My Career: ‘The pace of my job in renewable energy can be hectic... but I really enjoy it’

Name: Ellen O’Sullivan

Age: 32

Lives: Grange, Cork.

Job title: Community Liaison Officer/ Officer Manager, Amarenco

Salary bracket: €45,000 - €60,000

Education background: Bachelor of Arts, UCC. I majored in Psychology and Sociology.

Hobbies: Photography and sports. My son is in Little Puckers so we have hurling every Sunday morning and it’s my favourite time of the week.

Describe your job in five words: The tasks are different every day.

Describe yourself in five words: Hard-working, dedicated, organised, reliable, approachable.

Personality needed for this kind of work?

Organisation and people skills are essential. Amarenco is a renewable energy company headquartered in Cork. We have five operational solar farms, three solar projects under construction and many more at various stages of planning and development. As a result, we deal with a wide range of communities, landowners and stakeholders, so it’s important to be responsive.

You also need to be proactive for the office management side of the role, identifying and resolving issues before they become problems. Being adaptable and solution-focused is important.

How long are you doing this job?

I have been an office manager for five years and a community liaison officer for the past year.

How did you get this job?

My background is in retail management. I started my career with Dealz, working my way up from sales associate to deputy manager.

I then moved to Claire’s Accessories, where I managed my own store at just 22 years old. While I enjoyed management and the operational side of running a store, I wanted a Monday to Friday role so I moved into an office position with a local plant hire company in Cork. After progressing as far as I could in that role, I decided it was time for a new challenge.

I joined another Cork-based renewable energy company as an office manager and spent four years there. My line manager later moved to Amarenco and encouraged me to apply for an opportunity with the company. The role suited my skills and experience perfectly, so I applied and was delighted to be successful.

Do you need particular qualifications or experience?

Some experience in communications or marketing can be helpful, but I would say that organisation and good people and problem-solving skills are the most important qualities for the role.

Describe a day at work:

No two days are the same. A typical day can involve responding to queries from local communities or landowners, co-ordinating community initiatives, organising meetings and events as well as supporting our project teams with information and communications.

Some days are spent collaborating with colleagues on mapping, project updates and site information, other days are more focused on administration. We’re in the middle of an office renovation so I’ve had additional meetings with contractors and suppliers to ensure that also runs smoothly.

How many hours do you work a week? I typically work 35 hours a week but the phone is never too far away from me. There can be extra community meetings in the evenings from time to time too.

Is your industry male or female dominated?

The renewable energy industry is quite male-dominated, particularly in engineering and development roles. However, there is strong female representation in areas such as communications, marketing and stakeholder engagement.

Does this affect you in any particular way?

Not really. I previously worked in the plant hire industry, which was largely male-dominated, while retail management tended to be more female-dominated. In my experience, gender is far less important than mutual respect, teamwork, and a willingness to support one another.

Is your job stressful? How? Rate it on a scale of 1-10:

It depends on the week. On average, I would rate it around a 4, but there are definitely days that it can feel like an 11. The pace can be fast and there are often multiple priorities to manage at once.

Do you work with others or on your own?

Predominately with others. I work closely with colleagues on mapping, site information, and community engagement projects. There are administrative days where I work on my own.

When do you plan to retire or give up working?

Probably at retirement age, unless I win the Lotto first. Even then, I think I would still work part-time because I enjoy my job.

Best bits:

The most rewarding part of the job is being able to give back to communities and helping people in ways I would never have been able to if I didn’t work where I do.

As a former camogie player, a highlight was helping a club in Waterford near one of our projects secure helmets and hurleys for girls who wanted to play but might not otherwise have been able to afford the equipment. At Amarenco, we are committed to being good neighbours. We have established Community Benefit Funds in each of the areas we are operating. Earlier this year, we awarded €100,000 to Co Cork communities for defibrillators, gym and other sports equipment, and walking trails. Being able to make a difference is very rewarding.

Worst bits:

My phone and emails never really stop. Because I work with community groups that are run largely by volunteers, messages often arrive outside normal working hours. It’s not unusual to start the day with a very full inbox.

Advice to those who want your job?

The renewable energy sector is an exciting one to be part of. There are so many roles and opportunities for people with a huge range of skills whether it’s construction, engineering, ecology or administration. For community engagement, I would recommend having a thick skin. When people are frustrated or there are unexpected traffic delays during construction, they will come to you first. Your role is to listen, help solve the problem, and find a way forward. Most of the time, their frustration isn’t directed at you personally, it’s directed at the situation. Strong communication skills, empathy, and a calm approach will take you a long way.

Any other comments?

While the job is busy and a bit hectic at times, it’s rewarding being part of the transition to green energy, helping to leave the world in a better place. I feel fortunate being able to support and give back to communities across Cork and throughout Ireland.