Junior Project Officer, Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) is an impact-driven international non-profit organization that builds markets for clean energy in developing countries, primarily in Africa and Asia.

Our goals: increase energy access, reduce poverty, create economic opportunities, and combat climate change.

We are a unique bunch: a combination of (erstwhile) engineers, economists, lawyers, bankers, operations experts and development specialists who are bringing start-up energy and blue-sky ideas to tackle big challenges. REEEP’s head office is in Vienna, Austria, but we work hand-in-hand with partners based in our countries of implementation.

About the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA)

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) is a Swedish government-funded multi-annual market-based energy access programme covering Zambia, Burkina Faso, Liberia and Mozambique. The programme is based on the successful implementation of this approach in Zambia (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.

REEEP’s work culture is shaped by its focus on start-ups and other dynamic market players. The REEEP team is lean and team-oriented, open and sharing, emphasizing learning and development. Working collaboratively with the team in a highly dynamic environment is one of the main requirements of this position.

About the role

As part of the REEEP Programme Team, working for the Beyond the Grid Fund Africa (BGFA) Programme and reporting to the Director of Programme, the position will focus on providing project management and planning support to the BGFA team; to help effectively manage the programme, including keeping track of progress, ensuring programme activities' completion and reaching programme objectives on deadline.

The Junior Project Officer provides BGFA project management support in

• Meeting Management -- including planning, organisation, agenda management and minute taking of regular internal meetings of the BGFA team, as well as planning and coordination meetings with NEFCO
• Maintaining the service relationship with and providing deliverables and timely responses to the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO), Facility Manager of BGFA as well as the Swedish Embassies in BGFA countries
• Preparing Terms of References (TORs) and Budgets for future BGFA assignments
• Regular reporting on programme deliverables – such as the quarterly reports of the BGFA programme – to be submitted to NEFCO
• Setting up, monitoring and maintaining BGFA related timelines and comprehensive work plans for the timely provision of BGFA programme deliverables as per TORs with NEFCO
• Overseeing and preparing budgets for BGFA assignments
• Procurement and contracting of external service providers for BGFA and related contract management
• Filing documents and maintaining REEEP´s Confluence workspace for BGFA

The Junior Project Officer provides general office support to the BGFA programme in

• Logistics management
• Creating PowerPoints and other presentations
• Contributing to BGFA / REEEP publications, such as the REEEP Annual Report, or other themed publications as part of building REEEP’s track record
• Providing support to communications, finance, audits and other functions within REEEP on aspects relating to the REEEP programmes (especially related to reporting)

Who we are looking for

The Junior Project Officer’s set of skills, qualifications and experience shall include

• A Bachelor’s degree related to the area of work, i.e. international development, economics, renewable energy, or related field
• At least 1 year of relevant professional experience and exposure to project cycle management (experience in an international environment is a distinct advantage)
• Strong demonstrated interest in fields of clean energy solutions and development cooperation and system implementation; experience with off-grid and/or agricultural energy solutions is an advantage
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to multitask on a regular basis
• Exhibits strong organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to think creatively and work pro-actively to assist in planning and management
• Demonstrated excellent time-management skills
• Excellent written and spoken English (REEEP’s working language), French and/or Portuguese would be an asset
• Solid command of Microsoft programs such as Word, Excel, and Power Point

What we offer

For this 40h/week full time position, REEEP offers a minimum monthly salary of EUR 2.100,- (gross, paid 14 times per year, subject to Austrian social security deduction, currently free of income tax due to REEEP’s status as “Quasi-International Organisation”). This includes five weeks paid leave as well as an average of 14 Austrian and UN holidays per annum. The envisaged starting date is November 2019.

The work location is 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.

Due to its special legal status, applicants must have a valid residency permit for Austria/EU, but do not require a work permit.

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.

How to apply

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:  27 October 2019 (midnight CET).