Senior Project Officer

SENIOR PROJECT OFFICER (40 H/WEEK)

Position: Senior Project Officer

Reports to: Head of Programme, East Africa

Hours: 40 hours, flexitime possible

Duration: open-ended contract

Location: Vienna

About REEEP

The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) invests in clean energy markets in low- and middle-income countries to generate energy access, improve lives and economic opportunities, build sustainable markets, and combat climate change. REEEP is a Quasi-International Organisation under Austrian law operating in a growing international environment that is rapidly expanding in influence and impact. REEEP values innovation, cooperation and commitment and has a young and results-oriented team of approximately 26 staff at its International Secretariat in Vienna, Austria working hand-in-hand with partners based in our countries of implementation.

About the Energy Access Team

The Access Team has vast experience designing public-private approaches and programmes to support rural electrification, growth of productive energy use in agriculture and value chains and innovative energy services to support countries in advancing inclusive, sustainable growth. We have supported dozens of projects across Africa, Asia and Latin America. One of our key programmes is the pan-African initiative Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa.

About the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA)

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA; https://beyondthegrid.africa/) is a multi-year, market-based energy access programme covering Zambia, Burkina Faso, Liberia and Mozambique and currently funded by the governments of Sweden, Denmark and Germany. The programme is based on the successful implementation of this approach in Zambia (https://www.bgfz.org/), which has shown that innovative results-based financing can be a powerful instrument in incentivising private sector early movers to scale business ventures in frontier off-grid energy markets. BGFA is managed by the Nordic Environment Finance Company (NEFCO), based in Helsinki, Finland, and implemented by REEEP.

About the Role

As part of the REEEP Energy Access Team, you will be working specifically on the Beyond the Grid Fund Africa (BGFA) programme and reporting to the Head of Programme, East Africa as well as working closely with Analysts. The position is designed to ensure the organizational efficiency and effectiveness of BGFA implementation by managing internal operational functions of the programme, supporting compliance to ensure alignment with all funder/government and REEEP requirements, and contributing to delivery of programme components. The position requires a passion for the goals of BGFA, dedication to the customers we serve and a focus on excellent partner relations. This position supports internal daily operations, planning, budgeting and monitoring of the use of resources and focuses on continuous improvement in operations and processes. You will establish and support implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs), develop tracking and reporting tools, and develop and monitor information flows. You will also contribute to proposal evaluations and due diligence, as well as provide technical assistance to energy service companies contracted under BGFA in fields relevant to your skills and experience (e.g. consumer protection, HR and human capital development, corporate governance, sales & credit management and/or affordability of energy services).

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support establishment, management and monitoring of an implementation plan for BGFA

• Support establishment and negotiation of BGFA programme and sub-component budgets and related ToRs

• Support reporting and internal monitoring of budgets and deliverables

• Data analysis and reporting in MS Excel using pivot tables or other relevant techniques, as well as creation of graphs and exhibits to analyse trends or compare different groups.

• Prepare accurate and timely submission of BGFA biannual narrative and financial reporting to NEFCO. This would include coordination and curation of required submissions, and synthesizing contributions from other team members

• Establish and optimize internal operational processes for programme management and reporting, information flow, process improvement and organizational planning

• Support maintaining the relationship with the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO), Facility Manager of BGFA, Sida and the Swedish embassies in BGFA countries, and other BGFA implementation partners

• Contribute to evaluation and due diligence of proposed projects under BGFA funding windows

• Support Analysts in engagement with companies contracted under BGFA, and aid the related identification and prioritisation of technical assistance needs and support related documentation

• Provide technical assistance to energy service companies in specified focus areas, in cooperation with Analysts

• Provide technical and administrative support as well as research required in developing new BGFA funding windows in new BGFA countries and markets

• Support designing of strategic growth as well as financial and budget models for REEEP and BGFA operations as needed

• Serve as a liaison to REEEP legal counsel in addressing legal issues, engage in procurement and contracting of external service providers

• Collaborate with the REEEP finance department in the creation of financial reporting and programme budgeting

• Improve coordination and communications across the programme to increase effectiveness and efficiency (operational aspects as well as knowledge management)

• Contribute to risk analysis for the programme

• Support the development of new projects as well as related proposal writing and liaison with funders

About the Profile

Essential Criteria

• Minimum of 3-5 years of relevant experience, a demonstrated track record of operations and or project/programme management experience in building, improving and maintaining structures, systems and processes

• Graduate degree in business management, finance, human resources or related field (or a strong record of work experience in pertinent fields)

• Experience in an international non-profit environment; with managing funding from public donors, governments, international organisations, and foundations

• Data collection and reporting in Excel/Pivot tables and other data management and presentation tools. Experience with pulling data from database using webforms or SQL as well as training in statistics or quantitative research methods an advantage.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products and customer relationship management systems

• Financial management and budget development skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English

• Independent self-starter with strong interpersonal and team skills

• Written and interpersonal communications

• Strong organizational skills with a bias for action

• Hands-on, practical attitude, well-organized and able to prioritize, honest and open-minded team player

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in working with and in sub-Saharan Africa is a distinct advantage, especially in the fields of clean energy solutions, development cooperation off-grid and/or PAYG business models in developing country contexts

• Experience with, and/or demonstrated motivation to focus on, aspects of consumer protection, HR and human capital development, corporate governance, sales & credit management are strongly desired. Experience in topics of gender, environmental management, financial analysis, financing and/or policy and regulation

• knowledge of French and/or Portuguese

• Experience in contract management

About the Package

For this 40h/week full time position, REEEP offers a minimum monthly salary of EUR 2.800 (gross, paid 14 times per year, subject to Austrian social security contributions, currently free of income tax due to REEEP’s special status as a “Quasi-International Organisation”). It further includes five weeks paid leave as well as an average of 14 Austrian and UN holidays per annum. Several other fringe benefits for employees are included in the package

The envisaged starting date is July 2022.

The REEEP offices are located in the Vienna International Centre (“UNO City”) in Vienna, Austria. REEEP is not in the position to cover relocation costs or any other travel costs incurred, e.g. for job interviews.

REEEP is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard for age, gender, race, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability or sexual orientation.

About the Application

Applicants are kindly requested to address their CV, motivation letter and any supporting documents to jobs@reeep.org. Please note that only complete and timely submitted applications will be considered and that only short-listed candidates will receive individual communication. The selection procedure may include a written test.

Application deadline: June 10, 2022 (23.59 CET)

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