SNV Tanzania Vacancy, May 2024

SNV has been a trusted partner in Tanzania’s development journey for over 50 years, empowering communities through impactful projects in the energy, water, and agri-food sectors. We’ve spearheaded initiatives in biogas, off-grid electrification, and solar power, with a particular focus on clean cooking. Our Jiko Matawi program is a shining example – one of the largest and most sustainable clean cooking initiatives. Over 140,000 efficient Jiko Matawi stoves have been sold, improving the lives of one million Tanzanians annually. We’re now building on this success with a carbon finance initiative to amplify our impact.

JOB TITLE: Sector Leader Energy

We are currently looking for a:  Sector Leader Energy 

• Full-time position (initially on two years contract basis, with strong possibility of extension)  
• based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania  

Join our legacy of innovation and be the driving force behind capitalizing on existing initiatives and forging a path towards a clean and sustainable energy future for Tanzania.

As the Sector Leader Energy, you will wear many hats, all focused on driving innovation and impact. You’ll be at the forefront of SNV Tanzania’s mission, leading, managing, and overseeing our energy projects and advocacy. As a key representative of SNV’s interests in the Energy sector, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping policy, forging strategic partnerships, and driving the adoption of clean energy technologies across this incredible country, engaging with government entities, donors/clients, and other key partners, while also serving as a core member of the SNV Tanzania Country Management Team and Strategy Group. You will report directly to the Country Director and maintaining a direct functional line with the Global Energy Sector Head.

Here’s how you will make an impact:

• Positioning & Strategic leadership: You’ll be the driving force behind our Energy portfolio, ensuring it aligns with SNV’s global strategy for impactful and coordinated efforts. This will involve spearheading collaboration with government, donors, and key stakeholders.
• Sector expertise & Project Management: Leveraging your deep understanding of the energy sector, you’ll provide valuable sector and country-specific insights while effectively managing subcontractors and consortium partners to ensure project success.
• Innovation champion: SNV has a strong legacy of innovation, and you’ll build on that by exploring cutting-edge approaches. This includes replacing diesel mini-grids with solar power, integrating renewables in unreliable grid areas, generating carbon credits through biochar production, and promoting solar-powered agricultural cooling systems. Your role is to identify, pilot, and scale up these solutions for the benefit of smallholder farmers, communities, and the environment.
• Knowledge cultivation & Cross-sector collaboration: Cultivating a culture of continuous learning is essential. You’ll maintain and update the sector knowledge base, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration with donors and colleagues across sectors to unlock exciting multi-sectoral initiatives.
• Empower your team & Lead by example: Empowerment starts with you! You’ll guide and inspire our team of experts, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning
• Business Development: From cultivating relationships to proposals, you’ll be instrumental in securing resources for future projects. Lead the exploration of innovative approaches to expand and diversify our portfolio and unlock new opportunities in climate funding and renewable energy.

Your profile

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in energy, international development, or a related discipline.
• Energy sector development expertise (8+ years): Deep experience in energy sector development, particularly renewables and climate change mitigation.
• Leadership & Project Management capacity: Demonstrated leadership capacity in program design, project management, and policy advisory, including steering diverse energy sector activities and strategic country-level approaches.
• Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) & Learning expertise: M&E and learning best practices, utilizing M&E platforms, and addressing large-scale monitoring challenges.
• Business Development & Relationship building skills: Strong skills in business development, building relationships with donors and partners, and proposal development.
• Private sector engagement & SME de-risking experience: Experience in engaging the private sector and de-risking for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
• Innovative financing experience: Experience with innovative financing approaches like blended finance and carbon finance.
• Knowledge of Gender Equality & Social Inclusion: Knowledge and practical experience with applying these principles in development work.
• Experience in navigating development complexities: Experience working in development contexts, especially middle-income countries.
• Fluency in English & Effective communication: You’ll need to be able to clearly and concisely present complex information to a variety of audiences, from donors to local communities. Fluency in written and spoken English is assumed to be essential for international communication at SNV.

To thrive in this role, you’ll also bring:

• Strategic vision & Passion for impact: You can define, articulate, and implement a strategic vision for a sustainable energy approach in Tanzania. You’re open to innovative solutions and committed to driving real impact at scale.
• Collaborative spirit: & Leadership: You thrive in cross-functional teams, inspiring and empowering others to achieve their full potential. Your strong leadership skills will be instrumental in fostering collaboration to achieve impactful results.
• Conceptual thinking & Effective problem-solving: You excel at analyzing complex situations in Tanzania’s development landscape. You’ll craft effective solutions with clear thinking and a results-oriented approach.
• Operational excellence: You prioritize tangible outcomes and high-quality standards. You’ll foster a culture of continuous improvement, driving excellence within the organization.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: You’re an innovator who identifies opportunities for growth and development. This entrepreneurial mindset will be key to driving forward-thinking initiatives within the organization.
• Adaptive leadership: You can effectively navigate change, fostering a culture of innovation and learning to address evolving challenges in Tanzania’s sustainable energy landscape.

Other Information

• Contract Type: Full-time
• Duty Station: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
• Contract Duration: Two years contract, with strong possibility of extension
• Expected Start Date: As soon as possible
• Travel: Frequently to project locations in the country (approximately 25%)

How to Apply
If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and a letter of motivation on or before 29th of May 2024. Please submit your application only via Smart Recruiters. All information will be processed in the strictest confidence. 

APPLY HERE