Green Technology Manager

CERES is an environmental community organisation in East Brunswick, Melbourne. CERES is located on 4 hectares of land on the banks of the Merri Creek and has become an icon of locally based education and action on environmental and social-justice issues.

Projects encompassed within CERES include local and community projects (eg, Community Gardens and Chook Group, Bicycle Users Group, Bread- making Group), educational programs for schools ( both environmental and cultural ), accredited training and work-experience programs, non-profit income generating programs (café and nursery),  recreational activities and courses for adults and children,  celebratory festivals ( including the Kingfisher Festival, Harvest Festival ) and a volunteer program. 

CERES projects and staff are organized into 4 Teams: Education and Training Team, Habitat Team, Community and Governance  Team and the Enterprise Team.  Supporting the day to day running and management of staff within the teams are Area Managers who comprise the Managers Working Group.  There are 3 Team Leaders, working across the 4 teams and who are ultimately accountable to the CERES Management Committee.   

CERES Mission is to encourage awareness and action on environmental sustainability and social equity issues – with an emphasis on cultural richness and community participation.  CERES Strategic Plan has 4 key areas of focus for CERES for 2006 -10 :

1. Promoting solutions to Climate Change
2. Contributing to greater social equity – locally and globally
3. Creating a new way of being for humanity which embraces sustainability, peaceful co-existence and equity
4. Harnessing change – to create a more sustainable, equitable world 

Background to the Position: 

Green technology has been a source of inspiration and wonder at CERES since its earliest years.  It’s products form the basis for many of the displays and educational programs at CERES. In the early 1980s CERES had an intensive worm-farming and composting program. It had the latest in energy saving designs and technologies in the Low Energy House. It had a water management master plan aimed at collecting and storing water from roads and rooves. And it helped organize the first kerb-side waste collection pilot scheme for Melbourne.

Since those times the breadth of green technologies has continued expanding – embracing renewable energy production ( PVs and wind ), energy conservation, water harvesting and distribution, waste management and recycling ( including composting and worm farming ), organic agriculture ( including aquaponics in recent times), sustainable building design and construction, and alternative transport  ( bikes and electric vehicles ).  Most recently CERES green technology work has focused on solutions to climate change – including exploring solutions in developing countries ( in conjunction with CERES Global annual trips to India and Indonesia ).

During 2009 CERES has been successful in gaining two major grants which will have a major impact on enabling the introduction of new innovative green technologies to CERES. The grants were from Smart Energy Zones ( State Govt ) and Green Precincts ( Federal Govt ).  The Green Technology Manager Position is a pivotal position for co-ordinating, planning, and implementing Green Technology work at CERES. It works collaboratively with the Green Technology Design Position which aims to produce exciting, innovative, best practice, designs which drive CERES programs to remain at the cutting-edge of sustainable solutions. The Green Technology Managers Position will also work closely with the CERES Site Manager and Team, and CERES Infrastructure Co-ordinator ( whose role it is to maintain and monitor new technologies after they are installed and operating ).

The Green Technology Manager Position aims to:            

• Work collaboratively with the Green Technology Design Co-ordinator to produce the vision and strategic plan for green technology at CERES – taking into account CERES priorities for creating a zero-emissions site, and for demonstrating climate change solutions in a practical, relevant, replicable way.            
• Work collaboratively with the Green Technology Design Co-ordinator, and other appropriate CERES staff,  to make decisions about the most appropriate and relevant new technologies to introduce at CERES –  prepare briefs  and designs for such new technologies - and organize for their funding and installation.
• To have a special focus on SEZ and GP throughout 2009-10.            
• To Manage Green Technology staff, fulfill the role of Area Manager for this area           
• To monitor CERES sustainability performance – producing a report each year.

Duties and Responsibilities:

A.      Develop Visions and Strategic Plans for Green Tech Area

• Maintain an overview of Green Technology projects and developments across CERES site
• Co-ordinate a collaborative process for developing visions, strategic plans and  designs – with an emphasis on CERES achieving zero carbon emissions as soon as possible – and CERES supporting the community to rapidly transform to zero emissions.
• Present plans to CERES community  ( Site Planning, Area Managers, CERES Board, Team Leaders , website, newsletter, email update) for discussion, input, ownership, approval.
• Co-ordinate a decision process to decide priorities for projects to proceed with

B.      Organise for Funding and Implementation of Plans and Designs

• Write submissions to gain funding for new initiatives and/ or establish income generating activities or enterprises, to enable the ongoing financial sustainability of the Green Technology area.
• Co-ordinate Green Tech staff to implement projects and initiatives
• Organise collation of information, and briefings of Infrastructure Co-ordinator/ Site Manager – to enable them to understand and effectively organize for the ongoing operation, maintenance, and monitoring of Green Tech initiatives.

