Energy Poverty Program Development Manager

MERCY CORPS CLIMATE INITIATIVE

Mercy Corps launched a climate change initiative in October 2006 in recognition that climate change will be a driver of future global humanitarian crises and threatens to undermine any development progress made to date in support of the populations that we serve.

Mercy Corps considers climate change a lens through which to assess both threats and opportunities to development and humanitarian action. Our efforts are intended to provide adaptation strategies for communities coping with the effects of climate change; and provide viable options for communities to overcome poverty and access clean energy while diminishing their own negative impacts on the environment.

Mercy Corps leverages its presence in more than 35 countries with the intent of reaching hundreds of communities and thousands of people to bring results to scale. Regarding climate change it focuses on three main areas:

• Alternative energy: Identifying and promoting alternative energy options that benefit poor and vulnerable communities and provide sustainable economic benefits at meaningful scale.
• Sustainable Resource Management: Supporting and promoting best practices and enhancing community capacity to protect environmental and ecological services.
• Advocacy, Outreach, and Example: Catalyzing governments and people to replicate successful, environment and climate-friendly programs.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY

The Energy Poverty Program Development Manager will provide strong technical advice and training in community energy products and value chains, working closely with the Mercy Corps Climate Change Director. S/he will lead and advise on technical development and implementation of community-based energy poverty alleviation programs within the agency’s broader development and emergency response remits.

The position is called for as Mercy Corps’ climate programming portfolio includes a range of alternative energy proposals and programs intended to reduce energy poverty, particularly for vulnerable communities likely to remain off grid into the foreseeable future. This portfolio is increasingly in scope and, given the anticipated growth of future country programs, is likely to evolve even more so in the future. Technical backstopping in a range of community-based products including stoves, solar lights, biogas and other installations has become a vital requirement. Supporting needs are maintaining standards of program delivery that meet industrial carbon credit verification requirements, and carbon credit generation. Ability to network with energy product suppliers and relevant donors is essential.

Together with Mercy Corps field teams, the Energy Poverty Program Development Manager will help to design new initiatives and programs, develop competitive proposals for submission to donors, assist in liaison with energy product suppliers, carbon brokers and other relevant potential funding sources, ensure that programs are meeting high standards for technical quality, and play an active role in disseminating lessons learned.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

1. Program/Proposal Development

Work closely with team members in headquarters and the field to design new projects and advise on energy strategies, and pre-position for program development opportunities that build on our strength in climate on incorporating best practices in energy poverty alleviation strategies and methodologies into development programs. Cultivate and nurture donor and peer relationships that will strengthen our program development efforts.

2. Design and Delivery of Training Programs

Work closely with MC Climate team members, other relevant HQ field teams to design and deliver locally appropriate/field-based training in a broad range of sectors related to energy poverty alleviation, with a likely emphasis on cook stoves and solar lighting, and probably also including wind, biogas and other installations. Further training topics will include carbon credit generation and concomitant monitoring and evaluation standards.

3. Program Quality

Be part of the MC Climate team providing technical support to the field, with a specific focus on: 1) advising and designing energy poverty surveys and programs seeking to alleviate energy poverty; 2) supporting effective interventions in the area of community-based energy solutions; 3) understanding and maintaining standards of program delivery that meet industrial carbon credit verification requirements; 4) help the Climate team gather, refine and disseminate tools in these areas, such as training presentations and manuals, teaching notes, best practices and lessons learned, program examples, and monitoring and evaluation tools.

4. Representation and Outreach

Actively engage in developing internal and external networks and relationships in order to disseminate information on Mercy Corps energy programs, best practices and lessons learned related to energy poverty alleviation. Present at various meetings, academic events, conferences, media forums and other events.

Organizational Learning

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

The position has supervisory responsibility over interns and/or volunteers

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports directly to: Director of Mercy Corps Climate team.

Works directly with: TSU sectors, HQ and field teams.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• M.S./M.Sc. or equivalent or above in a field related to community-based energy in a development (including disaster) context or related field required.
• Strong familiarity with a broad range of community-based energy technologies, including implementation methodologies and approaches.
• Strong familiarity with both the theory and practice of carbon credit generation and markets preferred.
• Previous experience working in these areas required, with demonstrated experience in field settings essential.
• Superior writing and analytic skills required, with a track record of successful writing/analysis on proposal or grant development preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to Mercy Corps project sites and field locations, including traveling to insecure environments, required.
• Proficiency in a foreign language preferred.

SUCCESS FACTORS

• Ability to demonstrate a winning track record in program development.
• Exceptional writing skills and attention to detail.
• Strong familiarity with community based energy solution and climate change.
• Willingness to take initiative and contribute to team efforts.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Ability to multi-task, set priorities, and work under tight deadlines within complex team environments.
• Awareness and sensitivity to international development issues and diverse cultures.
• Commitment to the values and mission of Mercy Corps.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

This position will be based in either Washington, DC or Cambridge, MA and will require a willingness to travel up to 40% time to field where living conditions may be exceptionally rugged. When in the field the team member will need to able to work in remote settings and possibly over weekends and/or evening as required by the schedule.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Mercy Corps is an AA/EOE.

Please apply directly at:
http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjob&jobid=217803&company_id=15927&jobboardid=479