Senior Associate, Clean Energy Access

About the Organization

CLASP serves 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, lowest resource-intensive appliances possible.

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

 About the Role

CLASP is seeking a dynamic, detail-oriented, and mission-driven Senior Associate to support the growing Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) program. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to one of the most ambitious efforts to accelerate access to clean cooking solutions by supporting project execution across venture building, policy, innovation, and market shaping.

The Senior Associate will report to the Venture Building Lead and work closely with the broader MECS program team across Kenya, India, Indonesia, and the UK. While they will primarily support venture building activities – including working with clean cooking enterprises, research partners, and investors – they will also be assigned to lead or support smaller projects across the program’s other pillars. This role requires someone who is a systems thinker, collaborative, thrives in fast-paced environments, and brings strong execution and communication skills.

This is a full-time position based in Nairobi, Kenya. Occasional regional or international travel may be required.

The Ideal Candidate

• Organized & proactive: You’re a self-starter who thrives on coordinating multiple moving parts, ensuring that no detail falls through the cracks.
• Collaborative & mission-aligned: You value diverse perspectives and enjoy working with technical and non-technical stakeholders toward a shared goal.
• Analytical & adaptable: You are comfortable with both data and ambiguity – able to interpret trends, ask the right questions, and adjust as needed.
• Skilled communicator: You’re a clear, persuasive communicator, both in writing and in person. You can engage confidently across cultural and professional settings.
• Energized by impact: You care about climate action, clean energy, and market-based solutions that improve people’s lives – and are ready to roll up your sleeves to help make it happen

Key Responsibilities

• Program Planning and Execution: Demonstrated experience in planning and implementing programs aligned with strategic objectives. Ability to develop workplans, budgets, terms of reference, and lead on-time, high-quality delivery of program activities. Skilled at tracking progress against targets, adapting approaches based on learning, and communicating effectively with funders and external partners.
• Partnership and Ecosystem Engagement: Proven ability to manage and grow relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders, including startups, SMEs, incubators, investors, donor agencies, and government counterparts. Experience supporting or engaging with early-stage ventures or clean energy companies is strongly preferred.
• Research and Market Analysis: Strong analytical skills, with experience conducting sector research, synthesizing user and market data, and supporting product or business model development. Ability to translate insights into actionable recommendations and contribute to strategic decision-making.
• Venture Building and Private Sector Engagement: Understanding of what it takes to support early-stage companies in emerging markets, particularly in clean energy or appliances. Familiarity with concepts like product-market fit, investor readiness, last-mile distribution, and inclusive business models is highly desirable.
• Communications and Coordination: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing reports, briefs, and presentations for a range of audiences. Ability to coordinate across teams, organize events or workshops, and support dissemination of program results through compelling narratives.
• Program and Business Development: Experience identifying new project or partnership opportunities, conducting background research, and contributing to proposal writing and donor engagement. Ability to align new ideas with program and organizational priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., business, economics, engineering, international development, environmental science, or related disciplines). A graduate degree is an advantage but not required.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in any of the following: management consulting, impact investing, venture capital, startup incubation, corporate innovation, development finance, clean energy, or social enterprise.
• Experience supporting or working within early-stage businesses, accelerators, or public-private partnerships – especially in emerging markets—is highly desirable.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with a track record of delivering high-quality outputs on time.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and cloud-based collaboration tools (e.g., Asana, SharePoint, or similar).
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, global, and collaborative environment.
• A sense of humor, humility, and the ability to thrive in a mission-driven team.

Compensation and Location

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 selected candidate is expected to work out of CLASP’s office in Nairobi. Early morning or evening hours are sometime necessary to accommodate international collaboration; some travel and weekend hours may also be required. We are an equal opportunity employer. Apply for this position at this link here.

CLASP is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate 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.