Program Associate, Power - Africa at Rockefeller Foundation

The Foundation is seeking a Program Associate (PA) to join the Foundation's Power team based in Nairobi, Kenya.

The PA will contribute to the development and execution of a multi-year initiative to bring electricity to households and businesses without access. The PA will focus on the Foundation's Power work in the Africa region and will provide support to on-going projects, including through project management, policy research, grant management and development of key stakeholder convenings.

Principal Duties And Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of the Power team's overall strategy and activities, with a focus on Africa, through project management and administrative tasks
• Work with the Power team's Senior Associate Director in Nairobi on the management of a portfolio of grants within the Power initiative, which includes understanding the capacity and effectiveness of potential grantees, research potential grantees, designing and writing grant memos and other key documents, maintaining grantee relationships, participating in site visits and other monitoring activities
• Review grantee reports, commenting on grantee reports and other deliverables/products of the RF supported power work
• Stay on top of developments in the field – new players, key events, new information being generated, policy movements, important upcoming events, etc.
• Monitor relevant Knowledge Management products: search and scan reports;
• Research, write, and edit original reports and issue briefs on climate and energy policy.
• Prepare documents for internal communications (quarterly reviews, reports) and external convenings (event organization, briefing reports, talking points, input into speeches, etc.) as needed.
• Provide a higher level of analytical support, posing questions for consideration to shape out of the box strategies
• Represent the foundation at key meetings and events and provide remarks where necessary.
• As a member of the broader program team, work collaboratively with other foundation offices and entities to deliver the mission and vision.
• Monitor and surface new developments, innovations and trends in the space, including key research, policy movements related to integrated electrification plans; propose new ideas and implement them through support to existing grantees, new grant-making, or convening and stakeholder engagement
• Provide technical advice on policy trends shaping the renewable energy, rural electrification, agriculture, and energy nexus sectors
• Monitoring and compiling information on energy projects finance activity in SSA., with a particular eye toward understanding mini grid financing solutions
• Helping to develop budgets, contributing to written narratives and analyses of RF work.
• Scheduling own travel, preparing own expense reports as well as managing files, mail, correspondence, etc.
• As part of the Africa Region Office team, active participation in team events including but not limited to planning and facilitating execution

Education, Experience And Skills

• Bachelor's degree required, preferably in a relevant field of study
• At least 4 years of work experience in a related capacity (e.g. energy access, energy policy, energy project management)
• Experience working with advanced data, analyzing policies and understanding of key methodologies and approaches shaping universal electrification initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to learn new technical tools and approaches as needed
• Familiarity with energy systems (e.g. utilities, renewable energy) worldwide with a focus on SSA
• Demonstrated interest in working to improve the lives of others, passion for policy and economic development
• The position is only open to candidates with valid working status in Kenya
• The ideal candidate will have a background in renewable energy policy but also a willingness to work on a range of energy policy issues—including agriculture energy nexus, energy efficiency, integrated energy plans.

Qualifications And Competencies

Communication: Excellent interpersonal abilities; excellent listening skills; writing and verbal skills; assertiveness in presenting ideas; able to present ideas to a range of stakeholders in a clear and compelling way

Team-work: Leverage functional and substantive expertise organizationally; demonstrates inclusiveness, collaboration

Leadership: Ability to work independently; demonstrates accountability

Strategic Ability: Anticipates future opportunities and consequences, demonstrates an innovative approach to work, the ability to organize multiple ideas into a coherent plan

Execution: Strong project management skills; meets deadlines; a sense of urgency and responsibility; ability to multi-task and work under pressure; detail oriented

Decision-Making: Ability to evaluate risks and opportunities; uses analytical and problem-solving skills; takes initiative and drives for results; able to prioritize

Partnership and Relationship Building: Strong professional representation of the Foundation, intercultural knowledge and appreciation, strategic partnership building

The Rockefeller Foundation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and to compliance with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. To this end, the Foundation ensures equal opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, lawful alien status, physical, mental, and medical disability, veteran status or liability for service in the United States Armed Forces.

The Rockefeller Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer