Principal Energy Officer - Efficiency

Overview

We're looking for an experienced and motivated Principal Energy Officer – Efficiency to play a leading role in managing energy and water performance across Buckinghamshire Council's extensive property portfolio.

As a key member of the Energy Management team, you'll use data, analysis and technical expertise to monitor consumption, identify inefficiencies, investigate issues and deliver practical solutions that reduce costs and improve operational performance. Working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, you'll provide expert advice, promote best practice and help drive continuous improvement across one of the largest public sector estates in the region. Opportunities to develop and deliver energy efficiency projects form part of the role, but the primary focus is on ensuring the Council's buildings operate as efficiently and effectively as possible.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 

You’ll be part of the Energy Management Team within Estates Management, a key function within the Corporate Property & Assets service and Communities Directorate. The team is responsible for managing energy consumption, utility procurement, and energy performance across the Council’s property portfolio and partner organisations. By working closely with a wide range of stakeholders, the team helps ensure that public buildings are operated efficiently, reliably, and cost-effectively, supporting the delivery of essential services and the long-term needs of the communities we serve.

About the role

As Principal Energy Officer – Efficiency, you will take the lead in driving energy and water efficiency improvements across the Council's estate.

Working with internal stakeholders, contractors, schools and external partners, you will identify opportunities to reduce consumption, investigate performance issues, develop business cases and secure funding for projects that deliver lasting benefits. From conducting audits and analysing consumption data through to delivering behavioural change initiatives and overseeing project implementation, this is a varied role with genuine strategic impact.

You will also act as a trusted technical advisor, helping shape investment decisions, influencing stakeholders and ensuring the Council continues to improve the way it manages its energy and water resources.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the monitoring and analysis of energy and water consumption across the Council's estate, identifying trends, risks, anomalies and opportunities for improvement.
• Deliver energy and water audits, developing practical solutions that improve efficiency, reduce costs and lower carbon emissions.
• Develop robust business cases for efficiency projects, including financial modelling, carbon reduction assessments and return-on-investment evaluations.
• Identify and secure funding opportunities, including grants and capital investment programmes, to support energy and water initiatives.
• Manage the delivery of energy efficiency projects from concept through to implementation and benefits realisation.
• Provide expert technical advice and guidance to support decision-making across estates, facilities and operational teams.
• Verify and report energy, carbon and financial savings achieved through projects and operational improvements.
• Develop and deliver behavioural change campaigns, training programmes and awareness initiatives that help reduce demand and improve performance.
• Support procurement activities, including the preparation of specifications, tender evaluations and contract management.
• Manage project budgets and monitor contractor and supplier performance to ensure successful outcomes and value for money.
• Build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, promoting best practice and continuous improvement across the organisation.

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

About you

We're looking for a highly capable and driven energy professional with the technical expertise, analytical ability and leadership skills to make a real impact across our estate. You'll be confident turning complex data into actionable insight, influencing stakeholders at all levels and driving continuous improvement. Just as importantly, you'll be a collaborative team player who supports colleagues, shares knowledge and contributes to a positive, high-performing team culture.

You will bring:

• Significant experience in energy and water management, ideally across a large and complex property portfolio, with a strong track record of improving operational performance and reducing utility costs.
• Strong technical knowledge of energy and water efficiency, utility management, metering, monitoring systems, building energy performance and industry best practice.
• Excellent analytical and investigative skills, with the ability to interpret complex consumption data, identify anomalies and root causes, and translate findings into practical actions and measurable outcomes.
• Experience identifying, developing and delivering efficiency initiatives and projects that achieve quantifiable reductions in energy consumption, water use and operating costs.
• The ability to develop robust business cases, quantify benefits, secure funding and gain stakeholder support for investment proposals.
• Strong communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to provide expert advice and build credibility with colleagues, suppliers and senior leaders.
• Experience managing contracts, suppliers and budgets, ensuring services and projects deliver value, performance and agreed outcomes.
• Advanced ICT and data analysis skills, including the use of Excel, energy management systems and reporting tools to produce meaningful insight and support decision-making.
• A collaborative and supportive approach, with a genuine commitment to teamwork, knowledge sharing and helping colleagues achieve the best outcomes for the wider organisation.
• Drive, initiative and a continuous improvement mindset, with the determination to challenge inefficiency, solve problems and deliver lasting results.

Other information

For more information about this role, please contact Mark Doyle at ([email protected]) for an informal discussion.

Closing date: 17^th July 2026

Interview Date: TBC

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Communities directorate works across the county to deliver a number of the key customer-facing services that our residents, businesses and visitors rely on every day. 

This directorate includes a wide range of services, including:

• collecting and disposing of waste and recycling
• maintaining our roads and Rights of Way network and parking
• ensuring the delivery of school transport, and supporting sustainable travel including public bus services and School Crossing Patrollers
• managing Country Parks
• leisure facilities, museums, theatres and libraries, as well as developing our Cultural Strategy
• Licensing, Environmental Health and Trading Standards
• Cemeteries and Crematoria

The customer is central to how we develop and deliver all of these services, which help promote our rich and vibrant culture and special environment. 

We are looking for enthusiastic, ambitious and committed individuals to join our team and help us to continue to make Buckinghamshire a great place to live, work and visit. This is an exciting time for us as we bring together the services previously run by five separate councils before Buckinghamshire Council was created. Whilst making major changes to contracts affecting residents across Bucks, we continue to focus on delivering great customer service. You will join us on our journey of continuous improvement - whether that’s through developing strategies and ways of working or delivering services on the ground, every person in Communities is a valued member of the team.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/