SR Manager

Senior Manager, Clean Energy Access

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

About the Organization

CLASP is the leading global authority on efficient appliances’ role in fighting climate change and improving people’s lives. With 25 years of expertise, CLASP collaborates with policymakers, industry leaders, and other experts to deliver clear pathways to a more sustainable world for people and the planet.

CLASP is a global non-profit with offices in Europe, India, Indonesia, Kenya, and the United States. We have worked in over 90 countries since our inception in 1999. We are mission-driven and committed to a culture of inclusion, transparency, collaboration, and impactful work. Find out more about CLASP.

CLASP’s Clean Energy Access Team

CLASP’s Clean Energy Access (CEA) programs support ambitious efforts to increase global access to clean energy through efficient and affordable appliances and equipment. We work in partnership with key stakeholders in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, with support from a diverse group of funders.

From advancing off-grid solar technologies, bringing power to energy-impoverished people, to building the climate resilience of underserved communities, CLASP’s CEA programs increase the uptake of affordable, low-impact, high-quality appliances. 

About the Role

The Senior Manager will be responsible for leading a diverse portfolio of programs and teams, ensuring each team member receives the guidance, coaching, and support needed to thrive and grow professionally. In addition, the role demands strategic relationship management with senior-level stakeholders in the energy sector, including CEOs, donors, and government partners, requiring tact, diplomacy, and the ability to manage complexities while advancing shared objectives.

In close collaboration with CLASP’s Senior Director for Africa, the Senior Manager will set the vision and oversee implementation for several CLASP programs, including the Energy Access Institutions Facility and the Productive Use Financing Facility ensuring high-quality delivery and impact. They also will contribute to the overall organizational direction and strategy for CLASP’s Clean Energy Access portfolio. 

The Senior Manager needs an extraordinary capacity for program strategy, development, execution and administration, leadership of high-performing teams, expertise in clean energy market development, world-class collaboration and communication skills, a commitment to impacts and results, entrepreneurship, and a great sense of humor. 

Responsibilities Include

Team Leadership 

• Lead, mentor, and support a high-performing, multicultural team across several countries, ensuring clear delegation, accountability, and collaboration.
• Provide coaching and professional development opportunities for team members to grow in technical knowledge, leadership, and program management.
• Foster a culture of ownership, learning, and excellence, ensuring that team members are both supported and challenged to deliver their best.

Program Oversight & Execution

• Provide strategic direction and day-to-day oversight of key CEA programs, including planning, budgeting, performance management, and results reporting.
• Guide and troubleshoot implementation challenges with program managers, ensuring timely and adaptive program delivery.
• Define and evolve key programmatic metrics for impact and learning.
• Work closely with internal teams to shape organisational strategy and cross-regional collaboration.

Stakeholder & Relationship Management

• Cultivate and manage high-level relationships with energy industry CEOs, trade associations, donor agencies, and government counterparts, ensuring alignment, partnership, and buy-in.
• Navigate sensitive stakeholder dynamics with emotional intelligence, helping direct/navigate complex relationships towards shared objectives. 

Communications & Advocacy

• Collaborate with CLASP’s communications team to develop and share impactful stories, learning, and research from across CEA programs.
• Represent CLASP at industry forums, convenings, and high-level policy discussions.
• Serve as a thought leader on market development for efficient and affordable appliances and equipment at CLASP. 

Business Development

• Lead and support business development efforts, including proposal design, donor engagement, and fundraising.
• Act as a key liaison with current and prospective funders.

The Ideal Candidate

• A team leader and coach with a passion for growing others and building collaborative, high trust working environments.
• Comfortable managing asynchronously and supporting team members to work autonomously and flexibly while delivering high-quality outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and inspire mid-level managers, supporting their growth while ensuring results.
• Skilled at navigating senior-level partnerships and managing high-stakes relationships with senior leaders and institutional leaders.
• Strategic, entrepreneurial thinker who thrives in ambiguity and builds creative, adaptive solutions to complex challenges.
• Comfortable leading multi-country programs with strong systems thinking and attention to detail.
• Brings a strong grasp of inclusive finance or market development mechanisms and a track record of managing results-oriented, equity-driven programs.
• Strong communication skills—verbal and written—with the ability to persuade and align diverse stakeholders around a shared vision.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in international program implementation; business- and partnership-development experience preferred.
• Entrepreneurial mindset to design, develop, and execute long-term initiatives.  A proactive individual who is nimble and with a strategic approach to problem-solving. 
• Persuasive communication skills, both verbal and written; exceptional written and spoken English a must. Demonstrated experience developing high-impact partnerships. 
• A systems thinker with experience in supporting clean technology companies to scale. 
• Demonstrated ability in program development and implementation in the distributed renewable energy or related sectors required, with geographic experience in Africa and South Asia, appliance or technology policy experience a plus.
• Demonstrated experience in growing and developing team members.
• Ability to work from the big picture to the small details.
• Ability to maintain composure, flexibility, and a sense of humor under tight deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and listening skills.

The Application Process

To be considered for a position, interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter indicating their desired position and salary requirements. This position will remain open until it is filled, but individuals who apply by 23rd May 2025 will be given priority; therefore, we encourage you to submit yours soon!

When you apply, we kindly ask you to remove your schools from your resume. There is no need to reformat your resume and leave your degree as is simplify it to “B.A. Economics” for example. Just remember to remove any undergraduate and graduate school name references where possible. This “bias-reduced” process is aimed at opening this opportunity to more candidates, reviewing applicants on performance assessments instead of resume proxies (e.g., where you went to school).

CLASP is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Each person is evaluated based on personal skill and merit.

Compensation 

CLASP offers a competitive salary, benchmarked annually against other nonprofit organizations. Employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package, including fully paid health insurance for individuals and competitive rates for families and dependents. Additional benefits include unlimited leave, time off for regional holidays, and a collaborative work environment that supports professional development, wellness, and flexible telecommuting options.
 

The salary range for this role varies by location, with compensation based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications. In Nairobi, Kenya, the range is $73,376 - $128,408,