Chief Executive Officer - Renewable Energy

POSITION VACANT: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ashden India Renewable Energy Collective (AIREC), New Delhi

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND :

- A Section 25 company registered in 2013, the Ashden India Renewable Energy Collective (AIREC) is a network of more than 20 successful Indian organisations, working in the area of clean energy, using technologies that include biomass, solar and wind, to foster sustainable energy access, sensitive to the energy and development needs of poor communities.

- AIREC members are all Ashden UK Award winners and have come together to speak with one voice to policymakers and financial institutions. The aim is to help scale-up the market for renewable energy in India.

- AIREC has access to a vast amount of knowledge and experience in delivering decentralised renewable energy which can help guide changes to energy policy needed to improve the availability of energy to millions in India. AIREC draws on its combined experience to develop policy recommendations for the government and work with financial institutions, to develop scalable solutions in the above areas.

- AIREC now needs to be built up to a self-sufficient and secure organisation, seen as a leader in the renewable energy sector. The role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AIREC demands a highly motivated self-starter with the leadership and strategic skills to take an early stage organisation to the next level in its development. The post-holder must possess a solid background in policymaking and a good understanding of the renewable energy sector. Familiarity with some of the members of AIREC and good contacts in the field would be an advantage.

- This is an exciting opportunity for a senior, renewable energy professional, to lead a confederation of like-minded reputed organisations and impact policy making in the renewable energy space.

For more information about AIREC, please visit http://ashdenindiacollective.org/

JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES :

Reporting to the AIREC Directors and Members and Ashden UK, the CEO will be one of the main spokespersons and ambassadors for AIREC, responsible for setting a strategy, managing the work stream and finances, managing and expanding the Delhi office, liaising with government organisations and funding agencies, overseeing research papers and commissions, and coordinating with members.

Key Roles and Responsibilities :

- Designing a three-year strategy and business plan for AIREC in close association with the Directors, Ashden UK and members;

Designing programmes and projects for AIREC, and seeking funds including :

- Meeting with potential funders, partners and organisations that could commission AIREC to do work;

- Writing proposals for potential projects, and working with the Ashden UK team to fundraise for AIREC's core costs and programme work.

Coordinating research papers, projects and events led by AIREC :

- Coordinating with AIREC members, research associates and consultants to develop and see the project through once the project has been completed;

- Making sure AIREC members are participating in relevant events and contributing to research papers, and coordinate their participation.

Networking and influencing change in the renewable energy sector on behalf of AIREC, and in close association with the Chair and Directors :

- Developing a working relationship with relevant decision makers at government organisations (particularly MNRE), NGOs and donor agencies, in order to call on them when needed;

- Meeting with policymakers regularly, and coordinating meetings between AIREC members and government organisations.

Developing partnerships for AIREC and its members :

- Promoting AIREC to a wide audience through meetings and events;

- Extending business advice to members to help them expand, facilitating introductions to investments and finance and finding opportunities to expand in other countries. The incumbent will perform some of these functions in liaison with Ashden UK;

- Extending assistance to AIREC members through participation in exhibitions and business meets at the national and international level;

- Formalising strategic partnerships with key organisations working on energy in India.

Managing operations of AIREC including :

- Organising quarterly Board meetings, including papers;

- Coordinating administrative, legal and financial matters of the organisation;

- Line managing three research associates and consultants as per the needs of the projects;

- Liaising with the Company Secretary, Auditor and Accountant, to ensure efficient management of AIREC.

Coordinating communication between AIREC members :

- Sending monthly or bimonthly emails to AIREC members on relevant activities;

- Speaking to all members during the year to learn about their work.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES :

Qualification :

Applicants must have a relevant Masters- degree. Relevant streams include Economics/ Social Science/ Development Studies/ Environmental Science/ Sustainability/ Business Administration/ Engineering, or equivalent.

Experience :

- At least 10 years of overall work experience, including five years work experience in a relevant sector;

- Experience of managing projects (including research);

- Experience of planning and running events such as seminars and conferences;

- Experience of working with and influencing policymakers;

- Experience of securing funding and maintaining relationships with funders/partners.

Skills and Competencies :

- Good strategic thinker, with initiative and drive to take AIREC forward;

- Excellent leader and manager;

- Excellent networker and able to develop partnerships useful to AIREC;

- Good and charismatic public speaker and spokesperson for AIREC;

- Good writer, able to write clearly and succinctly, including proposals and reports to funders and partners;

- Highly organised

- Good spoken and written English;

- Good understanding of the renewable energy sector in India;

- Good understanding of the fundraising and policy environment in India;

- General understanding of Section 8, not-for-profit companies in India, including statutory rules and regulations.

COMPENSATION OFFERED :

Gross compensation for the position shall be attractive. The offer made to the selected candidate shall be commensurate with qualifications, experience and salary history.

NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT :

This position is on a contract basis for one year, extendable based on performance.

LOCATION : New Delhi

REFERENCE : CEO-AIREC

CONTACT INFORMATION :

Senior Consultant

Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.

1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar

New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025

Phone Nos.: 011- 2684 2162; 4165 3612

LAST DATE FOR APPLICATIONS :

Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested to apply with a cover letter, discussing their interest in and suitability for the position, along with an updated resume, giving details of three references, current cost to organisation and expected compensation, by or before November 12, 2016. For further details

Please note that final interviews with shortlisted candidates shall be held in New Delhi, with a panel comprising senior AIREC members and the Founder Director, Ashden UK, on November 30, 2016.