Vacancy: Head of the Energy Program

Practical Action Southern Africa, part of an international technology development organisation head-quartered in the UK and with other offices in East Africa, Latin America and South Asia, is seeking to recruit a Head of the Energy Program to be based in Harare to strategically lead the direction, growth and implementation of community based projects for this Regional Energy Program. The  program will focus on the  development  and implementation of community  based off the grid  energy systems  with special focus on  Renewable Energy  and energy for cooking  to improve access  to energy for the poor. This is an ambitious programme that contributes to Practical Action’s global change priority for ‘Energy Access for All’. The Head of Programme will also contribute to the group’s Global Energy and Practice and Advocacy Strategy by actively participating in the global energy agenda.

Key deliverables will include, inter alia:
-    Strategic growth of the energy program portfolio to deliver widescale, systemic change in energy access for poor people
-    Adequately resourcing the Energy Program by well-funded projects and budgets management
-    Representing Practical Action across a range of external groups, managing partner, government, private sector and donor relationships
-    Develop strategic relationships with the private sector, universities and research institutions for advancing the objectives of the Program
-    Lead and manage the energy team, ensuring that program delivery is coordinated across all areas and meets expected quality standards and value-adding expectation
-    Design and manage regular performance assessments and reviews for the team and of partner organisations, to ensure quality delivery of contract work
-    Building the capacity of our Partners
-    Marketing the organisation and the program locally and internationally.

Person Specifications and Job Prerequisites
-    Proven management experience at senior level with evidence of effective decision making, managing multi-functional work teams
-    Excellent leadership and people management abilities, with motivational, talent development and change management skills
-    Ability to work with others to develop vision into strategy and communicate and influence this to a wider audience
-    Strong influencing and advocacy experience and ability to develop organisational networks and associations
-    Excellent personal communication skills, both written and verbal
-    Ability and willingness to travel regularly, locally, regionally and internationally
-    Understanding of the energy sector in Southern Africa and ability to analyse energy policy and regulatory environment from a pro-poor, systemic perspective
-    Master’s degree in a related field an added advantage
-    Graduate degree related to energy
-    Six years working experience in project management with 4 years of managing energy and / or environment projects preferably in a nongovernmental organisation.

Send applications and detailed CVs to: Human Capital and Administration Manager Practical Action, 4 Ludlow Rd, Newlands or email to: hc@practicalactionzw.org
Application Deadline: 12 April 2013