Sustainable Energy & Water Officer

We are living through a time where what we do right now in the fight against climate change will impact generations to come long into the future. And what happens in local government will be critical to the success of winning this fight.

Will you choose to be someone that can make a real difference?

Tower Hamlets has declared a climate emergency and has set an ambitious target to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2045. In addition, the borough will see itself grow by 50,000 new homes over the next 15 years therefore the challenge to decarbonise our borough, enable a green transition and provide the energy infrastructure to support this growth will be immense!

The brand-new Future Energy and Water Systems Team is stepping up to this incredible challenge and is determined to play a role in bringing people together on a pathway to achieving net-zero whilst delivering secure, reliable and affordable energy to our residents. Adopting a ‘whole energy systems’ approach will be key to delivering the innovative solutions the borough needs, and we want you to join us on our exciting journey to deliver them.

You will be employed to support the planning, co-ordination and delivery of utilities infrastructure that will enable the transition to a low carbon economy, provide resilience to the effects of climate change and maximise the benefits of this transition to local people. Some experience in the planning and delivery of energy and water utilities would be helpful however we’re also keen to hear from people with transferable skills such as successfully managing stakeholders and building relationships.

The Role

This post is being advertised as a two-year fixed term contract potentially with a view to an extension.

There is much we are already doing as a council, but we must go much further including building on the work we have already done on our Local Area Energy Plan. This means decarbonising our own assets wherever we can; further developing robust and effective strategies and either implementing the council’s own schemes or facilitating the delivery of other schemes outside the council.

To do this we will need to work closely with utility providers, developers, government, regulators and our local communities to deliver a modern fit-for-the-future energy system. Supported by the team, you will play a facilitating and supporting role in ensuring the best outcomes for our residents. Together we will work with you to build your skills and expertise as we travel on this journey.

About you

To fulfil this role effectively, you will need to demonstrate:

• That you hold a degree (undergraduate or post-graduate) in utilities, climate change, sustainability, energy, water or related discipline.
• Knowledge of sustainable development (Essential) and sustainable utilities delivery (Desirable) in a political, urban environment
• Knowledge of key project management techniques, tools and processes to enable successful project delivery
• Knowledge of climate change impacts, risks and opportunities in a diverse borough like Tower Hamlets
• An ability to bring people together and achieve consensus to deliver high quality outcomes.
• A strong desire to deliver a modern, resilient and effective energy system that benefits the people of Tower Hamlets.

The Benefits:

On top of the competitive salary you’ll be receiving, the additional benefits are:

• Working on some of the most exciting, pioneering infrastructure/net zero initiatives in the country
• A strong team culture that supports each other, offers help and assistance to deliver great outcomes both professionally and personally
• Flexible working to support a healthy work/life balance
• A 35-hour working week
• An organisation that takes your professional development seriously with a comprehensive online and in-person training programme
• Access to many decades of officer experience in infrastructure planning and delivery as part of a wider Infrastructure Planning Service, the most prestigious of any local authority in London
• A centrally located, award winning Whitechapel Town Hall to work in, with great transport connections right in the heart of Tower Hamlets (Elizabeth, Hammersmith & City, District, Windrush & Weaver Lines)
• Compulsory Christmas and New Year leave when the office closes, added to an already very generous annual leave allocation
• A generous, safe and secure local government pension scheme

Closing date: 19 August 2025.

Tower Hamlets vision for our borough is that: people are aspirational, independent and have equal access to opportunities; we are a borough that our residents are proud of and love to live in; and we are a dynamic, outcomes-based council using digital innovation and partnership working to respond to the changing needs of our borough. We want people who aspire to our TOWER values: Together; Open; Willing; Excellent; Respect.

Tower Hamlets has a zero-tolerance approach to, and works to eradicate, all forms of discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital status, status as a civil partner, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy and maternity and looks to employ a diverse workforce representative of those groups. We recognise that people can also be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class.

We welcome applicants interested in flexible working arrangements and also applicants who live in the borough.