Salary: Circa £42,000 net salary
Reports to: Just Energy Board Chair
Overview of Just Energy:
Just Energy is a not-for-profit social enterprise that works with low-income communities to maximise community revenues from medium sized renewable energy businesses. Just Energy was founded and launched as an independent business by Oxfam GB and draws on the technical and financial collaboration of a diverse range of private sector, NGO and academic partners.
As energy prices rise and technology costs fall, renewable energy is becoming an increasingly viable option for meeting the rapidly rising energy demands in developing countries. These changes in energy markets provide an income generating, skills development and job creation opportunity for low-income communities if they can overcome a range of technical and financial barriers to their involvement.
Just Energy will jointly develop renewable energy projects with communities, helping to overcome these barriers by:
- Providing risk capital for feasibility studies and project development.
- Providing capacity building services and technical expertise to support project development.
- Managing an investment fund (in partnership with an established fund manager) to directly invest in community based renewable energy projects on behalf of a range of investors.
- Facilitating equitable partnerships between communities and private sector organisations and investors.
Just Energy projects will also increase the supply of clean energy for local and national consumption and will provide an investment opportunity in projects that have good social and financial returns. Just Energy renewable energy projects will range in size from approximately 25 – 80 MW and will generate income through sale of electricity to the local grid. They will initially focus on harnessing wind energy, and will expand to include other technologies such as solar and bio-mass as markets and technologies develop.
Role Description:
This is an exciting role that will give an energetic entrepreneur with experience in project development the opportunity to take a business from start-up to success in an emerging markets whilst creating real social and environmental value for the communities in which it operates.
Key responsibilities include:
- Providing strategic leadership and vision to the business, attracting and engaging a range of technical and financial partners to ensure the highest standard of project development, and financial viability for both Just Energy and the projects it develops with communities.
- Ensuring successful development, delivery and financial close on a pipeline of projects, initially in South Africa and later extending to other countries, with a goal of 20 successful, medium scale (30-50MW) renewable energy enterprises by 2020.
- Managing overall operations.
- Hiring, motivating and managing a small team of professionals who will work across a number of countries to develop Just Energy projects.
- Managing and developing the business to maximise opportunities for growth, whilst ensuring that all projects further community development, maintain environmental integrity, and transfer knowledge to the local people.
- Leading an ongoing strategy for securing financing for Just Energy expansion and project development, and ensuring strong financial management of a diverse funding portfolio.
- Working closely with the Board Chair to ensure good governance and financial success of the business.
- Making recommendations to the Board regarding project selection, country selection, staff decisions, and on the ground investments.
- Working with partners to capture the learning from Just Energy projects to influence policies and practices in the field of renewable energy development.
- Representing Just Energy externally to a wide range of stakeholders including government officials, corporate partners, funders and NGOs and attracting new resources and contributions to the business.
- Developing the Just Energy brand as a symbol of fairness and equity in the renewable energy sector.
Just Energy is in its early development and initially will be hosted and administered through Oxfam GB’s financial, administrative systems. In the first 6 months, the CEO will also be responsible for:
- Ensuring the development of independent financial, personnel and legal structures and systems for Just Energy, and making the transition from Oxfam systems.
The Candidate:
The right candidate will be a charismatic leader with proven entrepreneurial skills. He/she will be resourceful, personable, communicative, enthusiastic and culturally sensitive and will have the following skills or the ability to gain access to these skills by hiring a diverse team and leveraging the Just Energy network.
- Strong leadership skills with an ability to inspire confidence and motivate a team as well as stakeholders.
- Excellent communication skills both in formal presentation situations as well as in one-on-one situations, and an ability to secure institutional commitment at the highest level.
- Knowledge and experience in project development of a relevant scale, preferably in the renewable energy sector and within a developing country context.
- Knowledge of early stage companies or initiatives, with experience in strategy setting, budgeting, recruiting and managing staff, and business development.
- Knowledge and experience of working with low-income communities, and a clear commitment and understanding to Just Energy’s core focus on maximising community benefit and enabling communities to make informed choices in project negotiations.
- An ability to build in-country support through leveraging networks, working with local government officials, NGOs, stakeholders and global institutions in country.
- An ability to assess, monitor, and manage risk in relation to projects, and across Just Energy business as a whole.
CEO Role in Relation to Just Energy Governance Structure:
Just Energy is owned by a group of members made up of Oxfam GB, Oxfam America, the Green Hub at MIT and E+Co (to be confirmed). As a Company Limited by Guarantee, the owners have limited liability and do not benefit from shareholdings, but have the responsibility for ensuring that Just Energy adheres to its core purpose and principles.
This oversight role is exercised by appointing and confirming new members, the Board Chair and approving new Board members.
The Just Energy Board of Directors holds responsibility for the overall governance, development and financial sustainability of the business. There will be 5-7 Board members, including a Board Chair. The CEO holds a Board position, although may be required to absent her/himself for some aspects of Board business. A detailed description of Board operations will be made available to final candidates.
The CEO reports to the Board Chair and will be reviewed through an annual performance review process that will set objectives for each year. Annual increments and extension of contract are made on the basis of reviews.
Contract, Compensation and Benefits
The Just Energy CEO will initially be hired by Oxfam GB and will be supported through the Oxfam HR policies and systems. The CEO will oversee a process of transition from Oxfam to Just Energy administrative systems and the CEO contract will move to Just Energy when the systems for contracting and payment are established.
Just Energy will offer a competitive salary and package including comprehensive benefits consistent with comparable posts in the renewable energy sector.
