Job Description:

Transform your career with RMI in Nigeria

Program Overview

With an independent, objective, and fact-based approach, RMI’s Africa Energy Program works with a diverse set of public and private sector partners to solve sub-Saharan Africa’s toughest energy challenges. Fundamentally, we believe that people need and deserve access to clean, reliable, and affordable power, and that historical approaches to energy systems will not enable sustainable economic development for African economies in the 21st century and beyond. We are working to change that, leveraging RMI’s global platform and deeply collaborative partnerships across the range of industry stakeholders.

Our program strategy and team of 20 people focus on three components: 1) Enabling distributed energy resource (DER) adoption and expansion of clean energy portfolios to expand access, reduce costs, and strengthen reliability 2) grow green economies that drive new industry and economic centers powered by decarbonized energy supply 3) catalyzing investment and equipping the workforce needed to drive the clean energy transition.

Currently, the Africa Energy Program works alongside country partners in Nigeria with regional scaling activities in other sub-Saharan African countries.

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly-motivated, Nigeria-based Project Grant Lead to join RMI’s Africa Energy Program to drive our next ambitious project: the Energising Women and Youth in Agri-Foods Systems (EWAS) initiative. The program aims to unlock 5,000 dignified jobs in Nigeria by helping women and youth access solar-powered equipment and services across the agri-food system. Nigerian startups and innovators will work with the RMI project team to deploy renewably-powered equipment and services across the country. EWAS builds on momentum from the Energizing Agriculture Programme, which is summarized in our 2024 report, Harvesting Sunshine: How Productive Uses of Minigrid Electricity Make Farmers Richer and Energy Cheaper.

Working at the nexus of energy, gender equity, and economic development, the EWAS Project Grant Lead will be embedded in the Nigeria-based RMI project team. The person hired for this role will lead our compliance with grant administration requirements, work with implementing partners across the country, oversee contracts and subgrants, and contribute to our Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) activities. The Lead will also have the opportunity to join in-person trainings, workshops, and site visits, and can lead some of these activities at advanced levels.

This position will suit candidates with robust experience in managing large, performance-based donor grants—especially those from USAID, MasterCard Foundation, BMGF, GIZ, multilateral, or similar sources—and who are passionate about women’s empowerment, clean energy, and food systems transformation. Preference will be given to candidates with an understanding of gender equity and social inclusion principles.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The selected candidate for hire should be available to start between September and October 2025 to align with the EWAS implementation timeline. Please note that this project-based position is for a full-time, fixed term of approximately 2 years from the beginning of employment. This role will report to the Project Manager.

Key Responsibilities

Lead grant compliance at the project level

In coordination with central RMI operations, lead day-to-day implementation of grant compliance for RMI’s component of the EWAS program, in line with the grant agreement and MasterCard Foundation donor protocols.

Monitor EWAS project finances, supporting the program operations lead and project manager in tracking expenditures against budget and identifying potential financial challenges

With support of RMI’s global Grant Management Team, ensure RMI complies with financial reporting requirements, including proper documentation of project expenses

With the support of RMI’s global Subgrant Team, ensure project subgranteees comply with their financial reporting requirements, including proper documentation of project expenses and required audits

Ensure subcontractors comply with applicable financial reporting requirements, including proper documentation of project expenses

Lead procurement, contracting, and subgrants at the project level

Support procurement processes for project-specific goods and services, ensuring compliance with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet’s (GEAPP) requirement for competitive sourcing and proper documentation

Coordinate with RMI’s global Subgrant Team to complete due diligence on prospective implementing partners and ensure partner contracts and subgrants are structured with performance-based triggers and adequate compliance safeguards

Track contract-specific milestones, oversee invoicing, and ensure timely disbursement of funds

Work closely with RMI EWAS project staff to ensure delivery against targets, budget, and compliance requirements

Administrative coordination

Support Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), working with the MEL Lead and subgrantees to collect, verify, and compile data for impact reports

Participate in site visits, workshops, and trainings — in city centers as well as rural project sites — occasionally organizing travel or co-planning events

With the project manager, coordinate internal and external reporting calendars to ensure timely submission of all required deliverables, especially financial reports

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, International Development, Accounting, or a related field, or relevant years of job experience

Minimum of 3-5 years of experience managing complex donor-funded programs, with a preference for hands-on experience with USAID, MasterCard Foundation, BMGF, GIZ, multilateral, or similar sources.

Strong command of donor reporting standards, financial reporting and compliance, and safeguarding protocols.

Demonstrated ability to leadcomplex budgets and multi-funder projects

Demonstrated experience of leading substantial procurements/ sub-contracting processes to international NGO standards, applying strategic sourcing practices

Excellent organizational skills and proven ability to work in a digital environment

Excellent English communications skills (written and spoken)

Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with GEAPP, the Mastercard Foundation, or other climate/energy sector funders.

Experience in agriculture or clean energy programs in Nigeria.

Knowledge of gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) frameworks, and experience with pro-GESI projects.

Experience with programs serving women and/or youth aged 18 to 35

Fluency in English is essential; fluency in a local Nigerian language is a plus

Application Requirements - Submit both in the attachment section.

Resume (Required)

Cover Letter (Required): Respond to the following prompt below in your cover letter. We value authenticity and personal insight in your cover letter. We encourage you to write it yourself, in your own words.

Required prompt: Describe your experience managing complex workflows, coordinating with multiple stakeholders (internal and external), and ensuring compliance with expenditures and reporting.

Optional, additional prompt: Why does the EWAS program resonate with you personally or professionally? Share a specific moment, project, or experience that shaped your interest in using clean energy to improve livelihoods.

Child and Youth Safeguarding

The EWAS project will work extensively with women and youth, and staff are subject to RMI policies safeguarding these populations. Candidates will be subject to background screening prior to starting work.

Location

For this specific role within our Africa team, we require the successful candidate to be based in Nigeria. This location requirement ensures that the Grant Lead can effectively engage with EWAS projects and stakeholders, as well as RMI colleagues in Abuja and Lagos.

RMI is a remote-ready organization, embracing flexibility with team members located around the globe. Our offices, designed to be beautiful and welcoming, serve as hubs for collaboration, meetings, or focused work, accommodating those traveling through or residing nearby. We have a network of offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; Abuja, Nigeria; and Beijing, China.

Compensation

Salary to be determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. This position is bonus-eligible, with the payout prorated based on the time in the role and organization's financial performance.

Benefits

RMI provides a comprehensive benefits package that will be based upon the statutory benefits per country of residence.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 

We know that the diversity of our teams makes us stronger as an organization, and RMI is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity as outlined in U.S. federal law. We prohibit discrimination against applicants, interns, and employees on the basis of any legally recognized basis, including but not limited to: age (40 and over), race, color, sex, pregnancy (including lactation, childbirth, or related medical conditions), religion, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender expression/identity, uniformed service member status, veteran status, citizenship status, or any other applicable status protected by applicable law.

About RMI

RMI is an independent nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5°C future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. We work in the world’s most critical geographies and engage businesses, policymakers, communities, and NGOs to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50 percent by 2030. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; Abuja, Nigeria; and Beijing, China.

RMI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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