Energy Policy Director at CrossBoundary

Job Description  

• CrossBoundary Energy is recruiting a full-time Energy Policy Director to drive CBE’s pan-African energy regulatory engagement strategy.
• We are seeking a resourceful and creative problem-solver to execute CBE’s vision for changing how African governments view distributed energy.
• The Energy Policy Director will support project development teams to secure licenses through direct advocacy and management of in-country consultants, as well as sourcing current and specific research to guide CBE’s business development efforts in new markets.
• This person will also help design and carry out strategic activities to secure and promote our solar business models for the long-term across Africa, including advocacy for appropriate net-metering, captive power, and power wheeling approaches (across East and West Africa).
• We expect the Director’s work to directly shape the future of distributed energy deployment on the continent.
• This member of the team will report to the Head of Energy Policy & Regulatory Affairs and collaborate regularly with the business development, project development, legal, and asset management functions on strategy and compliance topics. 

Who We Are 

• The CrossBoundary team is a unique group of people who are genuinely excited by the opportunity to make a difference in some of the most challenging and exciting markets in the world.
• Team members come from diverse backgrounds but share several qualities: curiosity, humility, integrity, a drive for excellence, and a bias for action. 

Who You Are 

• A seasoned policy expert, with 5+ years’ experience at a leading multinational professional services firm, policy research or consulting institution, or infrastructure firm, including experience on African energy projects 
• An established ‘voice’ in the clean energy sector, with a record of success liaising with utilities or energy regulators to secure agreements or licensing to successfully implement power projects 
• Experienced in advising or implementing distributed energy projects, as distinct from utility-scale (i.e., captive, commercial-industrial, mini-grids) 
• Familiar with the key terms of power purchase agreements and the business models of independent power producers  
• Skilled at creating and leveraging professional relationships across countries, personalities, and the political spectrum to achieve a positive impact. Comfortable in working in complex, and highly political environments, when needed 
• Politically savvy; passionate about understanding the unique machinery of government in different countries, and understands that there is no one-size-fits-all policy solution  
• Systematic and highly organized, you can track multiple activities across diverse workstreams while delivering results on time 
• Ethical and highly principled; you hold yourself to rigorous international standards for anti-bribery and anti-corruption without exception 
• You thrive in a non-hierarchical, collaborative environment and welcome input on your work from any teammate. There is nothing you’d task someone else to do that you wouldn’t do yourself 
• Professional fluency in French 

Required Qualifications 

• 3+ years’ experience at a leading multinational professional services firm, policy research or consulting institution, or infrastructure firm, including experience in highly regulated sectors in underserved markets 
• 2+ years’ business experience in Africa or on Africa-based projects  
• Specific insights and real-world experience about how policy engagement by private businesses can successfully shape national market environments 
• Established network in the energy sector, including in CBE countries of operation 
• Expert and professional communicator in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.) 
• Bachelors’ degree in relevant field 
• Professional fluency in English 

Primary Responsibilities 

• Lead energy regulatory analyses across African countries to inform business development, project development, and investment decisions 
• Support CBE direct engagements with energy regulators and policymakers across several jurisdictions, to negotiate successful acquisition of project permits needed to achieve CBE’s business goals 
• In collaboration with the Head of Energy Policy and Regulatory Affairs, work with policymakers to best practices and new ways of thinking about distributed energy to advance CBE's business interests and impact goals  
• Maintain extensive practical familiarity with energy, investment, and corporate regulations across Africa to readily advise relevant project teams 
• Summarize impacts of new and existing regulations to current renewable energy projects, then plan and manage rollout of any activities required to align with these standards  
• Regularly evaluate policy risks to achieving business goals and single out top priority concerns. Summarize for management and investors and offer recommendations on how best to mitigate 
• Maintain strategic relationships with senior local counsel to advise on new regulations 
• Lead CBE relationships within the energy industry across several jurisdictions and ensure CBE Regulatory team has effective engagement with releavant associations and industry bodies, where useful. Leverage influence to build buy-in among competitors and cooperate in advocating policymakers and regulators for mutually beneficial sector-wide policies  
• Manage CBE's internal database of laws and regulations across all markets, creating and overseeing processes to ensure that our information is current and relevant to project development teams 
• Supervise local policy consultants on specific advocacy or project permitting objectives