Background

Through its subsidiary Fintry Community Energy, Fintry Development Trust owns and operates a district heating scheme at Balgair Castle Park that provides heat and hot water to 26 homes and the clubhouse on the site.

This scheme has never operated as predicted and has had to be subsidised by the trust since it was commissioned in 2015. The need to subsidise the scheme combined with the obligation to continue supplying heat and hot water to residents, many of whom are elderly and have additional needs, has put great strain on the trust and the volunteer trustees.

With the support of the Scottish government, the trust is looking to appoint a project manager to define how heat and hot water should be supplied to the current customers of the scheme and to implement the necessary changes to make this happen.

Although this role is being advertised as a salaried position, the trust is open to applications from candidates who would prefer to work on a freelance basis, or consultancies who would like to tender for this project. We have a separate tender document for consultancies. Please contact us if you would like a copy.

Fintry Development Trust

Fintry Development Trust has been in existence for over 15 years. More information about the trust is available on the Trust website – fintrydt.org.uk.

A number of reports have been written about the district heating scheme. These are available on request.

Role overview

Work with existing customers, the development trust and other stakeholders to define how heat and hot water should be supplied to existing customers of the district heating scheme and work with these same groups to manage the transition from the existing system to the new solution.

Our ideal candidate will be an experienced Project Manager with specialist knowledge in this field. They will have good interpersonal skills and be highly capable of communicating and negotiating with a wide range of stakeholders and customers in a sensitive manner.

About the job

Overall responsibilities

• Form a good understanding of the current situation and the aims of the project
• Define overall project activities and schedule
• Plan, develop and support the implementation of heating solutions for all customers of the current system
• Create a process that ensures that all householders have a replacement system by the end of the project
• Where necessary manage the installation of new heating system elements
• Manage the removal of the existing system
• Form good working relationships with the key stakeholders in the project, especially the householders and the owners of the site
• Review contractors’ and delivery partners’ output for quality, commercial soundness and consistent with FDT’s expectations.
• Participate in the development of Case Study material

Specific responsibilities

• Responsible for all aspects of project development, scope, goals, tender assessment processes, execution, deliverables, meetings, budgets, reporting, closure and archiving.
• Responsible for engaging with each householder to understand their needs and ensure they understand the options available to them
• Work with Home Energy Scotland to ensure each householder is aware of the funding options
• Work with the park owners to develop a solution for the heating of the clubhouse and shower block
• Responsible for agreeing with the park owners which parts of the existing system need to be removed
• Responsible for agreeing ownership of the existing system with the park owners
• Preparation of tender documentation and procurement of contractors for removal of existing system (proceeds to sale)
• Oversee and manage the removal of the existing system
• Preparation of tender documentation and procurement of installation contractors for retro-fitting new heating systems
• Ensure existing heat is maintained to all properties during installation and commissioning of retro-fit solutions.
• Managing installations and establish specific targets and milestones
• Work co-operatively with stakeholders and consumers, and as directed by Fintry Development Trust
• Manage contracts to deliver successful project outcomes.
• Be accountable for the management of external suppliers to ensure solutions are appropriate
• Ensure installations are installed in accordance with all relevant good practice, and delivered within agreed timescales and budget
• Participate in ensuring that all legal agreements are terminated correctly, and any necessary new agreements are put in place
• Attend regular progress meetings with project partners
• Provide monthly update/progress report to the trust
• Communicate clearly and in a timely manner to all project stakeholders and consumers at each stage of the project
• Anticipate, identify, and manage project-level risks and escalates risks where required
• Ensure all work is delivered in line with agreed standards for quality and consistency
• Responsible for managing project spend to agreed parameters
• Responsible for Health, Safety and Environmental impact of installations
• Gather and manage data and evidence relating to installations

About you

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Educated to degree level or experience in a relevant discipline
• If no relevant degree/professional qualification, then must be able to demonstrate relevant specialist experience
• Demonstrable experience in leading large, complex projects and managing and delivering these to a high standard
• Skills in all the key project management areas of budget and finance, risk assessment, stakeholder engagement and management, detailed and accurate reporting, adhering to all applicable regulations
• Demonstrable experience managing the installation of domestic heating systems
• Demonstrable experience of district heating systems
• Demonstrable experience of managing third party contractors to deliver services
• Demonstrable experience of working with a wide range of stakeholders to deliver outcomes, in particular working with householders to transition to new heating systems
• A knowledge and understanding of the broad issues impacting on energy production and use at present and in the future
• An understanding of the science and engineering of a wide range of energy production systems used in the domestic sector
• Demonstrable experience of developing and implementing energy infrastructure project plans
• Experience in the use of IT systems for administration and management (e.g. MS Office, Project Management)
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work on own initiative and be flexible in order to respond to the changing project priorities

Desirable experience

• Understanding of support mechanisms available to householders through Home Energy Scotland
• Ability to compare systems to solve energy specific problems
• Demonstrable experience working with community-based organisations

Personal qualities

• Ability to work using your own initiative
• Organised and able to manage competing priorities
• Friendly, approachable and good at forming working relationships with a wide range of people from different backgrounds
• Collaborative approach to meeting the aims of the Trust
• Demonstrated and committed environmental ethos
• Adaptable
• Committed and conscientious