Nairobi, Kenya or Washington, DC | Full Time

About the Organization

CLASP focuses on appliance & equipment energy performance and quality, to mitigate and adapt to climate change, expand access to clean energy, and improve lives. We serve at the epicenter of collaborative, ambitious efforts to mitigate climate change and in the global movement for clean energy access, through appliance efficiency.

Our mission is to improve the energy and environmental performance of the appliances & equipment we use every day, accelerating our transition to a more sustainable world. We work hand-in-hand with governments, experts, industry, consumers, donor organizations, and others to propel policies and markets toward the highest-quality, least resource-intensive appliances possible.

CLASP has worked in more than 100 countries since our inception in 1999. We have offices in Washington, DC; Nairobi, Kenya; Jakarta, Indonesia; and New Delhi, India, with additional teams in Brazil, Europe and China. We are mission-driven and committed to a culture of diversity, transparency, collaboration, and impactful work. See our Team Page to learn more about us.

CLASP’s Clean Energy Access Team

CLASP’s Clean Energy Access program supports ambitious efforts to increase global access to clean energy through appliance and equipment energy efficiency. We work in partnership with key stakeholders in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and China, with support from a diverse group of funders.

Our team helps build healthy markets for off-grid solar products by driving innovation and sales in early-stage product markets, surfacing data and research on product performance, market trends, and consumer preferences, establishing technical foundations for consumer protection, and aligning sector stakeholders across the value-chain.

From advancing off-grid solar technologies, bringing power to energy-impoverished people, to building climate resilience of underserved communities, CLASP’s CEA program increases uptake of affordable, low-impact, high-quality appliances. Initiatives include the Efficiency for Access Coalition and its flagship Low-Energy Inclusive Appliances program, the Global LEAP Awards, and VeraSol Quality Assurance, among others. Learn more about our programs.

About the Role

The Global LEAP Awards Manager will be responsible for the design and implementation of awards competitions, a key part of CLASP’s Clean Energy Access portfolio. CLASP uses competitions to identify and promote the world’s best, most energy-efficient off-grid appliances. The Awards Manager will lead this area of work, seeing ongoing competitions through to successful completion and developing new competitions.

The Awards Manager will be based in CLASP’s Washington, DC or Nairobi, Kenya office and will work collaboratively with CLASP team members in the United States, Africa, India, and elsewhere, along with our wide network of international partners and program stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of awards competitions from inception to completion, including budget, personnel, reporting, and timelines.
• Lead a team of CLASP staff and/or contractors, managing the day-to-day workflow and program implementation and providing quality control and technical leadership on projects.
• Build and develop strategic partnerships with stakeholders including expert judges, test laboratories, appliance manufacturers and distributors, and other program partners.
• Serve as a spokesperson for CLASP and Global LEAP Awards, communicating about the program and its achievements.
• Design new Global LEAP Awards competitions, including preparing proposals and fundraising for them.
• Contribute to thought leadership by, for example, writing editorials on the role awards competitions can play in expanding markets for off-grid appliances.

Who You Are

• Analyze for opportunity. You analyze the potential for projects to enhance our programs. You identify new projects and support the design along with our senior leadership team.
• Promote collaboration. You promote collaboration and solicit feedback from team and partners and develop plans to improve project/product quality and deliverables. You engage clients and partners, obtaining feedback on project/product performance.
• Manage the Project Cycle. You ensure that our services meet timelines and standards. You set project and program work plans ensuring responsiveness and relevance to client expectations and organizational goals and objectives.
• An Effective Collaborator. You’ve successfully worked across cultural lines on a dispersed team, and you have the ability to operate in complex situations. You can easily gain trust from team members and are known for supporting them to ensure they are set up for success. You’re not afraid to ask questions.
• Flexible. You can manage a diverse set of team needs and aren’t afraid to step outside your job description or comfort zone to help the team reach its goals. You’re comfortable with shifting schedules and don’t expect every day to go “as planned.”
• A Humble Teammate. Nothing is beneath or above you. You are quick to always lend a hand or two! You are able to earn influence without authority and naturally seek to support both small projects or large strategic goals.
• An Abundant Thinker. You believe that we are living in a world of abundant resources and that the right team of partners can make improbable things happen. You bring relentless curiosity and creativity to every task, project, and engagement.
• Mission-oriented. You believe in the mission of CLASP and are passionate about global access to clean energy, climate change, energy efficiency, and creating a more sustainable world.

What You Will Need:

• A track record of achievement in energy access program design and implementation, including international experience. At least seven years of overall professional experience in energy or international development, with experience in awards or competitions a plus.
• Experience managing complex and fast-paced projects, with a track record of completing projects on budget and delivering to project goals.

• Impeccable organization: you are highly detail-oriented, and someone who gets a real sense of satisfaction from producing polished work and managing smooth and orderly processes.
• Strong understanding of energy efficiency, product performance and experience working with private sector players.
• Significant experience managing relationships with clients and/or funders, and experience with managing staff, contractors, and consultants.
• Persuasive communication skills, both verbal and written; excellent written and spoken English a must.

• Strong analytical skills, including experience with Excel and/or other analytical software and the ability to translate data into insights that inform decision making.
• A commitment to diversity and inclusion. You’re always asking: “whose voice is not at the table?” You have experience working with diverse teams and successfully navigating cross-cultural communication in both local and global contexts, and you deeply value creating a workplace that is supportive of difference.

Compensation and Location

CLASP provides its employees with a highly competitive salary that is benchmarked with other non-profit organizations. Working with colleagues across global time zones should be expected. International travel will be required. CLASP also provides a comprehensive benefits package, including fully paid health insurance for individuals and competitive rates for families/dependents, unlimited leave and all federal holidays, an impressive match of employee contributions to the 403b retirement plan and a collegial office environment that supports professional development, wellness and flexible telecommuting options.

This is a full-time position, and candidates must either be based in or willing to relocate to the Washington D.C. area or Nairobi, Kenya. The role requires in-office attendance for at least five days each month. We are committed to ensuring equitable, market-based, and transparent salaries. The salary range for this position is $84,199.00 to $125,247.00 in the U.S. and $51,794.00 to $90,640.00 in Kenya. Compensation will be determined based on the candidate’s experience, education, and relevant skills. Preference will be given to candidates located in Nairobi, Kenya, but those in Washington, D.C. will also be considered.

The Application Process

To be considered for a position, interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter, indicating your desired position and salary requirements, at the following link. This position will remain open until filled.

CLASP is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. Each person is evaluated based on personal skill and merit.