Full time (Fluency in French preferred)

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 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 Climate Team

CLASP’s Climate program supports ambitious efforts to mitigate climate change through appliance and equipment energy efficiency. We work in partnership with policymakers and other key stakeholders in dozens of countries—from Brazil to Indonesia, the EU to China—with support from a diverse group of funders.

Our team provides world-class technical and policy advisory services directly to governments to develop and implement the most ambitious and cost-effective appliance efficiency policies all over the world. We accelerate the development of energy-efficient product markets through minimum energy performance standards, informative product labeling, and identification and promotion of the most efficient appliances, both on and off the grid. Our programs are designed to maximize impacts by targeting high emitters, raising the bar through ground-breaking policies, and advancing technologies to meet sustainable development aspirations around the world.

In Africa, we engage at the regional level to advance ambitious policy action and mobilize champions in support of global actions (e.g. the Clean Lighting Coalition).  Nationally, we work with policymakers in some of the largest markets, including South Africa and Nigeria, supporting the development and implementation of policies for the most energy-consuming products.

CLASP’s Clean Energy Access Team

CLASP’s Clean Energy Access (CEA) 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, East and West Africa, 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 programs increase uptake of affordable, low-impact, high-quality appliances.

In Africa, CLASP’s energy access programs include the Efficiency for Access Coalition and its flagship Low-Energy Inclusive Appliances program, VeraSol Quality Assurance program, the Productive Use Financing Facility, and the Energy Access Institutions Facility among other initiatives in the pipeline. Learn more about our programs.

Position Summary

The Africa Policy Manager will develop and manage CLASP’s policy portfolio in Africa. They will lead engagement with African policymakers in support of both CLASP’s Climate and Clean Energy Access portfolios. For the Climate program, the manager will support appliance energy efficiency programs across the region, including national programs in South Africa and Nigeria, and a regional program under the Clean Lighting Coalition, with the goal of delivering significant energy savings and carbon emissions reductions. For the Clean Energy Access program, they will lead on government engagement and management of consultants supporting the adoption of quality standards for distributed renewable energy technologies and also engage with government stakeholders to integrate efficient solar-powered appliances into national policies and actions that improve access to energy.  The Africa Policy Manager will be responsible for overseeing, executing, and contributing to activities under this portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and develop strategic partnerships with stakeholders in Africa, including government agencies, funding institutions, program partners, appliance manufacturers and distributors, local and international NGOs and companies, etc. Broaden these partnerships to include stakeholders beyond traditional energy sectors, such as representatives from the agriculture, health, education, and finance sectors, to create multidisciplinary alliances that can influence and support energy access policies.
• Represent CLASP in external fora, including regional events, national consultations, discussions with policymakers and other stakeholders in various countries, developing and strengthening external relationships across stakeholders.
• Design and implement ambitious energy efficiency programs in line with CLASP’s strategic goals, drawing from global best practices, and addressing national and regional needs.
• Develop proposals and support fundraising activities.
• Lead a team of CLASP staff and local contractors, managing the day-to-day workflow and program implementation, including quality control and technical leadership on projects where required.
• Establish monitoring and evaluation frameworks, in partnership with the Impact Manager, to assess the effectiveness of policy initiatives and programs, providing feedback loops for continuous improvement and evidence-based advocacy.
• Contribute to thought leadership by developing policy briefs, position papers, and case studies that articulate the benefits of energy-efficient appliances as is related to CLASP climate and energy access goals.
• Develop and manage capacity-building programs for local policymakers, industry players, and other stakeholders to enhance their understanding of energy efficiency’s role in energy access and climate change mitigation.

CLASP Competencies

• 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.
• 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.

The Ideal Candidate

• A track record of achievement in energy efficiency and access programs, including international experience. 7+ years of overall professional experience in energy or environmental policy, with experience on appliance energy efficiency a plus.
• Bachelors’ degree in a relevant field (e.g. engineering, international relations, environmental science and policy, economics, energy studies) required. Masters’ degree preferred.
• Strong analytical skills, including experience with Excel and/or other analytical software and the ability to translate analysis into policy recommendations is highly preferred.
• Significant experience managing relationships with clients and/or funders, and experience with managing staff, contractors, and consultants.
• Strong technical expertise and project management experience. You have a strong understanding of energy efficiency technologies and policies. You have a demonstrated track record of managing projects and budget and delivering to project goals.
• Ability to handle multiple deadlines and complete assignments with minimal supervision in a fast-paced workplace.
• 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.
• Persuasive communication skills, both verbal and written; excellent written and spoken English a must and fluency in French preferred.
• 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.
• Experience writing for and communicating to a donor audience and coordinating projects with subject matter experts and teams on reporting or fundraising.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an orientation toward working in a collaborative environment; ability to maintain composure, flexibility, and a sense of humor under tight deadlines.
• Candidates with experience in the energy efficiency or clean energy access sector strongly preferred; those with experience in international development broadly, renewable energy, and/or sustainable development may also be considered.

Compensation and Location

CLASP provides its employees with a highly competitive salary that is benchmarked annually with other non-profit organizations. Our preference is for the candidate to be located or be able to relocate to Nairobi, Kenya.  Colleagues across global time zones should be expected. Frequent travel throughout Africa and occasional travel to the US and other global destinations will be required. Compensation will range between $52,000-$75,000 based on the candidate’s level of experience.

To Apply

To be considered for this position, interested candidates can send in their CVs along with a cover note to jesulobailesanmi@michaelpage.co.za. Michael Page is a pioneering executive search firm and has been retained to hire for this position. Only shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview. 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.