Senior Energy Advisor

The Position

Supporting agency priorities, the Climate and Water Security team is particularly focused on technical support in the areas of climate change adaptation and low carbon development, including disaster risk reduction; natural resource management and environmental conservation; and access to energy. The Senior Energy Advisor will play a pivotal role in Mercy Corps' Technical Support Unit, focusing on the development of new businesses and guidance for the implementation of energy projects with a strong emphasis on innovative models for renewable energy access. This role will require in-depth knowledge of renewable energy markets and energy financing models and instruments. The Senior Energy Advisor will lead the charge in creating connections between energy access and access to finance while contributing to business model development, risk assessment, and stakeholder engagement.

The Senior Advisor will primarily focus on helping country teams strengthen their portfolio of low carbon development programming, through the integration of renewable energy.  This will include integration of energy considerations in country strategies, developing concept notes, support donor engagement, and producing influencing research products. The Senior Advisor will also provide strong technical advice and training in areas related to access to energy and low carbon development, including:  program design and development; program quality; network and representation at key sector forums; and lead strategic partnerships and contribute to strategic discussions internally and externally. 

The Senior Advisor provides technical support to Mercy Corps program teams in the Senior Advisor’s area of expertise. Support includes designing and developing programs, assessing and enhancing program quality, writing proposals for donors, providing training, developing humanitarian networks, maintaining current knowledge on industry best practices, disseminating information to internal and external partners, and representing Mercy Corps at key events. The Senior Advisor will also build the capacity of their peers and the organization.

Essential Responsibilities

PROGRAM DESIGN AND PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT

• Support country strategy refinement to integrate renewable energy as a catalyst for the Agency’s strategy, continually raising funds and collecting evidence in collaboration with country and regional teams. 
• Write and review grant proposals and concept notes for donors including foundations, corporations, and government agencies. 
• Research, analyze, and assess data to determine program needs, priorities, and Mercy Corps’ advantages for funding; Maintain knowledge of development strategies by governmental, academic, and non-profit groups. 
• Collaborate with program, country, regional, and TRaQ teams on prepositioning and strategy development, and designing multi-sectoral programs that meet the outcomes and commitments in Mercy Corps’ 10-year strategy. 
• Lead write complex, competitive proposals following Mercy Corps’ best practices in proposal development, team management, and the appropriate sectoral area.

PROGRAM QUALITY

• Provide energy access technologies and business models technical support to Mercy Corps’ teams globally, including those in complex crisis environments; Support effective interventions through integrated approaches and systems thinking.  
• Strengthen partnerships at global, regional and country levels with technology companies, financial service providers, impact investors, institutional donors, foundations, research institutes, UN agencies, peer organizations, and host country governments.
• Maintain standards of program delivery through application of agency approaches and compliance with relevant regulations and requirements.
• Increase program capacity within Mercy Corps through developing and circulating tools such as training and workshops, manuals, case studies, webinars, and monitoring and evaluation tools; Collaborate with Director to set and execute strategies addressing agency-wide program quality needs.

LEARNING AND IMPACT 

• Provide in-country and remote training for Mercy Corps staff, partners, and programs with assistance on assessment, implementation, research, and evaluation.
• Build a strong community of practice across Mercy Corps in your technical area to strengthen program quality and build a community of technical experts.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION 

• Build Mercy Corps’ reputation as a critical influencer in access to energy and low carbon development in fragile contexts and grow our external visibility on relevant technical areas and lead external representation efforts.
• Represent Mercy Corps at academic events, conferences, media forums, and other events; Contribute to thought leadership in area of expertise. 
• Identify and nurture strategic partnerships with other organizations and institutions; Present concepts and ideas to donors, partners, and peer organizations that influence them to drive innovation and positive change.

PERSONAL LEADERSHIP

• Demonstrate exceptional leadership by consistently delivering expectations and maintaining composure, even in challenging situations.
• Embrace a growth mindset, actively seek diverse perspectives, and welcome feedback to drive continuous improvement.
• Maintain the highest ethical standards, treating all individuals with respect and dignity.
• Demonstrate professionalism in all aspects of life, ensuring that your conduct reflects positively on Mercy Corps and does not compromise its mission or work.
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.

Supervisory Responsibility

The position has supervisory responsibility over interns and/or volunteers. At times this position will have supervisory responsibility over other team members when there is no Director on the team.  

Accountability

• Reports Directly To: Director of Energy Access
• Works Directly With: all other TRaQ teams, HQ, Regional and Program teams

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• 5 to 7 years of experience required providing increasingly proficient technical support in the relevant field of expertise that includes:
  • Grant writing, research, and proposal development.
  • Leading all aspects of large and complex proposals and managing integrated grant writing teams. 
  • Producing and publishing influential articles and blogs.
  • Combining strong theoretical and applied knowledge of the field of expertise using integrated approaches and applying systems thinking.
• Degree in energy engineering, climate finance, environmental policy or management, or other climate change-related specialties preferred.
• Practical field experience required, typically over the course of 2 years, that includes:
  • A temporary duration field assignment, longer-term field assignments, or living in a field location to work in a country or field office.
  • An emergency response assignment or other crisis response work demonstrating successfully adapting support and assistance methodologies to real-world complexities.
  • Managing and implementing successful programs.
  • Delivering Capacity Building curriculum or other processes for program teams.
• Familiarity with major donors such as USAID, FCDO, the EC and relevant foundations and corporations.
• Fluency in English is required; fluency in a foreign language preferred.