Job Title: Operations Manager 
Employer: North Uist Development Company (Trading) Limited (Uist Wind)
Salary: £30,030 pro-rata (0.4FTE – 14 hours per week)

Closing date for applications: 5pm Monday 14 February

Are you a jack-of-all-trades?  Do you know your Net from your Gross?  Do you get excited at the thought of wearing hard hats?  Do you believe variety is the spice of life?  

If so, apply now, for the new part-time Operations Manager vacancy at North Uist Development Company (Trading) Limited.

This new senior position will report directly to the Management Committee of the North Uist Development Company (Trading) Limited to manage the Community Benefit Society’s operational business needs, working with the asset managers to maximise the revenue generated from the Company’s two 900kW wind turbines at Criongrabhal near Clachan-na-Luib in North Uist.

The successful candidate will need to be self-motivated and dedicated with an affinity for the aims and objectives of the project; as well as having a quick mind and the enthusiasm to switch from liaising with engineers one day to sending out a newsletter or updating the accounts on Xero the next.  The candidate will need a business mindset to be able to update the business plan annually, with technical knowhow to be able to translate technical jargon for the 220 investor Members, the Management Committee and the wider public.  Strong communication and interpersonal skills are imperative, and the candidate must be experienced in financial administration, IT literate and with some project management experience to be able to update risk assessments and a risk register.  They will also have a good understanding of the issues affecting fragile rural areas.  Knowledge of, and affinity, for the locality is advantageous. 

Applicants should submit their CV and a covering letter to info@uistwind.com or by post to NUDCT, Claddach Kirkibost Centre, Isle of North Uist, HS6 5EP by the closing date of 5pm Monday 14 February     

Download the full job description here

To read our latest Newsletter including details about the next Annual Members' Meeting and a call for nominations, see ​https://mailchi.mp/f613e034ec88/merry-christmas-uistwind

North Uist Development Company was declared winner of the Best Engagement Award for the UistWind project at the Scottish Green Energy Awards 2020 evening virtual event on November 26. 

UistWind was shortlisted as a finalist in two categories: Best Community Project Award and Best Engagement Award; announced by Scottish Renewables in October after considering over 100 entries.  More than 800 tuned in to the awards to recognise achievements from the renewables industry, with 12 judges to decide which finalists would receive 13 prestigious awards.

Locogen director and project manager, Stuart Hamilton said: “Wow! What a great way to end such a difficult year. Community energy is at the very heart of what we do at Locogen. In UistWind we found a project team and community who share our passion. This award provides well-deserved recognition to all those involved, who repeatedly overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to deliver a successful project that will benefit the community for many years to come.”

UistWind is a 1.8MW community owned wind farm in North Uist.  The project was conceived as far back as 2010 but needed to overcome considerable financing, development, and construction hurdles before finally being commissioned in September 2019.  Operational hurdles followed, including this year’s COVID-19 pandemic.

Ameena Camps, Project Delivery Manager at NUDC accepted the award on behalf the Company “Wow, thank you so much!  It is an honour to accept this award on behalf of UistWind.  This award is for the Members, the lenders Triodos and EIF, and for the community of North Uist who made this project possible.

“We have worked hard to actively engage and communicate as widely as possible right through to the most recent challenges, so the wider community feel part of the team.  It was apt to have the local school children cut the ceremonial ribbon marking the opening of the site last year, representing the future generations of North Uist who will benefit from the project.  Personally, I would like to thank my Mom, Susan Camps, who gave me the strength, determination and problem solving ability to tackle obstacles and passed away earlier this year. 

“To all who have supported the project over the many very challenging years, and to Locogen for nominating us – we did it!”

UistWind was praised at the award ceremony for its engagement and communication during the many years of challenges; and, particularly for the North Uist Development Company’s (NUDC’s) work to spread the message of lessons learnt across the world to empower other communities whilst helping to avoid similar challenges in the future.

Andrew Ross, Director said “North Uist Development Company is delighted to win this Award. We would like to take the opportunity to thank the North Uist community for their continuing support for Uist Wind, as well as all the various stakeholders and in particular all those who invested in the project via our community share offer, which made the project possible.
 
“Getting the necessary permissions, raising the finance and getting our two turbines erected have all presented enormous challenges to our small community group. The fact that we managed to overcome all these challenges and that our project is now up and running – and generating above budget – is testament to all the support we have enjoyed from the community, our investors and key stakeholders.
 
“It is particularly rewarding that we are now able to pass on some of what we have learned to other groups trying to get renewable energy projects off the ground. There are many obstacles in the way of developing these projects nowadays, but if we can help groups navigate through these to increase the likelihood of success for other clean green energy projects across Scotland, that is great!”