Business Development & Sustainability (bd) Fellow

About Us:

UpEnergy delivers high-impact, emission reducing projects that accelerate decarbonization and create long term benefits in local communities. We do so by making life-improving clean technologies available to local communities and environments across Africa. Whether it’s protecting the local environment, delivering health benefits, or reducing poverty through financial savings and employment, our projects sustainably benefit and enable people to live better lives within climate resilient communities.

To date, UpEnergy has delivered over 95 emission reduction projects, impacted over 4 million lives, and reduced over 4 million tons of CO2 Emissions across 7 countries. UpEnergy prides itself on deep local knowledge and established teams on the ground to ensure the highest impact and results. The UpEnergy team continues to grow, across multiple countries and continents, and seeks diligent, entrepreneurial, fun, and motivated talent who are excited to join us in delivering even more impact. Learn more here: www.upenergygroup.com

About the role:

This Fellowship will have an initial 12 month contract, with potential for extension. As we look to expand UpEnergy, there may also be opportunities for exceptional candidates to join the team on a full time basis once the initial fellowship is completed. This role can be Remote, or in ideally in one of UpEnergy African markets - to be discussed with the hiring manager.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Research & Analysis/ Market development: Through research and insights gathering, share suggestions on geographical expansion and new technologies emerging in the removals and reduction of carbon space.
2. Business development: with support of the manager design business models to deliver the proposed project. Bring design-ready projects to be pitched to investor level
3. Stakeholder engagement: maintain wide net of contacts across NGOs, international development agencies and carbon developers to expand collaboration and initiate partnerships for specific projects
4. Funding: look for and apply for grants that can support the development of projects
5. Project management: PM of pipeline of projects including communication with local partners, across the company team members and other stakeholders.
6. Problem solving and educational campaigns: support creation of educational materials and deliveirng workshops across a variety of subjects relevant for local communities, country teams, NGOs etc. Keep an eye on key news and events for the sector.

Does that sound like you?

• An MBA, PhD, MA graduate or in pursuant of in the areas of environmental science, sustainability, business, international development/ relations/ affairs or related

• Experience working in a high performing environment

• Experience building systems and processes to support organizational growth

• Experience designing well-considered strategy (strategic), as well as successfully delivering projects

• Ability to use data, insights to map out effective strategies

• Rigorous and analytical

• Entrepreneurial, curious and iterative, willing to be experimental by trying and testing new ideas

• Resilience

• Authentic and trustworthy

• A love for the work we do at UpEnergy

• Professional fluency in English is required. Portuguese or French would be a plus

Why Join Us?

Not your average 9-to-5

UpEnergy encourages teamwork, creativity, and we’re not afraid to get our hands dirty. We stay close to our market, understand our customers, and have a lot of fun while doing our work! If you’re looking for a conventional 9-to-5, you’d be missing out on our adventures!

Opportunity to do things in a new way

As one of the largest compliance credit issuer in Africa, we need to be constantly improving and rethinking our way of work. This means endless opportunities for a self-starter to initiate new ways of doing things or experimenting ways to help us improve.

Personal and Career Growth

Wouldn’t it be a pity to spend so much time working but not growing and learning? At UpEnergy we value both personal and professional growth, and we want to grow as a team. From classroom training to coffee chats to performance review, we want to support every team member to grow into the best version they can.

Create Lasting Impact

Our clean energy products bring positive impact to both our planet earth and for the low-income communities we work in. We don’t just focus on sales – we follow up and truly understand our customers to make sure that they continue to benefit from our products. Your work will create much longer-lasting impact than what you can see!