Terms of Reference: Microgrid Operations Assistant
EarthSpark International, a US-based non-profit with the mission to eradicate energy poverty, is seeking a practical, motivated, action-oriented volunteer who is ready to dive into rewarding but challenging work in rural Haiti. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engage meaningfully at the early stage of a replicable model and to acquire hands-on experience in rural electrification.
The Microgrid Operations Assistant will be a team-player in a ‘start-up culture’ context and must work well with collaborators inside and outside the organization. The individual will need to feel comfortable taking on multiple roles in an often times less than comfortable environment. The ideal candidate will not only have technical acumen, but will also feel comfortable jumping into community meetings in rural Haiti and presenting at high-level meetings.
The core function of this role is to work with local partners and ES staff to implement an innovative microgrid development model based on EarthSpark’s exemplary Les Anglais microgrid. Initially launched in November 2012 and expanded in 2015, the Les Anglais grid serves 450 rural households on a pre-pay basis and is a town-sized, solar-powered smart grid providing affordable, reliable electricity where previously there was none. Day to day operations of the grid are carried out by Enèji Pwòp, SA, a Haitian social enterprise spun-off by EarthSpark, with oversight from the Microgrid Operations Manager.
Job SummaryThe Microgrid Operations Assistant will have a wide range of tasks that are critical to the successful realization of the EarthSpark mission. The Microgrid Operations Assistant will report directly to the Microgrid Operations Manager and the Director of Community Engagement and work closely with the staff of Enèji Pwòp, S.A. Additionally, the role will interface with a variety of partners, including EarthSpark staff and volunteers, SparkMeter staff, and community members in Les Anglais. This position is based in the South of Haiti but will require travel periodically throughout the country and frequently to Port-au-Prince. The ideal candidate can commit to a year full time in Haiti.
This position will include training on every aspect of running, maintaining and troubleshooting issues on the Les Anglais microgrid. In addition to contributing to grid operations support, the successful candidate will carry out specific, independent projects.
Duties and Responsibilities
Complement and support the Microgrid Operations Support Manager with microgrid oversight including:
Duties specific to this role include:
Regularly contribute to Social Media and Brand Management
Skills and Qualifications
- Excellent writing and speaking skills in English
- Proficiency in French required (Haitian Kreyol is an additional advantage)
- Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel
- Ability to work with others
- Excellent organization, great attention to detail, and ability to self-motivate
- Willingness to discover and understand the Haitian culture
- Strong sense of community
- Dedication to improving rural access to clean energy
- Valid driver’s license; a road test may be required and ability to drive manual a plus
- Willingness to take public transportation in Haiti
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or electrical engineering or a demonstrated ability to excel at technical work
Applicable work or internship experience
Demonstrated capacity to manage challenging and complex environments
Experience living in a developing country a strong advantage
Compensation
This is a volunteer based position with room for advancement. EarthSpark can provide in-country transport, accommodations and a monthly meal stipend.
How to Apply
Please send a CV and cover letter outlining your relevant skills and experience with the subject line: “Microgrid Operations Assistant” to [email protected].
The Microgrid Operations Assistant will be a team-player in a ‘start-up culture’ context and must work well with collaborators inside and outside the organization. The individual will need to feel comfortable taking on multiple roles in an often times less than comfortable environment. The ideal candidate will not only have technical acumen, but will also feel comfortable jumping into community meetings in rural Haiti and presenting at high-level meetings.
The core function of this role is to work with local partners and ES staff to implement an innovative microgrid development model based on EarthSpark’s exemplary Les Anglais microgrid. Initially launched in November 2012 and expanded in 2015, the Les Anglais grid serves 450 rural households on a pre-pay basis and is a town-sized, solar-powered smart grid providing affordable, reliable electricity where previously there was none. Day to day operations of the grid are carried out by Enèji Pwòp, SA, a Haitian social enterprise spun-off by EarthSpark, with oversight from the Microgrid Operations Manager.
Job SummaryThe Microgrid Operations Assistant will have a wide range of tasks that are critical to the successful realization of the EarthSpark mission. The Microgrid Operations Assistant will report directly to the Microgrid Operations Manager and the Director of Community Engagement and work closely with the staff of Enèji Pwòp, S.A. Additionally, the role will interface with a variety of partners, including EarthSpark staff and volunteers, SparkMeter staff, and community members in Les Anglais. This position is based in the South of Haiti but will require travel periodically throughout the country and frequently to Port-au-Prince. The ideal candidate can commit to a year full time in Haiti.
This position will include training on every aspect of running, maintaining and troubleshooting issues on the Les Anglais microgrid. In addition to contributing to grid operations support, the successful candidate will carry out specific, independent projects.
Duties and Responsibilities
Complement and support the Microgrid Operations Support Manager with microgrid oversight including:
- Interface with EarthSpark and Enèji Pwòp to ensure the smooth running of grid operations.
- Interface with local Energy Vendors, including training new vendors and collecting wholesale energy payments.
- Troubleshoot any technical problems with the generation, distribution or metering systems of the microgrid that may arise.
- Oversee and manage the grid-related depot space, developing a comprehensive inventory management system and process, and overseeing implementation of the system.
- Contribute programmatic support for microgrid assessments in other towns in Haiti as needed.
- Collect and collate data and information on the Les Anglais grid and customers as required.
- Deliver presentations on the importance of expanding energy access in Haiti when needed. Help give tours of the Les Anglais grid to donors, partners, and other interested stakeholders.
- Represent EarthSpark International at local and national conferences, workshops and stakeholder consultations as needed.
Duties specific to this role include:
Regularly contribute to Social Media and Brand Management
- Provide EarthSpark senior management with photos, information, stories and blog posts to contribute to the brand at least 3 times per month.
- Research potential productive uses of electricity by microgrid customers.
- Develop and implement a plan to introduce new productive uses technologies for agricultural processing in Les Anglais with an eye towards building local capacity and encourage local business development.
- Work with a local women’s organization in Les Anglais to support a business using clean electricity to strip kernels off of corn and oversee the transfer of ownership to the organization.
- Research and develop the possibility of adding a line of energy efficient appliances to the Enèji Pwòp brand of products, including mapping out the supply chain logistics, pricing and marketing strategies of such products.
- Train new vendors and collect wholesale energy payments. This duty will also require capacity building at EP to turn this task over to EP management.
Skills and Qualifications
- Excellent writing and speaking skills in English
- Proficiency in French required (Haitian Kreyol is an additional advantage)
- Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel
- Ability to work with others
- Excellent organization, great attention to detail, and ability to self-motivate
- Willingness to discover and understand the Haitian culture
- Strong sense of community
- Dedication to improving rural access to clean energy
- Valid driver’s license; a road test may be required and ability to drive manual a plus
- Willingness to take public transportation in Haiti
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or electrical engineering or a demonstrated ability to excel at technical work
Applicable work or internship experience
Demonstrated capacity to manage challenging and complex environments
Experience living in a developing country a strong advantage
Compensation
This is a volunteer based position with room for advancement. EarthSpark can provide in-country transport, accommodations and a monthly meal stipend.
How to Apply
Please send a CV and cover letter outlining your relevant skills and experience with the subject line: “Microgrid Operations Assistant” to [email protected].