Lead Officer for Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS)

PERSON SPECIFICATION

 

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.   2. You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.   3. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.   4. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.   5. Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.   6. In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form on how you meet any desirable criteria.

 

Section 1 - Essential Criteria

 

The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

 

Factor	Essential Criteria	Method of Assessment
Qualifications/ Experience	Hold a Bachelor’s Degree (UK Qualification and Credit Framework Level 6) or an equivalent or higher professional qualification and three years’ experience of leading on the design and optimisation of Building Energy Management Systems across a multi-site estate and the provision of specialist advice and support to senior managers on a range of complex operational BEMS service delivery issues;   OR   Have five years’ experience of leading on the design and optimisation of Building Energy Management Systems across a multi-site estate and the provision of specialist advice and support to senior managers on a range of complex operational BEMS service delivery issues. Have three years' experience developing and implementing BEMS strategies to optimise performance across a multi-site estate, including the specification, procurement, commissioning and management of BEMS related contracts. Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering BEMS and energy management programmes to achieve measurable energy efficiency and carbon reduction outcomes within a large multi-site Estate. Experience supporting building users (e.g., caretakers, supervisors, facilities staff) to continuously improve system performance. Demonstrable experience of trend analysis, fault diagnostics, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) optimisation, remote monitoring.	Shortlisting by Application Form
Skills/Abilities	Ability to diagnose BEMS performance issues and implement practical, cost effective solutions.	Shortlisting by Application Form
Knowledge	Demonstrable knowledge of collecting, processing and examining information from smart meters, sensors, and equipment inside a building, including energy performance improvement. Knowledge of energy efficiency principles, carbon reduction measures and building performance optimisation.	Shortlisting by Application Form
Other	Demonstrable commitment to continuous personal and professional development. The successful candidate will be required\:    to have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Education Authority business) that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion;   OR   be able to provide sufficient information on the application form that will satisfy the employer that he/she has access to an appropriate alternative form of transport that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion.	Shortlisting by Application Form

 

Section 2 - Essential Criteria

 

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model.

 

Factor	Essential Criteria	Method of Assessment
Skills/ Abilities	In line with EA’s Game Changing People Model we will look for evidence of\:  The ability to champion EA strategic priorities and deliver change through a design mindset. Skills to drive and deliver service improvement to   children and young people. Strong collaborative working skills and an ability to build genuine and productive alliances. Excellent leadership and management skills.	Interview
Values Orientation	Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values. You will find information about our Values here.	Interview

 

Section 3 - Desirable Criteria

 

Some or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel in order to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed. You should make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet the desirable criteria, as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

 

Factor	Desirable Criteria	Method of Assessment
Qualifications	Hold Chartered Institution of Buildings Services Engineers (CIBSE) Membership or equivalent.   Hold Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) Membership and relevant BCM01 - BCM06 training modules.   Formal training or certification in BEMS platforms (e.g., Trend, Siemens, Schneider).	Shortlisting by Application Form
Knowledge	Knowledge of relevant energy management guidance such as CIBSE TM22, TM39 and TM54.	Shortlisting by Application Form

 

 

Our Values

Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery. These reflect our aim which is to meet the needs of all our children and young people equally, removing barriers to learning and ensuring equality of access to excellent education services so that every child can develop to his or her full potential.

 

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

 

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’. 

 

In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background.  Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate.  Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage.

 

Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

 

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES

 

To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here.

 

To learn about the many great benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here

 

 

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

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.