Technical Project Manager – Energy Access & GIS (French-Speaking) at VIDA

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Technical Project Manager with a strong background in energy access in Africa, combined with knowledge of GIS and data science. The ideal candidate will be responsible for leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects, coordinating technical and operational activities, and ensuring successful delivery of outcomes that support sustainable energy access and geospatial planning.
This role requires a blend of project management expertise, technical understanding of geospatial and data-driven solutions, and experience working with governments and development partners

Key Responsibilities

Project Management & Leadership

• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of energy access projects where geospatial technologies are applied, ensuring they are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget.
• Act as the primary point of contact for VIDA’s customers and partners/stakeholders, including governments, donors, development partners, and local institutions.
• Ensure clear documentation, reporting, and communication across all project phases.
• Coordinate cross-functional delivery with VIDA’s Data Solutions team (Data Scientists) and other internal contributors.
• Translate partner needs into clear scopes, workplans, and technical requirements.
• Plan and track Data Solutions workstreams (e.g., analyses, datasets, QA, inputs to platform configuration) against project milestones.
• Facilitate prioritization, trade-offs, and risk mitigation with internal team leads and project stakeholders.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with mainly Francophone government institutions, development agencies, and private sector stakeholders (mainly in Africa).
• Facilitate workshops, trainings, and meetings to ensure alignment and adoption of project outcomes — primarily in French for Francophone country engagements.
• Coordinate with business teams to ensure Key Accounts relationships are strong and value is regularly created.

Technical & Geospatial Oversight

• Oversee integration of GIS and data science methods into project design and execution.
• Support the collection, validation, and analysis of geospatial data.
• Collaborate with data science teams to ensure analyses inform decision-making (e.g., least-cost electrification, national electrification strategies and plans, mini-grid viability analysis, etc.).
• Ensure project outputs (VIDA software and data products, reports) meet technical quality standards and are accessible to end-users.

Monitoring & Reporting

• Track progress toward deliverables and provide timely project updates to management and partners.
• Ensure compliance with client requirements.
• Prepare high-quality presentations and reports for diverse audiences.

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Qualifications

Essential

• Master’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Energy, Environmental Science, Engineering, Geography, Data Science, or related fields.
• Minimum 3-5 years of professional experience in energy access projects in Africa, with governments and donors (World Bank, AfDB, UN, bilateral donors).
• Strong project management skills with demonstrated experience leading multi-partner initiatives.
• Familiarity with GIS tools (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS) and basic understanding of data analysis concepts, and preferably applied experience in Python and/or SQL).
• Experience engaging with government agencies, regulators, and development partners in Africa.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluency in French (Level C1 for oral and written), as much as English.