Systemiq
Systemiq, the system-change company, was founded to drive the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement by transforming markets and business models in five key systems: nature and food, materials and circularity, energy, urban areas, and sustainable finance. We aim to unlock economic opportunities that benefit business, society, and the environment by addressing systemic failures in these areas. As a certified B Corp, Systemiq combines strategic advisory with high-impact, on-the-ground work and partners with business, finance, policymakers, and civil society to deliver system change. Since our start in 2016, we have grown to more than 320 people working across locations in Brazil, Germany, France, Indonesia, the Netherlands, the UK and the US
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Company Description: Systemiq is the system change company, working to accelerate the transition to a net-zero, nature-positive and more inclusive economy. As a certified B Corp, we partner with business, finance, policymakers and civil society to transform five interconnected systems: energy, nature and food, materials and circularity, sustainable finance, and urban transformation.
We bring together strategy, policy, market design and capital mobilisation to deliver tangible results in the real economy. Founded in 2016, Systemiq has grown to a global team of more than 300 people across Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Kenya, the Netherlands, the UK and the US, united by a singular focus on sustainability.
Systemiq is sharing an opportunity for a Head of Operational Improvement with a leading tropical forest restoration organisation operating in West Africa.
Head of Operational Excellence (CEO Office)
Reports to: Co-CEO
Location: West Africa (Ghana / Sierra Leone) preferred; London considered
Travel: Frequent site travel required (minimum ~15 weeks/year if London-based)
Contract: Full-time, permanent — individual contributor role
About the Organisation
A large-scale tropical forest restoration company operating in West Africa, restoring degraded ecosystems through long-term, community-led projects.
With 2,000+ employees across multiple countries and thousands of hectares already restored, the organisation is now scaling rapidly towards 100,000+ hectares under management over the next three years.
Projects align with leading international standards (e.g. VERRA VCS, CCB), delivering measurable climate, biodiversity, and socioeconomic outcomes.
The Role
This role sits in the Co-CEO Office and exists for one reason: to make operations work at scale.
You will go into parts of the organisation where things are unclear, inconsistent, or breaking — figure out what’s actually going on, and fix it. That means building systems, driving adoption, and holding the line until they stick.
You are not tied to a function. You will move across the business — forest protection, restoration, livelihoods, ESG — focusing on the highest-priority problems at any given time.
This is not a strategy role in the abstract. It is a hands-on execution role:
diagnose → design → implement → embed → repeat
The goal is to replace reactive, project-by-project execution with systems that are repeatable, measurable, and owned.
There is no team to hide behind. Progress depends on your ability to cut through noise, build trust quickly, and deliver in messy, real-world conditions.
Key Responsibilities
- Find the real problems: Cut through reporting and surface what’s actually slowing execution down
- Build what’s missing: Design SOPs, workflows, and decision frameworks that teams can realistically use in the field
- Make it stick: Work side-by-side with teams to implement systems and drive adoption — not just design them
- Create accountability: Define KPIs, establish reporting rhythms, and ensure ownership is clear and followed through
- Upgrade how decisions get made: Introduce tools and processes that improve visibility and speed
- Act as an extension of the Co-CEO: Step into priority issues, unblock teams, and drive cross-functional execution
- Represent externally (over time): Engage with senior stakeholders (including government and partners) as a credible operator, not just a messenger
Success in 12–18 Months
- Core operational processes are no longer dependent on individuals — they run consistently across regions
- Leadership has a clear, real-time view of performance (and trusts the data)
- Teams spend less time dealing with recurring issues and more time executing against clear plans
- Accountability is visible and enforced, not assumed
- You are trusted to step into critical issues and represent leadership when needed
Who You Are
- 4–7 years in top-tier operational consulting or similarly demanding operational roles
- You’ve worked on real operational problems — not just slide decks — and have seen implementation through
- Strong structured thinker, but willing to get into the detail when needed
- Comfortable operating without clear answers or clean data
- Able to challenge senior stakeholders and still bring people with you
- Equally credible in the field and with leadership
- High ownership, low ego, and a bias for action
- Resilient — you don’t lose momentum when things get ambiguous or slow
- Willing to spend significant time on the ground
- Motivated by building something that has long-term environmental and social impact
Why This Role
You will be working directly on the hardest operational problems in a fast-scaling organisation — with visibility from the top and very little insulation.
