Chemonics seeks an Access to Energy Lead for the USAID Empower Southern Africa (ESA) project. ESA is a 5-year regional program that covers South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros and Sao Tome and Principe. The primary purpose of ESA is to increase the availability of, access to, and use of affordable, reliable, sustainable and clean energy in Southern Africa in order to reach measurable development outcomes. Measurable development outcomes include economic growth, reducing poverty, improving livelihoods, and increasing inclusive access to electricity-enabled services in such areas as health, education, sanitation and food security. This position will be based in Pretoria, South Africa. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people and communities around the world.

Responsibilities include:

• Partner with national authorities across the region to accelerate critical grid expansion and densification projects, including supporting previously selected projects and identifying additional high-potential investments
• Engage with financial institutions to reduce constraints on lending for energy access businesses and mini-grids
• Engage with investors to expand access to equity investment in energy access businesses and mini-grids
• Collaborate with USAID, NGOs, consortium partners, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment and support for energy access initiatives
• Ensure one-team approach with consortium partners NRECA and EPRI to deliver assistance to utilities, productive use advice, and distributed RE needs for country activities
• Engage with ESA leverage partners such as Vodacom in the design, partnership formalization, and implementation of off-grid investments
• Develop scopes of work to ensure technical quality and fit with country needs and strategies
• Liaise with MEL and GESI teams so all technical activities are properly set up and continually measured for attribution/contribution to activity targets, including GESI goals
• Supervise LT staff and short-term consultants
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Deputy Chief of Party-Senior Technical Advisor

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, law, engineering, economics, sustainability, policy, or a related field, Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum eight years of experience in implementing activities to increase access to affordable, reliable energy, including household (on-grid and off-grid) and commercial/industrial access
• Familiarity promoting gender equality and social inclusion in the energy sector
• Prior experience with managing a team of subject matter experts across multiple countries
• Familiarity with design and implementation of capacity building programs in the electricity sector
• Excellent interpersonal, diplomacy, and leadership skills, including the ability to manage high-level relationships
• Experience working on both on-grid and off-grid energy opportunities
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility and integrity
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English with command of either French or Portuguese a plus