Chief Executive Officer

Lead a Movement Advancing Universal Energy Access Chief Executive Officer – Solar Aid

Location: UK - hybrid
Travel: c. 8–10 weeks per year (Africa programmes, partners, global forums)
Salary: c. £100k
Type: Full-time

Solar Aid is an ambitious international charity working to achieve a world where everyone has access to clean, renewable energy. With a strong track record of impact across sub-Saharan Africa, Solar Aid has helped transform access to energy through solar solutions that improve lives, livelihoods and the environment.

Today, Solar Aid is entering a pivotal new phase. Building on proven delivery models, the organisation is shifting towards systems change - scaling impact through partnerships, influencing markets, and shaping policy to accelerate universal energy access. Alongside this, Solar Aid retains active operational programmes in countries such as Malawi and Zambia, ensuring deep, real-world insight informs its work.

This is a rare opportunity to lead an organisation with both credibility on the ground and growing influence at the highest levels.

As CEO, you will lead Solar Aid through an exciting transition - balancing external influence and internal leadership to unlock its next phase of impact.

• Shape and Deliver Strategy
  Bring clarity, focus and prioritisation to Solar Aid’s ambitions, ensuring resources are aligned to the highest-impact opportunities
• Drive Global Influence
  Act as Solar Aid’s primary ambassador, building credibility with governments, funders, multilaterals and partners
• Scale Impact Through Partnerships
  Expand and strengthen partnerships to deliver scalable, replicable models across sub-Saharan Africa

• You will lead a mission that is fundamental to human development and climate progress
• Solar Aid combines proven delivery with growing global influence
• You will have the opportunity to shape the future of energy access at scale

Solar Aid is seeking an experienced, credible and decisive leader - someone equally comfortable representing the organisation externally and leading it internally through change.

• Proven senior leadership experience (CEO, Executive Director or equivalent) within international development, social enterprise or a related field
• Experience of programme delivery in sub-Saharan Africa, with a deep understanding of operating contexts
• Demonstrable ability to build credibility and influence with governments, funders, and global partners
• Track record of leading organisations through complexity, change or transition
• Strong strategic judgement, with the ability to prioritise and align ambition with capacity

• Relevant sector expertise – in energy access, climate, or adjacent sectors

• Decisive and empowering, able to lead with clarity and confidence
• Credible and articulate ambassador, with presence at senior levels
• Emotionally intelligent, able to build trust and stability in a mission-driven culture

Charity People actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. We match charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the charities with which we work.