If you want a clearly defined role with stable boundaries, this is not it.
If you want to build systems that actually get used, in a complex, real-world environment, it is.
Diversity & Inclusion
At Systemiq, we absolutely believe diverse perspectives are essential to driving system change. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where people feel respected, supported and able to do their best work.
Click here to view our Data Policy.
Ready to apply?
Apply to Systemiq
Director - Power Systems and Grid Transformation
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Company Description: Systemiq is the system change company, working to accelerate the transition to a net-zero, nature-positive and more inclusive economy. As a certified B Corp, we partner with business, finance, policymakers and civil society to transform five interconnected systems: energy, nature and food, materials and circularity, sustainable finance, and urban transformation.
We bring together strategy, policy, market design and capital mobilisation to deliver tangible results in the real economy. Founded in 2016, Systemiq has grown to a global team of more than 300 people across Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Kenya, the Netherlands, the UK and the US, united by a singular focus on sustainability.
Director, Power Systems & Grid Transformation
Location: Amsterdam ( preferred), or London
Reports to: Eveline Speelman, Global Energy Platform Lead
Role type: Full-time
Role Overview
Systemiq is seeking a Director with deep expertise in power system transformation, with a particular focus on grids, system planning, flexibility, market design, utility transformation, and the integration of renewables at scale.
This role will help clients address some of the most critical bottlenecks in the energy transition: grid constraints, connection queues, system adequacy, flexibility markets, transmission and distribution investment, regulatory reform, and the changing role of utilities and system operators.
This is not a generalist energy transition role. We are looking for a senior strategy leader who understands how power systems actually work technically, commercially, and institutionally, and who can help clients unlock the grid, market, and system integration challenges now slowing the transition.
This is a senior leadership role combining:
- Deep power systems expertise
- Top-tier strategy problem solving
- Origination and senior client leadership
- Delivery of complex, multi-stakeholder programmes
- Team leadership and platform-building
You will work closely with Eveline Speelman and global partners to build Systemiq’s work on power system transformation, with a particular focus on grids, flexibility, market design, utilities, and system-level decarbonisation.
Key Responsibilities
Power Systems & Grid Transformation
- Lead work on power system transformation, including grid constraints, transmission and distribution investment, system planning, flexibility, renewables integration, and utility transformation.
- Advise clients on the strategic, regulatory, commercial, and institutional choices needed to accelerate power system decarbonisation.
- Translate technical power system challenges into clear strategic recommendations for senior decision-makers.
- Identify the practical barriers slowing power system transformation and shape interventions to overcome them.
Strategic Advisory
- Lead high-impact strategy engagements with corporates, governments, investors, utilities, system operators, and other energy system actors.
- Structure and solve complex, ambiguous problems and translate them into actionable recommendations.
- Advise senior stakeholders, including C-suite leaders and policymakers, on transition pathways, investment priorities, and market-shaping decisions.
Systems Change & Platform Leadership
- Shape and drive system-level interventions beyond individual projects, including coalitions, market-shaping initiatives, and public-private collaboration.
- Identify structural bottlenecks across policy, infrastructure, regulation, market design, and capital allocation.
- Work across sectors and stakeholders to unlock system-wide impact beyond project-level outcomes.
- Contribute to Systemiq’s broader Energy platform strategy and thought leadership.
Origination & Growth
- Identify, shape, and win new work across power systems, grids, utilities, flexibility, and energy transition topics.
- Build trusted relationships with senior clients, partners, and external stakeholders.
- Contribute to scaling Systemiq’s Energy platform globally.
Team Leadership
- Lead and mentor high-performing teams.
- Coach and develop team members, building capability in power systems, analytical problem solving, and systems-level thinking.
