Principal Consultant (Energy)

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Principal Consultant (Energy)

Practical Action Consulting is seeking a dynamic individual to lead its ground-breaking international team delivering energy access consultancies and policy influence globally.

Practical Action Consulting delivers exciting, innovative and strategic work throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. It is part of the Practical Action group – which also includes the international charity and Practical Action Publishing.

The group has built up significant expertise in delivering decentralised, often renewable energy solutions in the developing world, culminating is our current position as official partner to the UN International Year of Sustainable Energy for All

The post holder will be accountable for developing and delivering an expanding and robust body of international work on the ground and through this to influence the policies and practices of others. They will manage the UK energy team, lead the international energy team and deputise for the Practical Action Consultancy Managing Director.

The successful candidate will need exceptional influencing skills at every level. They should have a post graduate degree in a relevant discipline and be able to demonstrate substantial relevant experience in international development, renewable energy technologies and/or people management.

Please note applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK

Why apply for this exciting role?

Practical Action Consulting (PAC) is growing fast and developing exciting, innovative and strategic bodies of work throughout the less developed world. We annually deliver work in 30 to 40 countries through an international core team of 40 staff and within the wider Practical Action team of 600 staff. This is a new position, the most senior below the MD, and this role will catalyse and lead PAC’s energy portfolio going forward. We have big plans and an exciting remit to deliver.

PAC is the non for profit consultancy arm of the International NGO Practical Action. We are a growing and highly successful team of consultants who win and deliver development outcomes throughout the less developed world. We are unique in that we work with and throughout the Practical Action international structure and network. This gives us fantastic leverage, experiences and access to technology solutions to deliver through our work.

Our work is primarily in 3 key thematic areas – energy, market development and climate change. We also deliver in wider Group thematic areas including urban water sanitation and waste, agriculture and disaster risk reduction. We have a growing UK and International core team structure that reflects these focus areas and this advertised position is a senior member in this team.

Our clients include DFID, World Bank, EU, the African and Asia development banks, UN agencies, Oxfam, Christian Aid, National Governments and the private sector.

Geographically we are expanding – we currently deliver in regions through core teams based in Kenya (Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, S Sudan, the Horn of Africa), Rwanda, Zimbabwe (Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe), Sri Lanka, Nepal (Bhutan, India, Pakistan) Peru (Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Nicaragua, Ecuador) and the UK. We will soon develop further teams to base in Francophone West Africa and develop delivery capabilities in Bangladesh and Sudan.

Our work fulfils an important role within the Practical Action group’s strategy – primarily scaling up and out of the groups work and knowledge. Our working model is around leveraging the credibility and experiences from on the ground work, capturing the knowledge produced and applying this effectively in pro poor policy interventions. This is primarily around delivering technical advice, capacity building and training, but also in delivering projects where we can show technological innovation and scaling up of previous successes.

This role is pivotal to the on-going success of PAC. The incumbent will provide technical and managerial leadership throughout the team and our work. Successful delivery of the role will take PAC to new levels in its exciting new 5 year strategy.

Have you got what we are looking for?

Please note; the terms and conditions for this post are as per the usual terms and conditions of employment within Practical Action (downloadable from our jobs page or attached to this email).

The post is based at Rugby, however for the right candidate we will be prepared to discuss flexibility in attending base location on a five day per week basis. If you have any concerns about the location for this post, please call Caroline Watts, HR Manager on 01926 634558 to discuss them.

Date of expiry	17th Oct
Salary	Circa. £50,000 Per Annum
Location	Near Rugby, Warwickshire
Full/Part time	Full Time
Permanent/temporary	Permanent
Other terms

Description
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JOB SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE: Principal Consultant (Energy)
UNIT: Practical Action Consulting (PAC)
GRADE: A
RESPONSIBLE TO: Managing Director, Practical Action Consulting
LOCATION: Rugby, UK

JOB PURPOSE

To lead the PAC international energy team to deliver PAC’s international energy strategy and develop and deliver high quality technical consultancy in the international energy access and development sector. To manage international projects and technical teams. To act as deputy to the PAC Managing Director and in his absence, line manage the UK team. To contribute to the strategic international development of PAC and its role within the Practical Action Group.

SCOPE OF ROLE

The principal consultant leads PAC’s international energy team to develop and deliver energy access work, and through this to influence the policies and practice of others.

The post holder plays an active role in representing PAC with key influencing target organisations and actors, building relationships and acting as the technical lead in PAC.

The post holder manages the PAC UK energy team, leads the PAC international energy team and acts as a deputy to the PAC Managing Director which entails line management of the UK team in the MD’s absence.

The post holder will be accountable for developing and delivering a robust body of international energy work and maximising associated linkages with other organisational goal areas (agriculture, markets, climate change and urban water/sanitation/waste).

JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• To contribute to the achievement of PAC’s business strategy by developing leading, managing and delivering work in the energy access sector within PAC UK’s international target areas. To support and advise international PAC energy teams in their energy strategy delivery.

• To win new work from international donors and commercial organisations using networks and business development skills. Ensuring that these networks, including senior staff and managers in the donor, international agency, NGO, consulting, academic and engineering sectors, have an understanding and positive awareness of the Practical Action Group.

