Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa - 10 Apr, 2012
Closing date for applications: 5pm GMT on Friday 27th April 2012.
Location: South Africa: Midrand (near the Pan-African Parliament), Johannesburg or Pretoria - with the possibility of other major African capitals, given the right candidate.
Contract: until December 2014.
Working arrangements: Full-time, probably working from home with extensive regional travel.
Salary: €58,000 p.a., plus substanial benefits.
The Climate Parliament is a global network of legislators working to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. We raise awareness among MPs of the dangers of global warming, and of the risks of relying on finite supplies of fossil fuels. We support legislators in taking political, legislative and budgetary initiatives to promote solar, wind, small hydroelectric, biomass, geothermal and other forms of renewable energy.
In the nations of sub-Saharan Africa, we are highlighting these countries' vast potentials in solar power, as well as wind, geothermal and marine potentials in specific areas. High solar radiation in deserts provides excellent conditions for the large-scale development of photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP), both to satisfy domestic demand and to supply export markets.
In all regions of the world, we are stressing the importance of new grids to enable the transition to renewables. Regional supergrids can link together the areas with the most abundant renewable resources – solar power in deserts, hydropower in the mountains, wind power on windy coastlines – to create a reliable supply of energy for everyone. For off-grid villages, mini-grids can enable people to harness local energy resources such as solar, biomass and small hydro. We are also pressing for more ambitious national targets for renewable energy, and stronger financial incentives for investment in the sector.
The Climate Parliament is based in Europe, and is chaired by Sir Graham Watson MEP, a senior member of the European Parliament. In less-industrialised countries we are collaborating closely with the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP). While the Climate Parliament helps MPs to get organised and take initiatives in their parliaments, UNDP provides technical advice to assist the MPs in developing their initiatives.
The Regional Director will work under the direction of the Climate Parliament's Secretary-General, who is based in the UK.
The annual salary will be €58,000, and the compensation package includes additional payments into a pension scheme and other benefits.
Person specification:
• A personal commitment to urgent action on climate change;
• Robust knowledge of the renewable energy sector, and substantial experience working on energy policy issues;
• Fluent written and spoken English;
• Good university degree in a relevant discipline;
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible work experience;
• Familiarity with policy-making processes at a high level. Experience working with parliamentarians is helpful.
• Knowledge and experience of energy policy issues;
• Experience of managing staff;
• Proven research and writing skills;
• Preferable: advanced written and spoken French;
• Co-operative, team worker;
• Ambitious about policy change: in this organisation, a desire to help change the world is an asset, and ambitious objectives are not discounted as unrealistic. We don’t like to hear “it can’t be done”!
• Women candidates are encouraged to apply.
Job description – the Regional Director will:
• Through visits to key regional capitals, as well as phone and email contact, build up a network of committed MPs across Africa.
• Working with expert advisers, identify opportunities for parliamentary action to advance the Climate Parliament's goals.
• Assist MPs in arranging and preparing meetings with heads of government, Ministers and officials, and in drafting Parliamentary Questions, letters to Ministers or policy proposals.
• Liaise with our partner organisation the UNDP to facilitate technical advice on legislative and policy initiatives.
• Participate with colleagues in other regions in the preparation of an international Handbook for Legislators and occasional briefing papers for MPs covering the renewable energy potential of different regions, the need for new grids, and ways to strengthen incentives for renewable energy.
• Organise occasional international parliamentary committee hearings, and arrange participation by MPs in the annual inter-regional Climate Parliament Forum.
• Raise funds from development agencies, business leaders and foundations to expand the Climate Parliament's work in the region and worldwide.
• Explore joint initiatives by heads of government in the region, possibly as part of a global head of government initiative, to promote regional supergrids and large-scale renewable energy trading across borders.
• Carry out any other tasks which the Climate Parliament may require.
To apply, please send a CV (resumé), as well as a covering letter explaining your suitability for the position (both as .PDF attachments), to recruitment@climateparl.net with “Africa Regional Director” as the subject line of the email. Please ensure your CV contains full contact details, including a telephone number. Please state where you first saw this job advertisement.
Kindly note that we cannot respond to applicants individually - if you are shortlisted, we will contact you by early May. If you have not heard from us by the end of May, you may assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion. Thanks for your understanding.
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