Job description
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT @ PALLADIUM
LOCATION: Lilongwe
POSITION: BIOGAS AND CIRCULARITY MARKETS SPECIALIST
PROJECT: Malawi Growth Poles Project 2.0 (GPP 2.0)
OVERVIEW
Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of positive impact, creating enduring social and economic value. The organisation works with governments, businesses, investors and communities to address complex development challenges and improve people's lives.
Palladium invites applications from suitably qualified and experienced professionals for the position of Biogas and Circularity Markets Specialist under the Ireland-funded Malawi Growth Poles Project 2.0 (GPP 2.0).
The five-year programme aims to accelerate sustainable, resilient and inclusive wealth generation in Malawi by mobilising rural private-sector investment and partnerships with anchor agribusinesses, smallholder farmers, cooperatives and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The successful candidate will support the development of commercial biogas and biofertiliser markets, strengthen partnerships between agricultural businesses and bioenergy providers, and promote the conversion of agricultural processing waste into commercially viable products.
JOB TYPE: Full Time
WORKING HOURS: 40 hours per week
DEPARTMENT: Programmes & Partnerships
Date Posted: Thursday, 5th November 2026
Expected Start Date: January 2027
Application Deadline:Wednesday, 25th November 2026, at 5:00 PM CAT
Duty Station: Lilongwe, Malawi
Reports to: Senior Manager, Market Systems Development
Anticipated Grade: Specialist
POSITION: BIOGAS AND CIRCULARITY MARKETS SPECIALIST
JOB SUMMARY
The Biogas and Circularity Markets Specialist will lead two key activities under the Soil Health portfolio of the Growth Poles Project's Year 4 (FY27) Annual Work Plan.
The first activity focuses on scaling household-level biodigesters, bioslurry buy-back arrangements and climate-results monitoring through partnerships between bioenergy and biofertiliser providers and anchor agribusinesses.
The second activity involves supporting anchor agribusinesses and agro-processors to convert agricultural waste into commercially viable products such as biogas, compost and biofertiliser.
The role requires strong technical knowledge, partnership development, stakeholder management and the ability to facilitate commercially sustainable solutions without replacing the responsibilities of businesses, service providers, government or communities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Biodigester Clusters, Bioslurry Buy-Back and Climate-Results Monitoring
Lead the implementation of activities aimed at scaling household-level biodigester systems.
Agree workplans and implementation milestones with bioenergy and biofertiliser partners.
Build partnerships between bioenergy and biofertiliser providers and at least three (3) anchor agribusinesses.
Support negotiations and agreements defining responsibilities for installation, farmer access and bioslurry buy-back arrangements.
Support the establishment and expansion of biodigester clusters serving at least 100 new households on commercial terms.
Review the technical quality and safety of installations, servicing and bioslurry handling.
Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team to monitor fuelwood avoided, trees conserved, greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions reduced and bioslurry generated.
Assess whether households continue purchasing systems and selling bioslurry and whether partners can independently recruit customers.
Recommend when and how project support should be phased out.
2. Circularity Conversion Investments with Agribusinesses
Identify and prioritise anchor agribusinesses and agro-processors based on feedstock volumes, capacity to use or sell outputs, and willingness to co-finance investments.
Lead baseline assessments covering waste streams, emissions, energy demand, site conditions, environmental considerations and safety requirements.
Assess and design commercially viable solutions for converting agricultural processing waste into biogas, compost and biofertiliser.
Prepare Terms of Reference (ToRs) for consultants and technical service providers.
Recruit and manage consultants and oversee the quality of their work and deliverables.
Support the development of at least four (4) circularity assessment reports, resulting in at least three (3) circularity pilots being initiated.
Monitor the commercial and GHG results of each pilot.
Ensure environmental, health and safety compliance.
Document lessons and criteria for replicating successful solutions among other agro-processors.
3. Portfolio Contribution and Partner Management
Provide environmental engineering input to other soil health partners, including on composting, processing, feedstock security, production capacity and facility compliance.