- Contribute to a collaborative, entrepreneurial, and mission-driven culture.
Candidate Profile
We are looking for a high-calibre, strategy-led leader with deep power systems expertise and the ability to operate at the intersection of strategy, policy, regulation, infrastructure, and real-economy delivery.
Essential Experience
- Deep experience in power systems, ideally including transmission and distribution grids, system operation, power market design, flexibility, renewables integration, storage, demand response, or utility strategy
- Around 10 to 15+ years’ experience in strategy consulting or energy advisory
- Experience working with or advising utilities, TSOs, DSOs, regulators, energy ministries, market operators, developers, infrastructure investors, or major energy users.
- Strong understanding of how grid constraints, interconnection, flexibility, storage, demand response, market reform, and regulation affect decarbonisation pathways.
- Ability to translate technical power system issues into strategic choices for senior decision-makers.
- Proven track record leading strategy engagements, complex programmes, and senior client relationships.
- Demonstrated ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders, including C-suite leaders, policymakers, regulators, and investors.
- Experience combining advisory work with real-world implementation is strongly valued.
Core Capabilities
- Exceptional problem structuring and analytical rigour.
- Strong commercial judgement and experience in origination and growth.
- Ability to move between high-level strategy and practical implementation.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- Systems thinker focused on practical, scalable, real-world outcomes.
- Ability to lead complex work across multiple stakeholders, sectors, and geographies.
Desirable Experience
- Experience in international energy systems, infrastructure investment, large-scale transition programmes, or power market reform.
- Experience with digital, AI, or advanced analytical tools that improve insight generation, modelling, or delivery efficiency.
- Experience building new areas of work, propositions, or client relationships.
Mindset
- Entrepreneurial and opportunity-driven.
- Comfortable with ambiguity and building new areas of work.
- Collaborative, low ego, and mission-driven.
- Pragmatic, intellectually rigorous, and focused on real-world impact.
Why This Role Matters
Power systems are now one of the central constraints in the energy transition. Renewables, electrification, storage, flexibility, industrial decarbonisation, and clean technology deployment all depend on power systems evolving faster than they are today.
This role sits at the centre of that challenge. It will help clients and partners address the grid, market, regulatory, and institutional barriers that determine whether economy-wide decarbonisation can happen at the pace required.
Diversity & Inclusion
At Systemiq, we absolutely believe diverse perspectives are essential to driving system change. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where people feel respected, supported and able to do their best work.
Click here to view our Data Policy.
Ready to apply?
Apply to Systemiq
Company Description: Systemiq is the system change company, working to accelerate the transition to a net-zero, nature-positive and more inclusive economy. As a certified B Corp, we partner with business, finance, policymakers and civil society to transform five interconnected systems: energy, nature and food, materials and circularity, sustainable finance, and urban transformation.
We bring together strategy, policy, market design and capital mobilisation to deliver tangible results in the real economy. Founded in 2016, Systemiq has grown to a global team of more than 300 people across Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Kenya, the Netherlands, the UK and the US, united by a singular focus on sustainability.
Director, Power Systems & Grid Transformation
Location: Amsterdam ( preferred), or London
Reports to: Eveline Speelman, Global Energy Platform Lead
Role type: Full-time
Role Overview
Systemiq is seeking a Director with deep expertise in power system transformation, with a particular focus on grids, system planning, flexibility, market design, utility transformation, and the integration of renewables at scale.
This role will help clients address some of the most critical bottlenecks in the energy transition: grid constraints, connection queues, system adequacy, flexibility markets, transmission and distribution investment, regulatory reform, and the changing role of utilities and system operators.
This is not a generalist energy transition role. We are looking for a senior strategy leader who understands how power systems actually work technically, commercially, and institutionally, and who can help clients unlock the grid, market, and system integration challenges now slowing the transition.
This is a senior leadership role combining:
- Deep power systems expertise
- Top-tier strategy problem solving
- Origination and senior client leadership
- Delivery of complex, multi-stakeholder programmes
- Team leadership and platform-building
You will work closely with Eveline Speelman and global partners to build Systemiq’s work on power system transformation, with a particular focus on grids, flexibility, market design, utilities, and system-level decarbonisation.
