Operations Specialist - Africa

C- Quest Capital LLC (CQC) is a social impact investor and project developer organization, that specializes in climate finance.  As a leader in providing renewable energy production whose mission is to transform the lives of last-mile families in developing countries by providing them access to clean and sustainable energy services that in turn improve the health and wellbeing of women and children. CQC was founded in 2008 and is a global company headquartered in Washington DC, USA with subsidiaries in India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Cambodia with on-ground teams in our countries of operation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

We have active investments in over 25 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 over 160 full-time staff of investment, project management, and carbon professionals based around the world including Washington DC, India, Malaysia, Cambodia, Malawi, and Zambia. In addition, we regularly draw on a pool of individual consultants, collaborating NGO and private sector partners, and staff of our joint venture partners.

Background:

CQC is rapidly expanding its investment in cleaner cooking services across its core geographies. In Sub-Saharan Africa, we have launched a multiple million household investment program across Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Angola, and Rwanda with pilot activities planned in several other SSA countries.

Core Tasks:

Under the guidance and supervision of the Operations Team – Africa, the Operations Specialists would support the success of day-to-day operations including:

• Learn aspects of CQC’s clean cooking and sustainable energy businesses, especially the rural cookstove program.

• Contribute to specialized projects focused on enhancing sustainable development outcomes.

• Support the Operations Team Senior Operations Specialists on specific projects or country operations.

• Occasional travel to project countries to supervise teams, partner organizations, and projects in Sub-Saharan countries.

• Liaise between CQC teams to improve efficiency of operations program delivery and management.

Location

Location is flexible, with a preference for Washington DC, USA or mainland Africa, but other locations may be acceptable for the right candidates. CQC relies heavily on home-based team members and the use of video conferencing technology to connect with global teams.

Supervision

The appointee will report to the Director of Operations - Africa and work closely with Senior Operations Specialists.

Travel

Specialists may be expected to travel up to 4 weeks of the year, as needed. However, there will be no travel until staff are vaccinated against COVID-19. Pandemic risks are measured locally, and travel does not occur if risks are not deemed manageable.

Qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience required:

• Bachelor's degree required, preferably focused on social science, public health, environment, climate change, and/or international relations/development.

• Experience living or working in the Global South, especially Sub-Saharan Africa. Local language experience in countries of operation is an advantage.

• 1-3 years of work experience, specific priority given to experience support and building cross-cultural relationships.

• Experience developing training materials for non-expert and non-American audiences is preferred.

• Practiced at inter-organization coordination and support.

• Familiarity and competence in Microsoft Suite.

• Experience in technical, grant, and proposal writing.

• High-level written and verbal communication skills with commitment to working in a global team environment and/or with hard or soft climate technologies an advantage.

• Advantage may be given to candidates fluent in French or Portuguese.