Contribute technical evidence to portfolio reviews, performance scorecards and decisions on whether to scale, adapt, graduate or exit interventions.
Provide technical input into scopes of work and milestones for partner agreements.
Verify the completion of agreed partner milestones.
Maintain effective relationships with implementing partners and other stakeholders.
Work within approved plans, budgets and cost-sharing arrangements.
4. Monitoring, Reporting and Learning
Collect and verify programme evidence using MEL-approved tools.
Maintain accurate partner action trackers and milestone records.
Prepare concise field-visit reports.
Contribute to quarterly progress and learning updates.
Document best practices, lessons learned and implementation challenges.
Work with the MEL team to ensure climate-results monitoring uses credible and consistent methods.
5. Technical Coordination and Collaboration
Coordinate with the Market Systems Development (MSD), MEL, Subawards, Finance, Procurement, Operations and Communications teams.
Provide timely technical input to other project team members.
Support effective communication and collaboration between technical partners, agribusinesses and other stakeholders.
Apply safeguarding, ethical conduct, environmental, health and safety requirements.
Perform other reasonable duties assigned by the supervisor.
EXPECTED RESULTS AND TARGETS
The successful candidate will contribute to achieving the following results:
Partnership agreements established between bioenergy/biofertiliser partners and at least three (3) anchor agribusinesses.
At least 100 new households served through commercially established biodigester clusters.
Credible measurement and reporting of fuelwood avoided, trees conserved, GHG emissions reduced and bioslurry generated.
At least four (4) circularity assessment reports completed.
At least three (3) circularity pilots underway.
Improved technical quality, safety and environmental compliance of supported installations and circularity investments.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
Academic Qualifications
Applicants must possess:
A Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
A Master's degree is not specified as mandatory in the provided advert.
Professional Experience
Applicants must demonstrate:
At least three (3) years of proven experience in partner and client management.
Experience brokering partnerships and agreements with private-sector companies.
Experience managing consultants or technical service providers.
Experience handling senior stakeholders.
Professional and/or academic experience in the design, assessment, implementation or technical oversight of biogas, anaerobic digestion, waste-to-energy, composting or organic-waste conversion systems.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
The following will be an added advantage:
Experience in Market Systems Development (MSD), private-sector facilitation and cost-sharing models.
Exposure to agribusiness, agro-processing or soil health and fertiliser value chains.
Experience conducting feasibility studies, baseline assessments and technical-economic analyses for energy, waste or agro-processing investments.
Knowledge of greenhouse-gas accounting, climate-results monitoring and carbon finance.
Experience with environmental and social safeguards.
Professional registration as an engineer.
TECHNICAL SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate should demonstrate:
Strong planning, analytical and organisational skills.
Excellent communication, negotiation and report-writing abilities.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
Ability to develop and deliver training programmes.
Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership management skills.
Ability to translate technical financial and engineering concepts into practical solutions.
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
Excellent spoken and written English.
Knowledge of Chichewa is strongly preferred.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
The successful candidate should demonstrate:
Professionalism, accountability and integrity.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
Flexibility and willingness to travel frequently to rural project locations and agro-processing sites.
Commitment to sustainable agricultural development and environmental conservation.
WORK ARRANGEMENT
Duty Station: Lilongwe, Malawi.
Work Schedule: Full time, up to 40 hours per week.
Assignment Duration: From commencement until 31st December 2027, subject to programme requirements, funding and satisfactory performance.
Travel: Frequent travel to rural project locations and agro-processing sites within Malawi.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested and suitably qualified candidates should submit the following:
An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).
A brief cover letter explaining their suitability for the Agri-Finance Expert role.
The cover letter should specifically address the applicant's experience in:
Agricultural finance and financial modelling.
Engagement with banks and other financial institutions.
Supporting agribusinesses or comparable clients.
Developing financial tools, delivering training and facilitating access to finance.
Applications should be submitted through the official Palladium recruitment portal.
Application Link: HRGPMW@thepalladiumgroup.com
Email Application Deadline: Tuesday, 24th November 2026, at 5:00 PM CAT.
Applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged.