Senior Programme Officer-Energy

About this role

SADC, the Southern African Development Community, seeks a Senior Programme Officer to lead its energy unit at the secretariat headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana. The post-holder will facilitate and coordinate the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies, programmes and projects that strengthen energy infrastructure and supply, supporting energy security and reliability across the 16 member states to foster regional industrialisation. Day-to-day responsibilities include commissioning and coordinating studies to identify policy and regulatory gaps, harmonising energy strategies and standards, developing and maintaining a centralised energy database, preparing strategic plans, annual business plans and reports for SADC policy structures, and supporting resource mobilisation. The officer will also develop a pipeline of bankable projects, monitor implementation and impact, manage project staff and consultancies, organise technical meetings and workshops, and engage external stakeholders including SAPP, RERA and SACREEC.

Additionally, the role involves supervising a team, ensuring adherence to SADC values and standards, and representing the regional energy agenda in continental and international forums. Candidates must hold at least a Master's degree in economics or engineering with specialisation in energy or power sector planning, plus at least ten years of energy management experience, including four years in a line management position. Strong leadership, negotiation, stakeholder engagement and strategic planning skills are essential. The post is open to nationals of SADC member states aged 52 or younger, in line with the secretariat's retirement age policy.

SADC is a regional economic community promoting socio-economic cooperation and integration; the secretariat is recruiting to enhance capacity across several positions. This full-time appointment is a four-year fixed term contract, renewable up to two further terms, subject to probation and performance. The advertised remuneration for Job Grade 4 is US$93,097 to US$99,643 per annum. Applications must be submitted via the SADC National Contact Point in eligible member states by 11 September 2026.