Job Advert
Student Energy Research Assistant
STUDENTS ORGANISING FOR SUSTAINABILITY (SOS-UK)
SOS–UK is looking for a student staff member to work on the Student Energy Action for Life (SEAL) project on a temporary contract as a Student Energy Research Assistant.
This is an exciting development opportunity for a current student (or someone who has been in education within the past 12 months) to be part of a dedicated team who are looking to address the critical challenges faced by students as they navigate the complexities of the home energy system.
ROLE SPECIFICS
Location: Home-based or hybrid option if in London
Contract: 140 hours (20 days) to be completed by the end of December 2025.
Working patterns:. Flexible with availability between 9am and 5pm Monday – Friday. Agreed on appointment of employment.
Salary: £12.60 per hour (UK real living wage), £13.85 for staff in London
Closing date for applications: 3rd August 2025
Interview dates: 11th and 12th August 2025
Preferred start date: week commencing 1st September 2025. Start date can be flexible and will be agreed with the successful candidate.
INTRODUCING SOS-UK
SOS-UK is a sustainability and wellbeing charity, launched by the student movement in October 2019.
We are an education charity focusing on sustainability, we work across all forms of education and through our work we aim to:
Get more students leading on, and learning for, sustainability.
Repurpose the education system around the climate emergency and ecological crises.
Make sustainability more inclusive, so it is for everyone.
We believe that when students lead on sustainability, they learn about it, picking up the vital knowledge, skills and competencies they will need to help transform society into a more just and sustainable place.
Find out more about SOS-UK, who we are and what we do by visiting our website.
About Student Energy Action for Life (SEAL)
SEAL is a UK-wide project that will run for 5 years (2025-2030), and will bring together students, students’ unions, universities, housing providers and policymakers to transform the student housing landscape. The project will promote energy efficiency, and equip students, students’ unions and landlords with the knowledge and skills that they need to drive meaningful change in the private-rented sector.
ABOUT THE ROLE
You will support the SEAL project team to complete predominantly desk-based research to investigate Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) in private-rented student homes. This role includes working with the SEAL team to develop a research plan, then independently conducting the proposed research and compiling your research findings into a report. You will be supported in all your work by the SEAL staff team.
Key responsibilities include:
- Work with and be supported by the SEAL staff team to conduct research into the student private-rented sector, with a specific focus on energy efficiency in student homes.
- Preparing a report on the research findings to be distributed both internally and externally to SOS-UK.
- Following the completion of research, if capacity allows, begin to work with the SEAL team to understand how your research findings can be integrated into the wider project.
Please read the role profile for a full description of the role’s responsibilities and person specification (knowledge, skills, attributes, qualifications and experience)
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
We’re totally committed to equality of opportunity for all. We welcome applications from individuals regardless of their age, disability, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, as they are currently under-represented within SOS-UK.
We recognise that candidates from Black, Asian and Minoritised-Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are under-represented in our organisation, and that there are often additional barriers present for people from these groups when applying for roles in the charity sector and beyond. We are committed to taking positive action to expand the diversity of our staff team, and if you meet the minimum criteria for a role (at least 80% of the criteria in the person specification) and are from a BAME background, you'll be guaranteed a first stage interview. It is important to note that this scheme guarantees an interview for candidates who meet the minimum criteria and tell us that they'd like to be considered under the scheme. The selection decision at interview will be based on the most suitable candidate, regardless of any protected characteristic.
Find out more about what it’s like working for SOS-UK . If you would like to speak to a member of SOS-UK staff not involved in the interview process about how your experience might meet the requirements of the role, please contact [email protected]
We are unable to accept CVs. If you are unable to complete your application due to accessibility needs, please contact [email protected]
If you would like to find out more about this opportunity, please contact [email protected]