C.      Focus on ZEC for this 18 months – working with ZEC Manager and Control/ Steering Groups
( ZEC is the Zero Emissions Ceres project – comprising of Smart Energy Zones and Green Precincts Projects )

• Work alongside the GP and SEZ Project Manager  and Control Group to co-ordinate and manage for the successful achievement of outcomes for GP and SEZ grants. Be an active member of the GP and SEZ Control Group.
• Do research and project manage particular projects within these grants
  These projects  are expected to include black-water treatment ( for Van Raay Centre, Energy Classroom, and  Composting Toilets ), biogas, smart metering, solar cooking, solar refrigeration, green roof and vertical garden. There are several other projects included in the GP and SEZ grants for which input by the GT Manager  may be of value eg solar thermal, electric vehicle conversion, latest in photovoltaics and wind generators,
• Assist in the design development and  implementation of all projects – with prime responsibility for particular projects ( as decided by the GP and SEZ Control Group).

D.      Manage Green Tech Team / Area Manager Duties

• Co-ordinate staff – co-operatively developing overall strategic plan for Green Tech area with GT staff and other relevant staff
  -          work out the roles and responsibilities of staff for design and implementation of plan
  -          work with those responsible for interpretation of green technologies
  -          conduct annual staff and area reviews GT staff will work closely with Site Manager, Infrastructure Co-ordinator, and other Site staff  particularly in the ongoing maintenance of existing green technologies and in the handover of new technologies
  ( Green Tech staff  at moment include GT Manager, GT Designer, Electric Vehicle Co-ordinator – but may increase )
  
• Area Manager Duties include:
  ~ managing the staff of the area ( see above )
  ~ attending  Area Manager Meetings ( usually every 3 weeks ) – maintaining effective communication and co-operation with other projects within CERES
  ~ taking responsibility for budgets related to area  - including writing budgets, reviewing monthly actuals against budget, writing reports as requested explaining financial performance, writing 3 monthly Triple Bottom Line Reports for CERES Board.
  ~ working co-operatively with external organizations doing similar work, keeping up to date with best practice via reading, attending conferences, delivering papers….
  ~ co-ordination of volunteers who can make effective contributions to Green Tech initiatives at CERES
  ~ ensure excellent OHS practices are followed by staff

E.      Monitoring and reporting on sustainability performance

• Co-ordinate the monitoring and recording of CERES performance on key sustainability indicators eg carbon emissions, energy usage and production, water use, waste management/ recycling, habitat creation, community building, localization ( eg of food production, recreation,.. ),….
• Report to CERES staff and Board on progress on sustainability measures

Skills, Experience, and Qualities Important to Position (Selection Criteria)

• People Management skills
• Strategic Planning skills
• Excellent knowledge of sustainable technologies – particularly those relevant to achieving a safe climate 
  
• Having a passion for creating a more sustainable, climate friendly, and equal world
• Experience in the practical implementation  and  project management of sustainable -technological initiatives
• Past experience in working in a community organisation
• Experience in working in co-operative, consultative, inclusive, empowering way
• Experience in report and submission writing
• Experience in initiating income generating enterprises in Green Tech areas
• Skills in budgeting and financial management
• Good administrative skills

Period of Appointment:

The position is initially until the end of 2010  , with a three month review following initial appointment. It is intended the position will be ongoing providing funding can be secured. 

Funding Source:

This position is funded from projects and income from the Green Technology area at CERES. 

Accountability: 

This position sits within the Habitat  Team, reporting to the Habitat Team Leader.  As with all positions at CERES it is ultimately accountable to the CERES Board.Staff Reviews are held annually.

Salary

Hours of Work, Salary and Conditions: This position is for  4 days/week ( 7 hour day, ie  28 hours per week ).  This position is classified as EM4 Area Manager Single Area within Sector 6: Education, Coordination and Management of the CERES Collective Agreement, with a payrate of  $28.00 per hour.

Other conditions are described in the Standard Work Agreement and CERES Human Resource Policy