance Team. Where appropriate, engage with new funding opportunities for Let’s Go Zero.

·         Work with the communications team to generate insights into Let’s Go Zero work, contribute to articles and blogs for Ashden and media.

·         Appointment and oversight of contract providers for training delivery. 

General responsibilities

·         Keep up to date with developments affecting your work and maintain and improve personal competence through continuous professional development.

·         Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position.

·         Support and promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.

·         Support and promote sustainability and carbon reduction actions within Ashden, SFCT and our wider work. 

Scope and accountability 

Decision making and limits of authority

·         Responsible for the technical guidance given to schools through the Let’s Go Zero Climate Action Advisor project. Will seek authority from the Head of Let’s Go Zero when decisions have strategic or reputational implications.

Financial resources:·         Day-to-day management of Climate Action Advisor training and guidance budget up to £30k PA

·         Seek authority from the Head of Let’s Go Zero for spending greater than £5k.

Information resources

·         Correct storage and processing of information on Let’s Go Zero schools and networks.

·         Correct storage and processing of monitoring and evaluation information on Let’s Go Zero schools and networks.

People management

·         Line management of the Climate Action Fund Co-ordinator and the Let’s Go Zero Administrator

·         Partnership working with the Head of Let’s Go Zero.

·         Senior level stakeholder management, supported by the Head of Let’s Go Zero

Legal, regulatory and compliance

·         Ensure compliance with SFCT financial policies and procedures

·         Ensure compliance with data protection regulations.

·         Ensure compliance with Ashden Safeguarding policies and procedures and data protection in relation to grant management.

·         Personal compliance with SFCT health and safety procedures, Equal Opportunities & Diversity procedures

PERSON SPECIFICATION

EXPERIENCE:

·         Strong track-record in climate change, decarbonisation and sustainability and/or education.

·         Experience in training and capacity-building ideally in an educational or climate context.

KNOWLEDGE & EDUCATION/TRAINING:

·         Good understanding of decarbonisation in the education sector, government education and/or net zero policy.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

·         Excellent research and analytical skills with ability to gather and distil complex information into easy-to-use formats.

·         Strong organisational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritise accordingly.

·         Collaborative mindset with ability to work effectively with a range of partners and team members and colleagues to help them improve their skills and knowledge.

·         Excellent IT skills for use in monitoring and evaluation of Let’s Go Zero schools. 

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

·         Passion and commitment to a rapid and just transition.

·         Able to work outside office hours from time to time.

·         Active and self-led learner who keeps abreast of developments.

·         Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities. An ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work.