Associate - Africa Program (Nigeria)

We are seeking a highly-motivated, Nigeria-based Associate 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 person hired for this role will be embedded in the RMI project team, based in Nigeria. Being locally based will enable close collaboration with your teammates and in-country stakeholders, essential for the successful implementation of our EWAS projects. 

Our Team and The Work 

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. 

Associate Role Overview 

The Associate Role at RMI offers an exciting opportunity for early career professionals and job changers to dive into the world of nonprofit work focused on transforming the global energy transition. The person hired for the EWAS Associate role would lead the implementation of multiple hands-on projects, helping Nigerian entrepreneurs and companies deploy electric processing equipment, cold storage, and other equipment and services that use renewable energy to improve the lives of women and youth working in agri-foods systems. The hired candidate would help partners design and debug an underlying business model that reaches women and youth, and then ensure the projects are successfully implemented during project preparation, construction, commissioning, and operations. 

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. 

Your key job responsibilities as an RMI Associate on the EWAS project include: 

Program Delivery 

• Ensure timely deployment of productive uses of energy in Nigerian communities through strong project management. 

• Guide collaborators toward business models that maximize replicability while ensuring inclusion of women and youth. 

• Visit project sites to assess project status, speak with key stakeholders, and problem-solve as needed. 

• Travel up to 30%, primarily within Nigeria. 

Technical Analysis and Problem Solving 

• Structure and independently execute research across a broad range of topics. 

• Analyze pilot data from IOT sensors and surveys, and use it to develop Excel-based models for techno-economic analysis of productive use solutions (e.g., load profiles, ROI, breakeven analysis). 

• Assist the project’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Lead in analyzing impact metrics 

Stakeholder Engagement 

• Engage with external experts and partners via phone interviews, conferences, and in-person meetings. 

• Build strong working relationships with project partners, and leverage this rapport to support program delivery and to identify fruitful areas for new work. 

Thought Leadership and Communication 

• Synthesize recommendations into clear and compelling presentations and written reports. 

• Present quantitative information in a clear, visual format. 

• Document success stories and field insights that inspire replication and/or improvement 

This position will suit candidates with backgrounds in energy, engineering, or a related field. Preference will be given to candidates with an understanding of gender equity and social inclusion principles. 

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, international relations, policy, economics, finance, STEM or another relevant field 

• Fluent in English 

• Ability to travel and work within Nigeria 

• Deep understanding of the “productive use of energy” concept: the importance of ensuring sufficient electricity demand to support new investments in electricity supply, and the methods by which this demand can be stimulated. 

• Ability to design, create from scratch, and run advanced Excel-based models. 

• Ability to listen actively, be diplomatic and professional, and share knowledge and information well. 

• Project management skills, with a demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.  

• Ability to effectively solve problems and bring clarity to complex and unstructured problems.   

• Comfortability working in a team-based, collaborative environment that requires adaptability and being flexible 

What Will Make You Stand Out 

• A graduate degree in an applicable field such as engineering (mechanical, electrical, civil, energy, agricultural), business (marketing, finance, international), economics, computer science, mathematics, physical and social sciences, OR undergraduate degree and 2-4 years of cumulative work experience and excellent work references.  

• Experience designing, implementing, and/or overseeing renewable energy or productive use projects in remote communities. 

• Experience working in sub-Saharan Africa on energy access, climate, renewables, and demand-side topics. 

• Understanding of basic financial analysis and metrics (e.g., NPV, cash flows), energy analysis (e.g., LCOE), and their applications in African contexts 

• Experience working among diverse groups with varying perspectives and/or facilitating challenging conversations.  

• Strong network with African stakeholders in energy, agriculture, startup, finance, or related sectors, with a preference for applicable connections in Nigeria. 

• Demonstrated interest or experience working with global teams 

• Ability to translate complex technical information into clear, concise documents and presentations for various audiences 

Application Requirements - Submit both in the attachment section. 

Resume (Required)  

We suggest a 1–2-page resume that includes information about your academic background and work experience. Feel free to add additional sections that highlight any technical skills, relevant coursework, or academic projects that you’ve completed. 

Cover Letter (Required)  

Respond to one or two of the following prompts 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. 

• Describe a time you tackled a technical or operational challenge in a resource-constrained context, or working across lines of difference (e.g., gender, age, culture). 

• 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. 

• What’s one thing most energy access or productive use programs often overlook—and how would you approach it differently? 

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 Associate 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

RMI offers competitive compensation packages that are commensurate with the level and requirements of the role. For this position based in Nigeria, the salary range is adjusted to local standards and will be accurately converted from the USD equivalent. The salary range for this role starts at $70,000 USD, and will be paid in local currency. Compensation will depend on your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. Additionally, you will be eligible for a performance bonus target of up to 5%. 

Our dedicated team will work closely with you to ensure that benefits are tailored to meet the needs of your region, providing comprehensive support and ensuring that our compensation packages are both competitive and equitable. 

Benefits 

We offer an array of benefits including: 

• Monthly healthcare allowance (paid in local currency) in addition to statutory requirements 

• Pension plan 

• Fertility and hormonal health support 

• Mental health and wellness support 

• Comprehensive leaves of absence (including generous parental leave) 

• Generous paid time off and sick leave 

• Generous regional holidays with at least one extended break in each geography 

• Work from home and home technology allowances 

• Learning & development opportunities (LinkedIn Learning and an annual individual professional development budget) 

• Potential for bonuses and merit increases 

• Remote and hybrid work options 

• Team retreats and geographic meetups 

• Rewards and recognition programs 

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. 

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. 

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.