Program Manager – Innovation – SELCO Foundation

SELCO Foundation is an open source, not for profit organization that engages in field-based R&D and ecosystem building for deployment of clean energy solutions that alleviate poverty in tribal, rural and urban poor areas. The organization works in collaboration with practitioners in the social sector, energy entrepreneurs, NGOs from various developmental sectors and educational institutions to link the benefits of sustainable energy to poverty eradication. The organization works across verticals such as energy access, health, livelihoods with practitioners in the social sector, energy entrepreneurs and partners from various developmental sectors. As one of its priority development regions, SELCO Foundation is actively integrating sustainable energy driven solutions to improve lives and livelihoods in Assam. Some verticals in Assam with potential for very high impact are Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Textiles and Crafts and Retail and Service small and medium enterprises. SELCO Foundation has been working on specific value chains such as Millets, Rice, Pulses Dairy, Poultry, Piggery etc. You can find more information about SELCO Foundation on our organization website.

Position: Program Manager – Innovation, Assam (full time, 6 months’ probation period)
Years of Experience: 8+ years
Location: SELCO Foundation, Guwahati, Assam
Starting: Immediately

The Role:
SELCO Foundation is looking for a highly motivated individual who is passionate about working in the overall sustainable energy sector for last mile communities. The approach is to use decentralized renewable energy to demonstrate higher productivity, lower drudgery increased incomes and improved wellbeing for the underserved communities through the integration of climate inclusive technologies into livelihood practices. As the Program Manager in charge of Innovation deployment and benchmarking in Assam, you would lead a small team based in Guwahati. Under your leadership the team would identify and develop early stage decentralized renewable energy driven products / processes and demonstrate their potential for impact creation and scale.

Key responsibilities for the position:

• Anchor and streamline the different innovation portfolios of SELCO Foundation with special focus on Assam.
• Manage innovation and action research phases such as user and market research, testing, prototyping, piloting etc.
• Provide meaningful direction and necessary support to grow the different livelihood innovation portfolios (agriculture, animal husbandry, textiles and crafts and micro businesses).
• Ensure Intra and Inter organization coordination for smooth implementation of the innovation and ecosystem approach and organizational vision.
• Capture and document learnings, case studies and reports.
• Develop and implement the Annual Work Plan for the team from need identification to demonstration of impact.
• Ensure benchmarking of solutions for scale i.e technical specifications, business models and value propositions for end users and other key stakeholders.
• Actively seek feedback from end users and stakeholder for course correction and refinement and evolution of the solution.
• Build capacity of stakeholders to scale the innovative solutions.

Who can apply:

• A degree in agricultural sciences, agri engineering an/or livestock management, engineering or clean energy will be preferred.
• Work experience of 8+ years in the development sector with focus on Agri+Allied livelihoods and/or sustainable energy and/or technology innovation is preferable.
• Experience in planning project and programme implementation.
• A team builder who has worked in an interdisciplinary and multicultural environment.
• Willingness to travel.

Process:
Applications will be processed on a rolling basis. Please send a copy of your CV with a cover letter explaining why you are interested in this role here