Apply For Country Director, Nigeria

 

About the job

About Us

UpEnergy (www.upenergygroup.com) brings aspirational energy saving products within reach for low-income communities. We create valuable health and environmental outcomes by providing our users with products that improve their lives every day. Our approach combines local, on-the-ground teams leveraging our platform to best serve users, with over a decade of experience building platforms that generate valuable carbon emission reductions and allow us to provide our products to local communities at affordable subsidized prices.

UpEnergy operates local distribution networks and builds relationships directly with customers through our SmartHome branded sales operation. We’ve seen 100%+ year on year growth for many years and have reached over 800,000 African households with products that deliver health and income benefits. A typical SmartHome stove saves each family we reach about 9% of their annual income while reducing air pollution.

UpEnergy has a 10+ year track record of building platforms and projects that rigorously measure the environmental and social impacts of our work. Our projects have historically outperformed expectations in the generation of emission reductions and further overdeliver on the energy savings promise to our users. We are one of the largest developers by volume of projects focused on poverty alleviation through energy savings and fuel switching in Africa and have additional projects in Latin America and Asia. Our team has a collective 50 years of experience developing and financing carbon projects and is at the forefront of Paris-era climate finance.

About the role

UpEnergy is at a time of exciting growth, expanding both in terms of product and geographic portfolio. We seek a Country Director in Nigeria to lead the team and manage our on-the-ground operations. Taking the lead in developing new business lines and carbon emission reduction partnerships. This is an exciting opportunity to drive organizational growth at a profitable social enterprise with the required capital for growth.

The Country Director will also be responsible for initiating, growing and improving UpEnergy’s distribution operations, supply chain, and marketing. The role will require an entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to find, assess, and test new models and products to serve low-income customers in Africa. In addition to the ability to capture new opportunities, the Country Director will have demonstrated an ability to lead the execution of projects that require strong systems, foresight, and quality control to achieve success.

The successful candidate does not necessarily need to have led an organization previously but will have strong leadership experience with teams in emerging market economies. The role will also require thoughtful team building, ownership of the profit and loss statement and financial controls, development of new teams including a product management team, the ability to inspire learning and experimentation across the organization, and keen skills overseeing complex projects and operations in which getting technical details right is of high importance.

The Country Director will lead all country operations and employees and be based in their country of operation.

Key Responsibilities:

Management and Leadership

• Define and implement an organizational culture that values customer experience, operational excellence, and innovation and experimentation.
• Oversee performance management, mentorship, leadership development, and the implementation of strong organizational controls.
• Define organizational structure to best achieve existing goals and new growth opportunities. o Attract and retain high-performing team members.

Strategy

• Work with UpEnergy leadership to evolve UpEnergy’s strategy as we seek to exceed the expectations of current customers and develop new projects.
• Develop new strategic relationships with product manufacturers, governments, NGOs, and carbon credit off-takers and intermediaries.

Product and Commercial

• Develop channels to expand our commercial reach of UpEnergy’s product line.
• Build a data capture system and analysis to improve business performance and decisions.
• Lead development of new high-value products and services for UpEnergy customers.

Operations

• Own all aspects of UpEnergy’s execution of complex sales operations, data gathering and monitoring, carbon audits, and carbon offset generation.
• Successfully manage existing partnerships with product manufacturers, local governments, sovereign and corporate carbon buyers, NGOs, and retailers.
• Oversee product development and procurement to ensure strong sales, margins, and impact. Drive continuous improvement in sales operations and supply chain.

Carbon Project Oversight and Origination

• Oversee country carbon finance operations including 3rd party experts that manage carbon credit generation.
• Originate new projects to expand UpEnergy’s geographical footprint.
• Develop tools and technologies to improve data capture and reporting.

Finance

• Set country financial and capitalization strategy.\Effectively oversee financial management and accounting across the country operations, including annual audits and quarterly financial reports.
• Maintain and update a long-term financial model in line with current corporate strategy.

Governance

• Participate in leadership meetings to establish and manage strategic priorities.

Must-Have

• 5+ years of work experience in relevant field
• Proven team building and general management experience.
• A track record of effective and strategic management of organizational growth.
• Interpersonal skills, credibility, and confidence to effectively represent UpEnergy in global forums and to lead the development of long-term partnerships cookstove and carbon leaders.
• Creative ambition: An entrepreneurial mindset.
• Bachelor’s Degree required. Advanced degree in related fields preferred.

Nice to Have

• Familiarity with project finance and/or the development of energy or carbon projects. Experience in carbon project development is a huge plus.
• Strong financial management experience, including internal controls and accountability: the ideal candidate will have managed budgets and a P&L.
• An understanding of customers and business culture in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Compensation:

The Country Director - Nigeria will receive a competitive salary and bonus.

To Apply:

Please send a customized cover letter highlighting your relevant experience, and the specific areas of UpEnergy’s work that most interest you, to jobs@upenergygroup.com.

UpEnergy is an equal opportunity employer. We are looking to build a diverse and inclusive multicultural team! We do not discriminate basis of race, age, colour, religion, sexual orientation, sex, gender, or disabilities. Women are encouraged to apply for this role.

Start date & Location

The position will be based in Nigeria (Some flexibility a. Regarding timing, we are looking for the right candidate to start as soon as possible, but we are flexible. Particularly under the current COVID pandemic, we put safety first while continuing to bring impact to our community and the environment. We appreciate your flexibility too in confirming a start date.