Lead Officer for Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS)
- Full-time
Job Description
Service area Facilities Management – Quality, Safety, Health and Environment (QSHE)
Responsible to Net Zero Buildings Manager
Responsible for The post-holder be responsible for the performance management and continuous optimisation of BEMS in schools and corporate sites across the EA Estate. This includes ensuring that all systems operate efficiently, while delivering measurable reductions in energy consumption and carbon emissions.
The post-holder will lead the phased development and implementation of a co-ordinated, estate-wide approach to BEMS, beginning with identifying existing systems and assessing their condition, determining corrective actions, using data-driven insights to prioritise improvements, manage programmes of work and guide investment decisions. This post includes responsibility for providing advice and support to the Voluntary Grammar and Grant Maintained Integrated sector. The post holder will also have direct line management responsibility for the Quality, Energy and Sustainability (QES) Building Performance Analysts.
Job Purpose
Within the EA estate, heating accounts for 65% of energy consumption at an annual cost of approximately £17m. The post-holder will be responsible for the development of a BEMS Action Plan to deliver oversight and management of existing BEMS, ensuring effective control and performance across the EA Estate and supporting organisational objectives in sustainability, energy efficiency and asset management. The post-holder will work effectively with QES Senior Managers, other Senior EA colleagues, Principals, External Partners and multi-disciplinary Teams to deliver the EA’s Energy and Carbon Reduction Strategy and Action Plan and Legislative requirements.
With such a large estate, the post holder will be expected to take a structured and phased approach to the management of the BEMS. The first step will be to gather existing data on the extent and condition of existing systems. Next, identify poorly performing systems and determine corrective actions required to then develop a detailed prioritisation plan that will maximise investment decisions.
The post-holder will finally be expected to put mechanisms in place to monitor BEMS systems centrally to support Principals and Building Supervisors to optimise mechanical and electrical system performance and maximise the available financial savings across Schools and the EA Corporate Estate.
The post-holder will be expected to provide leadership and direction to ensure the significant ongoing improvement that will create a fit for purpose BEMS function. In acting as an integral member of the QES Team, the post-holder is required to fully contribute to all BEMS and energy issues related to the corporate plan, operational business plan, service development proposals, savings proposals and risk register to ensure that the Directorate operational plans support the overall strategic direction of the Authority and the achievement of its objectives in line with its vision, mission and values.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The post-holder has the following service-specific responsibilities:
Lead the optimisation of BEMS at all school sites to prioritise cost avoidance and ensure effective control of lighting, heating, ventilation and other connected mechanical and electrical systems.
Be responsible for the development of a BEMS Action Plan, to include a review of the current BEMS provision across the Schools and EA Corporate Estate, to maximise energy saving opportunities and plan provision for those schools without BEMS, subject to available funding.
Have direct line management responsibilities for the QES Building Performance Analysts, setting workload and direction as required.
Be the recognised EA technical authority for BEMS, and establish processes and procedures for proactive identification, investigation and resolution of BEMS performance issues, including low cost and no cost interventions.
Manage specialist BEMS contractors and establish Service Level Agreements and Key Performance Indicators for all BEMS related service providers.
Lead the project management of all BEMS related projects in line with time, cost, quality and sustainability targets.
Develop performance assurance processes to verify that installed systems continue to deliver expected operational and energy outcomes.
Support School Leaders and Building Supervisors to optimise mechanical and electrical system performance and maximise the available financial savings across Schools and the EA Corporate Estate.
Support integration of BEMS with renewable energy systems, battery energy storage systems, electric vehicle infrastructure and building analytics platforms.
Manage the introduction of automated meter readers, monitor and liaise with third party providers and obtain data from energy supplier meters where appropriate.
Ensure that feasibility studies and other technical input to capital business cases are sufficiently robust and meet Departmental requirements.
Ensure compliance with all best practice guidelines, legislation, regulatory inspection matters, Departmental directives and other statutory requirements where applicable
Evaluate emerging technologies including AI-assisted analytics, predictive maintenance platforms and advanced energy management systems.
Support the Net Zero Buildings Manager with staff training and development.
Support the Net Zero Buildings Manager with recruiting, managing, mentoring and developing placement students, graduates and interns.
Advise EA Capital Works, Minor works and Maintenance Service on improvements to specifications and design briefs at the design stage to ensure the seamless integration of new systems.
Contribute to communications to support behavioural and cultural change programmes to raise awareness of energy and sustainability requirements.
Lead on stakeholder engagement to ensure BEMS are used effectively and contribute to safe, comfortable and sustainable learning environments.
