Development Associate (location flexible)

Job Description

Background: Energy Peace Partners (EPP) is a dynamic and innovative non-profit organization, headquartered in the United States and with an office in Kenya, that supports renewable energy as a building block for peace in geographies affected by violent conflict. EPP is focused on three program areas:

  • Innovative Finance/P-REC: EPP developed the Peace Renewable Energy Credit (P-REC) as an innovative financing instrument to support high impact renewable energy projects in countries most affected by conflict, climate change, and energy poverty. Initial P-REC transactions have unlocked nearly USD 1 million to support off-grid solar projects in sub-Saharan Africa.

  • Research and Advocacy: EPP co-leads the Powering Peace initiative in partnership with the Stimson Center, which examines the nexus of energy and conflict in fragile countries that host United Nations peacekeeping operations and identifies opportunities for UN peacekeeping mission energy transitions to catalyze local electrification.

  • Peace Impacts of Renewable Energy Research: EPP has developed a framework to track and measure the peace and wider social impacts of renewable energy projects in our target countries.


The Position: EPP seeks a highly motivated Development Associate to join our entrepreneurial organization and be an integral part of EPP’s team as we scale up our efforts. EPP has grown since our establishment in 2017. The organization’s culture combines elements of a start-up with a strong focus on innovation and social impact. EPP has a budget of $1.5 million, currently funded primarily by private foundations, with ambitions for significant organizational growth and impact in the next five years.

The role will primarily entail fundraising duties for EPP, as well as support in the areas of communications and operations. This position has significant growth potential for the right individual: as the organization grows, we expect the Associate to grow with it. The Development Associate will report to the Operations and Planning Lead, working closely with the Management Team.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Fundraising:

  • Manage grant proposal processes, including drafting proposals  and tracking the process to completion.

  • Manage reporting processes, including drafting compelling progress reports to funders.

  • Conduct prospect research to identify potential funders and grant opportunities.

  • Manage grants calendar to track application and reporting deadlines.

  • Manage and update grants database and pipeline.

  • Work closely with the Management Team to develop and steward strategic relationships, including attending prospect/funder meetings where possible and following up with leads.


2. Communications:

  • Support the development of marketing materials, including newsletters, quarterly and annual reports, to showcase organizational achievements and impact.

  • Assist with social media and website content.


3. Operations and administrative support:

  • Support preparation of materials for Board of Directors meetings.

  • Assist with budgeting, financial reporting, and grant compliance activities as needed.

  • Attend bi-weekly team meetings, and weekly program meetings.


Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker, detail-oriented, and have excellent analytical, writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, able to take complicated, and often nuanced, programs and communicate them effectively to a portfolio of current and prospective funders. Specifically, the candidate will have:

  • Bachelor’s degree

  • Two years of full-time professional experience, preferably in one of the following areas: non-profit fundraising, social impact, climate, renewable energy, energy access, international development, or other relevant fields.

  • Passionate about issues of climate change, renewable energy, and/or peace and security issues.

  • Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.

  • Excellent organizational abilities, demonstrated capacity to handle and prioritize multiple tasks, set priorities, meet deadlines, and take precise notes.

  • Knowledge of standard development practices and techniques, proposal writing, and prospect research. Experience in writing grant proposals is a strong plus.

  • Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and timelines.

  • Self-starter and team player, able to handle independent tasks while working collaboratively with a team.

  • Proficient using Microsoft Suite, Google Workspace, and database systems.

  • Comfortable in a remote work environment, and flexible working across multiple time zones.

  • Willingness to travel as needed.

Our offices are in Sausalito, California and Nairobi, Kenya. While there is preference to have someone near either of these cities, the position is location-flexible. This will be a full-time position, however we will consider a part-time role for the right candidate. The position will offer a competitive salary with comprehensive benefits.

To apply:

Please submit a cover letter and CV by April 30 to info@energypeacepartners.com. With your cover letter, please include a short note answering the following questions:

  • What part of our mission excites you the most?

  • What are you most proud of that may not be immediately apparent on your resume?

Applications will be reviewed as they are received.