Job Opportunity: Global Director at Enter Energy

Job Opportunity: Enter Energy – Global Director.  

Job location: Nairobi, Kenya and various locations.

Employer: MERCY CORPS

Mercy Corps is a leading international non-profit organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. It has a team of more than 6,000 humanitarians, who work in over 40 countries to help people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Mercy Corps leverages the expertise of its Energy 4 Impact (E4I) energy access platform to increase access to climate-smart, sustainable energy, improving the lives of millions around the world.

ABOUT ENTER ENERGY

Investment in clean energy services for the humanitarian sector is critical to attaining universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy services (SDG7) and to leaving no one behind.  Modern energy access is also a key enabler to economic development and livelihood opportunities, food and water security, reducing environmental degradation, and supporting more peaceful coexistence of refugees and host communities – while lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Against this backdrop, Mercy Corps developed the Enter Energy Initiative whose vision is to power displaced and host communities in their journey to resilience through clean, affordable and sustainable energy solutions and decarbonize the humanitarian operations that support them.

The main objective of Enter Energy is to provide the enabling environment for reputable energy companies to deploy sustainable, clean, and affordable energy services to improve the socio-economic well-being of displaced and host communities, while contributing to the decarbonization of humanitarian operations. Over the next five years, Mercy Corps seeks to scale this vision to up to 10 countries globally.

ENTER ENERGY – GLOBAL DIRECTOR

 This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader with a background in energy access, energy markets, private sector development and/or humanitarian interventions to make a real impact. The Enter Energy Global Director will lead the realization of the Enter Energy vision across countries and in conjunction with key internal and external stakeholders and partners.

The Enter Energy Global Director will spearhead the Global Enter Energy Hub: an ecosystem support actor that builds evidence, collects best practices, forms or supports new partnerships, tests innovations, raises and helps deploy finance, and advocates with key stakeholders to remove barriers to the quicker deployment of sustainable humanitarian energy solutions. A key deliverable of the Global Hub is provision of technical support to the country programs to ensure quality implementation.

The Enter Energy Director will:

• finalize the vision and pathway to growth for Enter Energy, also lead advocacy for the Enter Energy model to become the reference model for humanitarian agencies that want to power their own operations and programming in situations of displacement;
• promote partnerships with the private and public sector to deploy the best practices of public-private sector-led renewable energy services provision in situations of displacement;
• lead the blended fundraising efforts for Enter Energy to reach scale by building on MC existing donor relationships and establishing new ones; 
• provide oversight for quality program implementation

They will work closely with MC Technical Support Unit, Regional and Country teams, Programs, New Initiatives, Fundraising, Communications, and Finance teams.

RESPONSIBILITIES

●        Oversight for quality program implementation

• Through regular check-in calls and country visits, provide ongoing technical assistance and portfolio management oversight to the Enter Energy programs in Ethiopia, Uganda, Somalia and Jordan to ensure quality implementation according to the Mercy Corps Program Quality Standards
• Act technical back-stopper for program implementation in the various countries, working closely with the program team, country leadership and TRaQ
• Work with the Complex Program Board and Coordinator to fulfil the Complex Program requirements including board meetings and reporting
• Provide program management for the Enter Energy Expansion grant
• Together with the country team and the MCE Desk, manage the donor relationship with including opportunities for program expansion

●        Vision and Pathway to Growth

• Lead the development and creation of a pathway to scale for the implementation of the Enter Energy Initiative’s vision and strategy including the development of a strategic and business plan for Humanitarian Energy Plc.
• Supervise the collaboration with internal stakeholders to determine the most appropriate legal set-up for the scale up of the Humanitarian Energy venture.
• Closely liaise with implementing countries teams to ensure correct leverage of existing programs and clear understanding of regulatory framework to contextualize the Enter Energy Initiative
• Leverage humanitarian energy initiatives to ensure complementarity toward maximization of impact (e.g. derisking financial mechanisms)

●        Partnerships promotion and Advocacy

• Lead advocacy efforts within the humanitarian sector to encourage partner agencies to adapt and tailor the Enter Energy model to their operational and programmatic commitments to decarbonize their interventions in situations of displacement
• Develop alliances and partnerships with potential partners from the humanitarian, private and public sectors
• Represent the Enter Energy Initiative internally and externally, focusing on enhancing visibility through communication materials and channels; and at dedicated fora (e.g. working groups, conferences, events, humanitarian cluster structure)

●        Fundraising

• Lead the Global Enter Energy Hub’s efforts to identify and secure new donor funding for the Enter Energy initiative, in close collaboration with MC Programs, New Initiatives, Fundraising, Communications, and Finance teams
• Build relationships with existing and new donors, including development agencies, development financing institutions, corporate trusts and foundations, and other potential targets
• Lead the preparation of high-quality bids, proposals and concept notes which are consistent with the vision of the Enter Energy Initiative and tailored to the needs of the donor. Some proposals will be solicited, while others will be unsolicited and bespoke
• Analyse new business opportunities (e.g requests for proposal) and make go/no go recommendations 

REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications

• Undergraduate Degree in Business Management, Economics, Finance, International Development, Energy, Environment, Climate Change or other relevant subject.

Experience

• 7 years’ experience in leading and shaping innovative initiatives, including in humanitarian settings and/or energy sectors
• Advocacy and relationship building and management experience with UN and other NGOs
• Positive track record in establishing partnerships with private and public sector organizations
• 5 years’ experience in NGO fundraising, business development and proposal preparation, ideally in an energy access and humanitarian response context

Skills and Knowledge

• Clear visioning and leadership skills to be able to positively influence internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to develop partnerships and strong and effective relationships with multiple stakeholders
• Excellent organization and project management skills. Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines
• Successful track record in program fundraising (for projects of $100,000 to $10 million), especially in energy access and humanitarian response
• Extensive network with public donors, private foundations and other relevant stakeholders
• Strong written and oral communication skills. Ability to prepare high-quality proposals and concept notes and communicate complex ideas in a user-friendly way
• Strong analytical and research skills
• Ability to work with a diverse mix of professionals and different cultures
• Fluent English a must
• Fluent French an advantage

Personal Qualities

• Big vision and innovative thinker
• Team player
• High energy
• Attention to detail and a focus on results
• Ability to think outside the box, to see the big picture and connect the dots
• Ability to work calmly under pressure
• A can-do and collaborative mindset
• Willingness to travel internationally, sometimes at short notice
• Passion for working in the development and impact sector
• Close alignment with the mission and values of Mercy Corps

For more details about the job posting and how to apply, click on the link below:

https://jobs.jobvite.com/mercycorps/job/o9xOufwI?__jvst=Job%20Board&__jvsd=LinkedIn

brian@theenergyreview.com