Liaise with the HR directorate regarding recruitment and selection processes and participate in selection panels as required.
Deputise for the Net Zero Buildings Manager as required.
Work closely with Service Managers across the directorate and wider EA to ensure that all services are integral to the delivery of an efficient and effective Energy Management service.
Co-ordinate and prepare DMT, CLT, EA Board and Committee papers as required.
Co-ordinate responses to Assembly Questions, Freedom of Information requests and complaints relating to the work of the Directorate as requested.
Support the Net Zero Buildings Manager to fulfil the EA’s statutory responsibilities, for example, GDPR, Climate Change and Equality legislation.
Liaise with internal and external stakeholders as required.
Contribute to emerging service developments and service reviews as required.
Manage and co-ordinate the deployment of staff resources and negotiate reallocation of resources across EA as required.
Work with EA’s Procurement Service to support the delivery of BEMS procurement processes from specification to contractual negotiation and appointment for all EA utility services.
Leadership and management responsibilities
The post-holder has the following leadership responsibilities for this portfolio of services:
Leadership
Ensure that the QES Building Performance Analysts are provided with clear structure, roles and responsibilities and are supported to work in an integrated way. Work closely with the Net Zero Buildings Manager to provide the service with leadership and direction ensuring that corporate, directorate and service performance standards are achieved.
Promote the ethos and values of the authority and ensure that the service is focused on customer needs.
Lead/manage and communicate change and improvement initiatives within the service.
Lead, manage and develop staff within the service.
Foster a culture that supports achievement of the authority’s Strategic Plan by role modelling core values and leadership behaviours to staff in the service.
Encourage staff involvement and engagement in the strategic development and operational delivery of the service.
Actively encourage teamwork and self-development and create opportunities to maximise individuals’ potential, stimulate innovation and connection at all levels with front line services.
Promote a positive culture of performance management within the service through individual and small-team accountability. Foster a culture of constructive feedback and learning, and a genuine commitment to regular and effective appraisals.
Prepare and deliver reports on behalf of the Authority as required.
Setting Vision and Strategy
Work with the Net Zero Buildings Manager to establish, maintain and communicate a clear and compelling Action Plan for the improvement of the BEMS service.
Contribute to the development of a strategic plan for the Net Zero Buildings Manager.
Translate the Corporate vision into service-specific direction.
Contribute to the development and implementation of new policies in line with strategic direction.
Contribute to the management of the QES Service, attending Executive Team and Board meetings as required by the Net Zero Buildings Manager.
Challenge conventional approaches, harness new approaches and technology and maximise efficiencies.
Managing the Organisation to Deliver
Manage service delivery effectively to ensure that the service achieves the highest possible standards of performance and focuses on the needs of internal and external customers.
Agree service performance targets with the Net Zero Buildings Manager and provide regular progress reports.
Develop, agree and implement a robust annual operational plan for the service.
Delegate responsibilities and deploy staff according to their skills and abilities to meet the needs of the service.
Regularly monitor and review plans and make adjustments as required.
Manage and continuously improve the service to ensure delivery against performance targets, and to ensure that best value for money is achieved.
Ensure that the service contributes to overall Directorate and Corporate performance as appropriate and provide update reports as required.
Apply resources effectively across the service to maximise the delivery of front-line services.
Consider the financial implications relating to effective models of service delivery and contribute to the successful achievement of the Savings Delivery Plan.
Manage the service budget in accordance with all relevant financial policy and procedures.
Monitor the financial position of the BEMS service and report regularly to the Net Zero Buildings Manager.
Follow agreed measures to deliver the BEMS service within budget and take immediate corrective action as required.
Contribute effectively to quality and performance management systems and ensure that the service is being managed as per the requirements of these systems.
Investigate all complaints and adverse incidents where outcomes are below expected standards.
Establish effective and rigorous quality assurance systems to maintain high standards.
Building Relationships and Working with Others
Build and maintain effective, professional and respectful stakeholder relationships.
Ensure efficient and effective internal communication with staff in the service.
Work closely with QES Senior Managers, other Senior EA colleagues, Principals, External Partners and multi-disciplinary Teams to benchmark services and lead/manage and monitor change.
Build and maintain effective working relationships and clear lines of communication with other Heads of Service within the Directorate and in other Directorates.
Develop and maintain clear lines of communication and effective working partnerships with relevant external stakeholders and service user groups.
Lead on/manage engagement with staff, schools and the public on major changes in the service that may affect them.
Work with external agencies; for example, education sector partner organisations, to identify opportunities for joint working that might bring greater consistency across the sector, and/or improve efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.