GUCE Programme Lead Role

Community Energy is gaining momentum nationally, where people are increasingly coming together to take control of their own energy.  Grand Union Community Energy (GUCE, pronounced “juice”) is looking to see local communities along the Grand Union canal in Hertfordshire enjoy a clean and resilient energy system that benefits all.  We develop, support and promote renewable energy and energy efficiency projects for  communities from Watford to Tring, and build householder resilience by helping them reduce their bills and energy use.

We are seeking a Programme Lead for two days a week to manage the day-to-day running of the team and organisation and keep us on track as we navigate an exciting time of growth and development - supporting us to fulfil our overall objectives. Depending on the skills of the applicant the same individual could also cover aspects of other roles we are looking to fill.

About the role

This is a fantastic opportunity for a person to take on a key role in GUCE’s  small but expanding team. The Programme Lead will be responsible creating a structure and policies for GUCE to grow and hit our mission.

As our Programme Lead you will play a leading role in delivering our contribution to the two-year National Lottery funded project ‘Community Energy People’.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Forecasting finances for GUCE as a whole.

• Report to funders.

• Maintaining a new CRM (Monday) and working with other team members, subcontractors and Board Directors to ensure it’s complete and accurate. 

• Creating and maintaining policies on training, HR, delegated authorities.

• Managing payroll.

• Recruiting new staff and volunteers.

• Coordinating and onboarding volunteers and new staff members or contractors, including overseeing the volunteer journey from ad-hoc conversations to participation e.g. joining the Board or progressing to become a paid member of staff..

• Maintaining, recording, and reporting the metrics and finances for the Community Energy People project.

• Line management of other staff members.

• Framework for connecting and working with sub-groups, e.g. EcoBerko and Watford.

• Updating and maintaining the Business Plan.

Skills & Experience

Required

• Attitude: The successful candidate will be a self-starter with enthusiasm, flexibility, motivation and a willingness to get stuck in and help others.

• People Management: Excellent ability to understand people and their different ways of working, while holding them to account for their responsibilities and performance as part of the team.

• Communication: Ability to effectively communicate energy topics to diverse audiences, including community members, government officials, and technical teams.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to work with various stakeholders, from community members to local authorities and private companies.

• Problem Solving: Creative thinking to address local challenges with regards to renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

• Diversity: A commitment to diversity and anti-discriminatory practice.

• Attention to detail: Take pride in making sure all of the i’s are dotted and the t’s crossed.

• Commitment or interest in sustainability.

• Teachable. 

Terms and Conditions

Salary: Pro-rated salary for 2 days per week, £13,000 to £20,000 per annum (£34,000 to £51,000 full time equivalent) depending on experience plus 3% pension contribution.

Hours: Average 2 days per week (15 hours). The working hours can be flexible.

Location: Home-working, ideally within the GUCE catchment area from Watford to Tring.

You will need to travel to meet stakeholders, attend relevant meetings and visit potential sites. You may be called upon to work outside office hours.  Reasonable travel expenses will be covered and the job holder would be expected to provide their own method of travel.

Contractual arrangements: 12 months fixed term with the option to extend, subject to 3 months’ probation.

There is a notice period of four weeks from both sides

Holidays: The equivalent of 28 days per annum excluding Bank Holidays, pro-rata for the part-time nature of the post.

Reporting to: John Bell, Chair

Start date: As soon as possible

Equal Opportunities

We actively encourage people of all backgrounds, ages, races, religions, belief systems, sexual orientations and gender identities to apply for this role. We particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups. 

We are working towards being a Disability Confident employer and are open to discussing how best to make that work with our successful candidate. We are committed to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Please let us know if you have a disability (as defined under the Equality Act, 2010) that you would like to declare. Please also let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments that we can make to ensure that the application process is as accessible to you as possible.

How to apply

Please apply via Charity Job.

Closing date:

19.8.2025 by 23:30

If you have any questions regarding the role or your application please email via the GUCE website.

Funding for this role is provided through the Community Energy People Project 

Thanks to National Lottery players, Community Energy Pathways has been awarded £1.5M from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK, to deliver its Community Energy People project over three years. The Community Energy People project will enable 11 community energy groups across 11 counties to employ people for the first time, recruit more volunteers and deliver more projects, and faster. The new workforce will represent our diverse community. Community Energy Pathways will provide training and mentoring to those groups, as well as governance, HR and marketing support.