Operations Manager - Zambia

C- Quest Capital LLC (CQC) is a social impact investor, project developer, and climate finance specialist whose mission is to transform the lives of families in the poorest communities in the developing countries by providing them access to clean and sustainable energy services and clean energy technologies and improving the health and wellbeing of women and children. CQC was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Washington DC, USA with subsidiaries in India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Cambodia on-ground teams in Malawi, Zambia, and rapidly growing into other Sub-Saharan Africa countries.

CQC is a leader in providing clean efficient cooking and lighting services to the rural poor worldwide and has growing businesses in renewable energy production and supply, and sustainable agricultural land use, and forestry.  Our projects are implemented either through our operational platforms and subsidiaries or through closely managed partnerships and joint ventures with on-the-ground organizations.

We have active investments in countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, Central America, and South and East Asia that have thus far improved the lives of over 20 million people. CQC employs investment, project management, and carbon professionals based around the world.

Background: CQC is rapidly expanding its investment in cleaner cooking services across its core geographies. In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) we have launched a three million household four-year investment across Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Angola, and Rwanda with pilot activities planned in several other SSA Least Developed Countries. We manage country teams and implementing partners across the region and are expanding our skilled staff in Zambia.

Responsibilities: Under the guidance of the Country Manager and Regional Operations, the Operations Manager will:

• Work to coordinate on the ground logistical support of stove projects with implementing partners.
• Implement the CQC Direct Program in Zambia ensuring monthly targets. Identify potential areas of expansion for the CQC Direct Program.
• Coordinate and facilitate training of trainers for the CQC Direct Program. Manage a team of Regional Coordinators and Operations Associate(s) – Training Assistants to achieve high quality installations, maintenance, and usage rates.
• Provide overview of stove theory, as well as of our business and process of implementation.
• Assist Operations and Project Management teams to monitor specific project parameters.
• Coordinate and oversee the work of third-party service provider for the smooth conduct of project.
• Coordinate with local Government authorities, as required, for the smooth conduct of project.
• Assist with on-site audit as required by project Compliance.
• Work with Finance and Administration in stock management.
• Assist regional teams to set up new operational areas.
• Assist with recruitment and training for the operations team and other departments as needed.
• Lead demonstration and construction of our cookstoves. Train stove enumeration/registration.
• Follow up on re-registration of rejected stoves and re-installation of collapsed stoves.
• At a time, single or multiple projects may be assigned depending on current workload but within reasonable working hours.

Location: Zambia, Lusaka, with global communication as CQC relies heavily on staff working at home and use of video conferencing technology to communicate between its team across the world.

Travel: Operations Managers are expected to travel on an as-needed short -notice timeline. Much of the role will be overseeing project operations throughout project country.  Travel is estimated at 5-15 days each month.

Supervision: the position reports to the Country Manager (Zambia). This is a supervisory position, with supervision and hiring of in-country teams (compliance, verification, etc.).

Qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience:

• Bachelor's degree preferably focused on sciences, health, environment, climate change, international development, or relevant field, with advanced degree(s) preferable.
• Knowledge and proficiency in one or more of the following areas: environmental, conservation, forestry, agriculture, sustainable/renewable energy, gender/women’s empowerment or related.
• Experienced in building and facilitating relationships for rural and/or urban development programs.
• Familiarity with supply chain management in project country preferred.
• Proficiency in facilitating and delivering trainings to non-expert audiences.
• Patience and the desire to contribute to livelihoods development and climate transformation technologies.
• Demonstrated experience in handling and analyzing large data sets and relational databases.
• Fluency / written and oral in English and local languages/ dialects.
• High-level written and verbal communication skills with experience working in a global team

environment.

• Availability to travel domestically on an as-needed and short-notice basis.
• Competent with email, WhatsApp, and Skype/Zoom video calling and software.

Location: Lusaka, Zambia

Employment type: Consultant/ Contractor full-time