• To manage a strategic project portfolio with annual PAC turnover of approximately £250 - 500K and be ultimately responsible for ensuring technical delivery, financial control, donor reporting, strategic fit, contract preparation and conformance. Also responsible for managing the reputational risk of PAC (and thus the group) energy projects with large donors including DFID, World Bank, UN and the EU.

• To lead and drive the international energy team comprising core UK team members, international PAC team members, associates and project consultants.

• To act as the deputy to the MD taking responsibility for the PAC UK team and international PAC leadership in the MD’s absence. To line manage the PAC UK energy team and other UK thematic functions as agreed with the MD.

• To contribute to the development of a growing programme of high quality work of research and consultancy aligned with PAC’s strategy and growth agenda and to ensure that PAC contributes effectively to Practical Action’s overall mission.

• To represent PAC and Practical Action at international meetings.

• To achieve a target income of 2 times employment costs in billable consultancy as a member of project teams and revenues on projects and contracts managed or directed.

• To write winning proposals

• To ensure knowledge generation and capture is effectively delivered through PAC energy work through activities such as authoring and commissioning articles for publication based on a synthesis of project experience in alliance with the Groups communications teams.

• To undertake any other tasks as assigned by the Managing Director.

Overseas travel will be necessary, according to project and management requirements.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal: The post holder will be expected to maintain regular dialogue with Practical Action senior managers, working collaboratively with PAC and Practical Action colleagues in regional and country offices, as well as with units in head office both within PAC and the Practical Action Group.

External: The post holder will be expected to represent PAC and Practical Action externally, at a high level. S/he will be expected to maintain and develop relationships with counterparts in INGOs, academic researchers, UNDP, DFID, EU, World Bank, international networks, alliances and partnerships, private sector organisations.

LINE MANAGEMENT OR SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder is responsible for the management of the UK energy team and supervisory roles of international energy team members, of the overall PAC team in the MD’s absence and will have management responsibilities through virtual international project teams.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder will be responsible for managing project budgets for PAC up to about £500,000 a year.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education

• Post-graduate degree or higher in a relevant subject

Experience

• At least 7 years’ experience of working in international organisations in a variety of contexts, with increasing levels of management and leadership responsibilities
• A background in engineering, economics or other technical discipline
• Experience in all or some of the following: Small scale decentralised electrification (on/off grid), Renewable energy technologies (bio energy, solar, micro hydro, wind, stoves), Energy efficiency, Financial mechanisms and management, Policy and regulation influencing, Capacity building and training, Economic strategy and justification, Demand management, Tariffs and subsidies, low carbon development.

Skills

• Proven ability to lead, inspire and manage a team of capable individuals to deliver a team agenda while meeting individual performance target.
• Skills in Management, reporting and delivery of short, medium and long term international projects across a range of disciplines
• Financial abilities in accurately managing budgets and reporting on project performance during the project lifecycle
• The ability to win work from donors, clients and a network of contacts and to write winning proposals
• Excellent written, and oral communication skills, and able to communicate to a variety of audiences.
• Fluency in written and spoken English essential. Usable Spanish and French desirable.
• Sound grasp of computer applications particularly Microsoft Office.
• Empathy with Practical Action’s mission, and values, with a high level of corporate commitment, demonstrated by an ability to take decisions and to act in the best interests of Practical Action.
• Ability to travel for up to 12 weeks per year.

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

The post holder will require an excellent level of competency in the following:

Leading and Managing
Competence evidenced by the ability to inspire, enthuse and communicate, delegating supporting, coaching or directing as appropriate. Provides clarity and direction to the team. Is able to identify, address and solve performance issues with their team.

Teamwork:
Competence demonstrated by the ability and inclination to work co-operatively with others. Will recognise the value of sharing ideas, knowledge and information with others and takes personal responsibility for doing so.

Decision making
Competence is demonstrated by the timeliness and sound reasoning of decisions. There is a balance of consultation with action. Will communicate, will follow through and will be accountable for outcome. Will always have the interests of Practical Action at the core of the decision. Will support decisions once argued through and made.

Managing relationships
Competence demonstrated by an ability to understand and react appropriately to motivations that drive colleagues’ behaviour. Is sensitive to cultural differences and behaves appropriately within them. Understands how to develop productive working relationships

Drive for results
Competence demonstrated by the level of responsibility and accountability demonstrated by the individual in meeting or beating commitments and objectives, whatever the organisational level of the role. Illustrated by evidence of seeking better ways of doing things, looking to improve on status quo and willingness to deal with difficult situations that effect output of their role.

Influencing
Competence evidenced by the ability to use a range of approaches and select the appropriate style for a situation. Is able to demonstrate good listening skills, presents own view in a convincing manner, whilst acknowledging different perspectives, feelings and concerns. Works for a win-win outcome in resolving differences, and is usually able to win others over to own way of thinking. Is well networked with excellent external focus.

The post holder will require a good/proficient level of competency in the following:

Self-motivation:
Competence demonstrated by the level of timeliness and accuracy the individual displays in carrying out their role, by their personal energy and enthusiasm and by their willingness to learn to exceed expectations in their role.