Chemonics International Jobs in East Africa Oct 2012

Chemonics International, a U.S. based international development consulting firm, is seeking professionals for an anticipated five-year USAID-funded project in East Africa that will promote clean energy programs. 

The project’s objectives are to increase access to clean energy investment, to build institutional capacity to implement clean energy programs in the public and private sector, and to enhance legal and regulatory frameworks to attract private sector investment in clean energy.

All positions require the ability to work and travel throughout Kenya and/or other countries in the East Africa region, prior experience in Kenya and/or neighboring countries, and a strong proficiency in English.

We are seeking the following long-term positions:

Clean Energy Finance Coordinator

• Advanced degree in finance, banking, accounting, applied economics, or other relevant field preferred
• Minimum 8 years experience in private sector finance, project development, development credit authorities, and global development alliances, with an emphasis on clean energy
• Prior experience managing private sector finance activities for USAID or international donor funded projects preferred
• Demonstrated success in implementing programs aimed at increasing access to finance, including clean energy finance, and enabling environment issues
• Ability to liaise with government ministries, NGOs, private sector, regional institutions, and research organizations
• Knowledge of the latest developments in clean energy finance in East Africa
• Demonstrated creativity in designing innovative clean energy financial packages and interventions

Clean Energy Institutional Strengthening Coordinator

• Degree in economics or other relevant field
• Minimum 8 years experience strengthening private and public sector institutions such as with national energy ministries, utilities, and regulatory agencies in areas such as management planning, implementation strategies, evidence-based economic analyses, budgeting, statistics and data management
• Extensive training experience, including Training of Trainers and in developing training curriculum
• Demonstrated ability to arrange and facilitate workshops and training programs at regional levels for senior level officials and economists

Clean Energy Policy Coordinator

• Advanced degree in law, public policy, economics, finance, or other closely related field required
• Proven success promoting an enabling environment for clean energy programs through policy reform and regulatory frameworks
• Extensive knowledge of the latest developments in clean energy policy in the East Africa region
• Demonstrated ability to provide innovative solutions to complex problems
• Excellent written and oral communications skills

National Technical Director

• Advanced degree in energy-related economics, engineering, finance, business, or other closely related field required
• Experience managing and implementing complex donor-funded (preferably USAID) clean energy projects and working collaboratively with a broad range of government officials, international donors, and private sector stakeholders
• Extensive knowledge of energy finance, policy, and governance issues in Kenya highly desired
• Demonstrated ability to manage a national level office and supervise numerous professional staff
• Excellent written and oral communications skills
• Demonstrated competence in leadership, client relations, and project and contract management

Communications Specialist

• Degree in communications or other relevant field required
• Will work closely with project staff and USAID to develop and implement a communications and outreach strategy and action plan, including press releases, website content, training materials, and event planning
• Demonstrated background in advocacy, outreach, and knowledge sharing required
• Minimum 5 years experience planning and facilitating conferences, workshops, and trainings at the national and regional levels
• Ability to articulate complex and technically specific information to a wide range of audiences

Grants/Contract/Office Manager

• Degree in business administration, finance, economics, or closely related field
• Minimum 5 years of demonstrated experience and success in setting up and managing grants under contracts
• Demonstrated knowledge of USAID financial and management systems, regulations and reporting requirements
• Experience in efficient programmatic and logistical operations management on USAID projects
• Demonstrated understanding of clean energy finance and private sector development
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills

Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

• Advanced degree in social sciences, statistics, development economics, or other related field
• At least 5 years of progressively more responsible international work experience
• Experience in designing both quantitative and qualitative evaluation methodologies and tools
•  Demonstrated experience in carrying out USAID monitoring and evaluation activities such as assisting partners to develop performance management plans (PMPs) and reporting indicators, and plan and lead evaluations for large, complex projects
• Knowledge of data analysis software (SAS, SPSS) is required
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Gender Specialist

• Advanced degree in gender studies, community development or other relevant field preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of international development experience managing projects with gender-related components, providing technical assistance or integrating gender into programs.
• Experience working with rural communities, gender, vulnerable groups in Kenya is strongly preferred
• Ability to conceptualize, outline, perform, and direct technical assignments, as well as write technical documents and proposals

We are also seeking short term technical specialists in the following areas:

• Clean energy trade promotion
• Clean energy business development
• Carbon finance

Qualifications for technical specialists:

• Advanced degree preferred in macroeconomics, economic policy, applied economics, business, finance, or closely related field
• Proven record in successful delivery of technical assistance
• Proven managerial/supervisory experience and strong writing and interpersonal skills
• Experience with USAID highly preferred
• Experience working collaboratively with the government of Kenya, international donors, and local organisations
• At least 10 years of experience promoting in clean energy project finance, management, development, or policy-reform
• Prior experience in East Africa
• Fluency in English is required

Application Instructions: Send Curriculum Vitae and cover letter to  ChemonicsCleanEnergyKenya@gmail.com
by November 15, 2012. 

Please indicate area of technical specialty or position title in the subject line. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.