Cluster Coordinator

Job PurposeThe Cluster Coordinator is the primary point of contact for mini-grid site operations across an assigned cluster. This role bridges commercial performance and community impact driving energy access growth through sales, customer engagement, and community development, while also serving as a business advisor to the operations and technical team. The Cluster Coordinator is expected to analyse site-level performance, co-develop business plans with local operators, unlock productive use of energy (PUE) and develop/expand connection growth opportunities across both commercial and household segments.Key ResponsibilitiesSite Performance Analysis & Business AdvisoryRegularly analyse site-level data on connections, revenue, load factor, arrears, and PUE uptakeCo-develop a structured business plan for each site in the cluster, covering connection growth targets (household and commercial), PUE opportunity mapping, revenue improvement levers, and operational risk mitigationIdentify underperforming sites, prepare diagnostic reports with root-cause analysis, and own the recovery plan — escalating to the Head of Mini-Grids where decisions exceed cluster-level authorityTrack and report on site KPIs against plan, flagging variances with recommended corrective actionsLead local operators in prioritising their commercial activities and coaching them on customer acquisition, retention, and appliance financingProvide input into site feasibility updates and demand-side assessments to inform capacity or service expansion decisionsCommunity Development & Stakeholder EngagementBuild and sustain trusted relationships with community leaders; chiefs, village headpersons, ward councillors, and local authority structuresFacilitate the formation and ongoing functioning of local Energy User Committees, ensuring communities have a structured voice in service design and grievance resolutionLead community sensitisation and education campaigns on energy products, tariff structures, appliance use, and the productive potential of reliable electricityIdentify and support community anchor institutions (schools, health posts, agro-processors, SMEs) that can serve as PUE demonstration sites and catalysts for broader uptakeCoordinate with local NGOs, cooperatives, and government extension services to align energy access work with wider rural development programmesDocument community feedback systematically and feed insights back to the product and commercial teams at HQSales, Productive Use of Energy (PUE) & Commercial GrowthDrive new household and commercial connections across cluster sites to meet volume and revenue targetsMarket and sell energy-efficient appliances and productive use machines (milling, irrigation, refrigeration, lighting) to existing and prospective customersIdentify and develop commercial customer segments (agro-businesses, SMEs, institutions) and develop tailored connection and usage plans for eachLead credit assessments for customer loan portfolios and manage risk within cluster, escalating as requiredManage customer contract processes end to end, from onboarding through to post-connection supportDrive after-sales service quality in partnership with the call centre and technical teams, monitoring satisfaction and retention metricsCluster Administration & ReportingManage general administration of all sites within the cluster, including documentation, asset tracking, and compliance with operational standardsPrepare timely and accurate cluster progress reports covering commercial performance, community engagement, PUE pipeline, and risk flagsCoordinate field survey activities including demand assessments, baseline surveys, and feasibility study inputsSupervise and coach Local Operators (LOs), acting as the key link between site-level teams and the businessEnsure adherence to IEA policies, safeguarding standards, and health and safety requirements across all cluster activitiesQualifications & ExperienceMinimum RequirementsBachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Rural Development, Agricultural Economics, Community Development, or a related fieldMinimum 4 years of relevant experience combining at least two of: rural sales or business development, community development or extension work, SME advisory, microfinance, or agribusinessDemonstrated ability to read and interpret business or operational data and translate findings into practical recommendationsExperience working with off-grid, rural, or underserved market segmentsValid driver’s licence and willingness to travel regularly within the clusterComputer literate, with working proficiency in Excel or equivalent tools for data analysis and reportingPreferred ExperiencePrior exposure to productive use of energy (PUE) programmes, solar home systems, or mini-grid operationsExperience facilitating community structures such as cooperatives, user committees, or savings groupsFamiliarity with business planning or financial modelling at SME or community enterprise levelPrior work with development finance, grant-funded rural programmes, or government rural electrification schemesSkills & AttributesStrong analytical thinking - can synthesise site data into actionable insights without being promptedNatural communicator and community builder - equally comfortable presenting to a village chief, Senior Govt Officials Commercially driven with genuine commitment to energy access and rural developmentSelf-directed and organised - manages a dispersed portfolio of sites with minimal supervisionCoaching mindset - develops the capability of teams, not just personal targetsResilient and adaptable in remote and resource-constrained environmentsHigh integrity in customer credit assessment and community trust relationshipsLanguagesEnglish (required)Local languages predominantly spoken across Eastern Province mini-grid sites — Nsenga, Chewa, and/or Nyanja (required)Due Date for Applications is 21 May 2026 Ignite Access Zambia Limited is an equal opportunity employer, promoting diversity and committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. All applications are screened based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without any regard to origin, age, name, sexual identity, orientation or preference, religion, marital status, health, disability, political opinions, union involvement or citizenship. Our differences are our strengths!