Senior Programmes Manager/Advisor at Energy 4 Impact

About the role
You will be a senior member of their African Programmes and Advisory team, which includes professionals from a range of private-sector backgrounds, including entrepreneurship, engineering, project development, banking and investment, micro-finance, management consulting and law.

You will manage and lead the implementation of SME advisory programmes and be expected to mentor junior members of the E4I team. You will provide business, financial and other advice to SMEs, including solar home system companies, mini-grid developers and productive use businesses. You will manage relationships with donors and ensure that programmes are delivered on time and in a quality manner. You will represent E4I at industry events and, for up to 20% of your time, support on business development and fundraising.

You will have a strong private sector and transactional background, ideally in energy, financing or related business. They particularly welcome candidates with a background in capital raising with SMEs.

Programme Management and Advisory Responsibilities

• Manage and implement donor-funded SME advisory programmes, including budgeting and reporting, both internally and externally.
• Provide business and financial advice to early and later stage SME companies, including mini-grid developers, solar home system distributors, stand-alone solar appliance suppliers, and other service providers.
• Provide support to SME clients on their business models, partnership facilitation, project development, investment readiness, financial modeling, and capital raising.
• Develop relationships with local investors, financial institutions and donors active in the energy access sector.
• Manage and mentor junior advisory team members to help them deliver on programme objectives and grow their skills and experience.
• Work closely with the Business Development team, leading and supporting proposals. 
• Work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation team to ensure expected results for advisory activities are measured and evaluated.
• Help E4I to develop its internal processes and institutional knowledge of energy access financing, business models, regulatory issues etc. 
• Represent E4I and make presentations at conferences and networking events.
• Provide thought-leadership around the gaps in the market and how E4I can help fill those gaps. Stay up-to-date on market news, regulations, and trends in the field of energy access and productive use of electricity in Africa, particularly in relation to private companies, suppliers, funders, donors and other NGOs

Business Development (<20% time)

• Support organizational efforts to identify and secure new funding from potential donors in East Africa and other parts of Africa.
• Working together with the Business Development team, prepare bids, concept notes and proposals for donors consistent with the objectives and requirements of the potential donor.
• Build and develop relationships with potential donors focused on East Africa, including development agencies, development financing institutions, trusts and foundations, and other potential targets.
• Build and develop relationships with potential bidding and implementing partners and lead the development of strategic partnerships as required.

Work Experience

• 7-12 years’ experience in at least one and preferably several of the following areas:

1. Energy project development, operations, financing or appliances 
2. Financial advisory, the management or strategic consulting
3. Early-stage business building as an entrepreneur, investor (PE/VC/impact investing) or incubator
4. Management of donor programmes, preferably in an African energy access context
5. Business development and fundraising for NGOs, preferably in an African context

• Experience working with rural and off-grid business models and financing and an understanding of the unique challenges faced by businesses operating in Africa.

Academic and Professional Qualifications

Graduate Degree in Business Management, Economics, Finance, International Development, Energy, Environment, Climate Change or other relevant subjects 

Skills and Knowledge

• Excellent organisation and project management skills. Ability to manage multiple programmes and client engagements, meet deadlines and allocate resources and budgets effectively.
• Excellent team management, building and motivational skills. Track record managing a diverse mix of professionals and different cultures.
• Ability to mentor clients and help them develop commercial or technical solutions. 
• Ability to critique and develop financial models.
• Strong understanding of the off-grid market, and the entrepreneurial and impact investing sector, preferably in an African context. A good understanding of the productive uses of electricity such as solar irrigation, solar cooling, and Agri processing would be an advantage.
• Strong network in energy access space, including SMEs, investors, donors, and other stakeholders. Ability to develop partnerships and strong and effective relationships with key industry stakeholders.
• Very strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to write high-quality reports and proposals.
• Ability to work with a diverse mix of professionals and different cultures.
• Effective public speaker or workshop facilitator.
• Fluent English a must.
• Fluent French an advantage.

Attributes

• Team player.
• Attention to detail and a focus on results.
• Ability to think outside the box.
• Ability to see the big picture and connect the dots.
• Ability to work calmly under pressure.
• A can-do and collaborative mindset – comfortable with the ambiguities and demands of a rapidly evolving and entrepreneurial environment with a team from diverse backgrounds.
• Willingness to travel in country, regionally and internationally sometimes on short notice.
• Passion for working in the impact space.
• Close alignment with E4I’s mission and values

E4I exists because of their concerns for global inequality and climate change – this is the core of what drives us. They aim to be a caring, compassionate organization respectful of differences, and to treat their staff fairly and to help them develop as professionals and as people.
 

• Client-focused - They serve the needs of their clients in a professional and client-focused way.
• Caring - They care about people and contribute to their wellbeing, and minimize the effects of inequality, poverty and climate change.
• Learning - They continuously learn from their own experiences and those of others in order to improve their practices.
• Ethical - They are ethical and transparent in all their dealings, always maintaining a high level of personal integrity.
•  Appropriate - They promote the use of appropriate solutions consistent with the circumstances of their clients and their markets.
• Respectful - They respect and value their stakeholders and act with fairness to all

The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate commitment and loyalty and perform all duties in accordance with the organization’s office routines and procedures, keeping in mind the overall business objectives.

Energy 4 Impact is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability.