Research Manager, Clean Energy Access

CLASP is the leading global authority on efficient appliances’ role in fighting climate change and improving people’s lives. With 25 years of expertise, CLASP collaborates with policymakers, industry leaders, and other experts to deliver clear pathways to a more sustainable world for people and the planet.

CLASP is a global nonprofit with offices in Brazil, Europe, India, Indonesia, Kenya, and the United States. We have worked in over 90 countries since our inception in 1999. We are mission-driven and committed to a culture of diversity, transparency, collaboration, and impactful work. Find out more about CLASP.

CLASP’s Clean Energy Access (CEA) programs support 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 and Sub-Saharan Africa 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 the climate resilience of under-served communities, CLASP’s CEA programs increase the uptake of affordable, low-impact, high-quality appliances.

CLASP’s Clean Energy Access Research Manager will lead the research workstream for the Low Energy Inclusive Appliance (LEIA) program, the flagship program of the Efficiency for Access (EforA) coalition, a global coalition that promotes high quality, energy-efficient appliances as a way to boost incomes, reduce carbon emissions, improve quality of life and support sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and beyond.

The Research Manager reports to the LEIA Program Lead and is responsible for steering the energy access research portfolio and overseeing the production of impactful publications in collaboration with CLASP’s Senior Director of Research, CEA Senior Director and the LEIA Program lead. They work collaboratively with CLASP team members in the United States, Kenya, India, Indonesia, and elsewhere, along with our wide network of international partners and program stakeholders.

The CEA Research Manager needs to demonstrate a strong knack for analytical thinking, project management, leading a high performing team, expertise in research methods, a proven track record of producing impactful publications, strong collaboration and communication skills, a commitment to impacts and results, and an ability to adapt quickly to the unprecedented.

• Workstream oversight: Working through the team, direct the implementation, delivery and reporting for the LEIA research outputs. Oversee research budget and staffing plans. Guide and review research project terms of reference and work plans to ensure projects adhere to realistic timelines, stay within budget, and meet CLASP’s quality standards.
• Evolve our energy access research strategy: Support the CEA Director and Senior Director of Research to scope, develop, and roll out an updated research strategy that supports CLASP’s mission to make appliances as planet-neutral and people-positive as possible.
• Lead and grow a high-performing research team: Supervise and enable the continued growth of a dynamic team of professional staff, facilitate research training and professional development, and identify future staffing and recruiting needs.
• Establish and nurture research partnerships: Build support among key stakeholders and forge new, impact-focused partnerships, including with sector industry leaders, think tanks, government decision makers, donor organizations, etc.
• Communication and advocacy: Work with CLASP’s communications team to design and disseminate research outcomes, lessons learned, etc. Represent CLASP at internal and external events, including preparing and presenting research to diverse audiences.
• Support the development of analytical tools: Collaborate with the CLASP Data Scientist and the Monitoring and Evaluation Senior Manager to improve existing tools and develop new analytical tools and features to enhance research and impacts tracking. This includes generating and communicating evidence from our projects for both internal and external stakeholders.

• A team leader and coach with a passion for growing others and building collaborative, high trust working environments.
• Comfortable leading multi-country research projects with strong systems thinking and attention to detail.
• 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 research and publication processes.
• Strategic thinker and creative problem solver — can connect dots and identify obscure trends and then persuade and align diverse stakeholders around a common solution.

• Graduate degree in a relevant field (e.g., engineering, international relations, development, economics, environmental science) is required. A PhD would be preferred or 5+ years of professional research and publication experience: we are excited by candidates with unique and different work histories.
• Ability to handle simultaneous deadlines and complete assignments with minimal supervision in a fast-paced workplace.
• Demonstrated track record in team leadership including remote leadership.
• Strong research and analytical skills and the ability to translate analysis into concise recommendations.
• Demonstrable skills in statistical methods and survey design.
• Outstanding communication skills in both written and spoken English and proven ability to convey technical content in a clear and creative manner.
• A commitment to diversity and inclusion. You’re always asking: “whose voice is not at the table?” You have experience leading/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 differences.
• Ability to maintain composure, flexibility, and a sense of humor under tight deadlines.

CLASP offers competitive compensation commensurate with experience, including fully paid health insurance for individuals and their families/dependents, provident funds and includes a collegial office environment that supports wellness and flexible telecommuting options after a certain period of employment. The annual salary range for this position is $51,794 to $75,101.

The selected candidate is expected to work out of CLASP’s office in Nairobi. CLASP is a global organization and as such, evening or weekend hours may be required at times. The role requires in-office attendance for at least eight days each month.