Sustainable Projects Assistant

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Sustainability Projects Assistant - University of Greenwich                                                              

Background

Greenwich University’s Strategic Plan 2012-2017 focusses on quality through excellence in research, teaching and enterprise and aims to position the University in the Top 50 nationally. The University is committed to embedding sustainability across all of its activities and achieved 1st place in the 2012 Green League and has a target to remain in the top 10.

The Sustainability team have responsibility for promoting sustainability, developing and implementing policies and management systems and co-ordinating sustainable development across the University.  The team work on a number of projects including staff and student engagement, a sustainability management system which is ISO14001 accredited,  a £6 million Carbon Management Plan, waste management, sustainable food, biodiversity, sustainable labs as well as others that address our significant sustainability impacts. A project that underpins and brings the work of staff and student engagement together is Green Impact and over 50 sustainability champions from across the institution are involved.  

The role would suit someone who is a quick learner, passionate about sustainability, knowledge of environmental management systems and has excellent interpersonal, project and time management skills.

Green Impact is an environmental accreditation scheme that encourages pro-environmental behaviours by staff. It empowers sustainability champions within their workplace, helping them gain recognition for their environmental efforts, whilst playing on the competitive spirit of staff working in teams. It provides people and their departments with a tangible framework for improving their environmental performance, breaking down complex environmental issues into more manageable bite-sized chunks.

From recycling, to investing in more efficient equipment, to encouraging biodiversity, or Fairtrade, the scheme covers a broad range of issues under the sustainability umbrella, all tailored to an individual institution to cover local policy and process.

For more information on Green Impact please go to:

http://www.nus.org.uk/greenimpactpledge

http://www.changeagents.org.uk/current-projects/green-impact

 

Objective

To assist with the implementation of the University’s Sustainability Policy, contributing to the effective management of the University’s environmental aspects and impacts and raising behaviour awareness amongst staff and students about sustainability best practice across the University.

In particular there will be a focus on supporting the Sustainability Projects Officer with the delivery and development of Green Impact in order to achieve an increase in the pro-environmental behaviours of students and staff within the university, and to take on a project management role of the sustainability management system ensuring that the ISO14001 standard is maintained.    

This is a 12 month full-time post that will ensure that the university maintains ISO14001 accreditation and deliver the Green Impact objectives but also enhance the capacity and impact of the sustainability team across the University of Greenwich as a whole.

Benefits of this opportunity

The successful graduate will have opportunities to learn about being a team player, developing communication skills in different mediums and will gain experience of different sustainability issues as well as gaining project and event management skills including budgeting, planning, project implementation and evaluation.

The full-time nature of this role will enable the graduate to develop not only the skills and outputs required as part of Green Impact and the sustainability management system but also to work as an integral part of the sustainability team to create and drive forward further initiatives across the University’s staff, students and estates.

Outputs:

1. Support achievement of the University’s sustainability targets by assisting with the development and implementation of sustainability projects.

2. Maintain the University’s sustainability management system to ISO14001 standard.

3. Support the Green Impact project to encourage behaviour change and participation in activities across the institution and wider community.

4. Increase staff and student knowledge and awareness of sustainability issues and promote the University’s sustainability work.

5. Support the efforts advising the University’s staff, students and committees on best practice and monitor and report progress.

Key Tasks:

1. Assist with the implementation and operation of the University’s Sustainability Management System to ISO14001 standard. This will involve: supporting School of Science staff to incorporate the School’s activities into the current ISO14001 scope, support the management and maintenance of appropriate sustainability monitoring systems, surveys and audit processes and their incorporation into existing systems and procedures and records.

2. Assist the Sustainability Projects Officer with supporting staff and student sustainability champions through implementation of Green Impact project. Tasks could include:- input into workbook criteria and review of workbook, recruit staff and student champions, provide guidance to staff and students, support monthly training workshops, identifying good practice and maintain portal webpages, liaise with NUS Green Impact team, recruit student auditors, auditing, and support launch event and awards.

3. Support the team in providing good practice advice and support the practical implementation of sustainability projects on campus (examples include sustainable labs, sustainable food, biodiversity, carbon reduction and waste minimisation).

4. Act as an ambassador for the sustainability team and ensure effective communication of its aims and objectives in liaison with the Student Union and through other partners and external channels. This will include the coordination of internal and external sustainability communications, and maintaining and contributing to development of the sustainability website, blog and social media channels.

5. Contribute to accurate record keeping, data collection, monitoring and reporting requirements and support the collation of data and evidence for external and internal reporting requirements.

6. Support the work in of the Sustainability team in engaging and liaising with teaching and research staff, students and other sustainability related groups and individuals in support of the integration of sustainability into the curriculum. 

7. Prioritise key tasks and workload to ensure successful delivery to time frames specified and actively network with other university’s Sustainability Assistants to ensure sharing of best practice across the sector

8. Support the Sustainability Projects Officer in the recruitment and management of student sustainability volunteers and interns.

9. Prepare agendas, presentations and write minutes for meetings.

10. Work using effective time management, demonstrating the ability to prioritise tasks, meet deadlines and work accurately under pressure.

Additional Requirements:

• The post holder will be expected to be flexible and help develop a changing role and carry out such other appropriate duties as may be required from time to time in connection with the University’s sustainability agenda, the Facilities Management Operating Plan and the University’s Strategic Plan.
• Adhere to and promote the University’s Equality and Diversity policies and ensure compliance with Health & Safety regulations.
• Inter-site travel will be necessary as will attendance at regional and national meetings and conferences.