Key Responsibilities
Power Systems & Grid Transformation
- Lead work on power system transformation, including grid constraints, transmission and distribution investment, system planning, flexibility, renewables integration, and utility transformation.
- Advise clients on the strategic, regulatory, commercial, and institutional choices needed to accelerate power system decarbonisation.
- Translate technical power system challenges into clear strategic recommendations for senior decision-makers.
- Identify the practical barriers slowing power system transformation and shape interventions to overcome them.
Strategic Advisory
- Lead high-impact strategy engagements with corporates, governments, investors, utilities, system operators, and other energy system actors.
- Structure and solve complex, ambiguous problems and translate them into actionable recommendations.
- Advise senior stakeholders, including C-suite leaders and policymakers, on transition pathways, investment priorities, and market-shaping decisions.
Systems Change & Platform Leadership
- Shape and drive system-level interventions beyond individual projects, including coalitions, market-shaping initiatives, and public-private collaboration.
- Identify structural bottlenecks across policy, infrastructure, regulation, market design, and capital allocation.
- Work across sectors and stakeholders to unlock system-wide impact beyond project-level outcomes.
- Contribute to Systemiq’s broader Energy platform strategy and thought leadership.
Origination & Growth
- Identify, shape, and win new work across power systems, grids, utilities, flexibility, and energy transition topics.
- Build trusted relationships with senior clients, partners, and external stakeholders.
- Contribute to scaling Systemiq’s Energy platform globally.
Team Leadership
- Lead and mentor high-performing teams.
- Coach and develop team members, building capability in power systems, analytical problem solving, and systems-level thinking.
- Contribute to a collaborative, entrepreneurial, and mission-driven culture.
Candidate Profile
We are looking for a high-calibre, strategy-led leader with deep power systems expertise and the ability to operate at the intersection of strategy, policy, regulation, infrastructure, and real-economy delivery.
Essential Experience
- Deep experience in power systems, ideally including transmission and distribution grids, system operation, power market design, flexibility, renewables integration, storage, demand response, or utility strategy
- Around 10 to 15+ years’ experience in strategy consulting or energy advisory
- Experience working with or advising utilities, TSOs, DSOs, regulators, energy ministries, market operators, developers, infrastructure investors, or major energy users.
- Strong understanding of how grid constraints, interconnection, flexibility, storage, demand response, market reform, and regulation affect decarbonisation pathways.
- Ability to translate technical power system issues into strategic choices for senior decision-makers.
- Proven track record leading strategy engagements, complex programmes, and senior client relationships.
- Demonstrated ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders, including C-suite leaders, policymakers, regulators, and investors.
- Experience combining advisory work with real-world implementation is strongly valued.
Core Capabilities
- Exceptional problem structuring and analytical rigour.
- Strong commercial judgement and experience in origination and growth.
- Ability to move between high-level strategy and practical implementation.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- Systems thinker focused on practical, scalable, real-world outcomes.
- Ability to lead complex work across multiple stakeholders, sectors, and geographies.
Desirable Experience
- Experience in international energy systems, infrastructure investment, large-scale transition programmes, or power market reform.
- Experience with digital, AI, or advanced analytical tools that improve insight generation, modelling, or delivery efficiency.
- Experience building new areas of work, propositions, or client relationships.
Mindset
- Entrepreneurial and opportunity-driven.
- Comfortable with ambiguity and building new areas of work.
- Collaborative, low ego, and mission-driven.
- Pragmatic, intellectually rigorous, and focused on real-world impact.
Why This Role Matters
Power systems are now one of the central constraints in the energy transition. Renewables, electrification, storage, flexibility, industrial decarbonisation, and clean technology deployment all depend on power systems evolving faster than they are today.
This role sits at the centre of that challenge. It will help clients and partners address the grid, market, regulatory, and institutional barriers that determine whether economy-wide decarbonisation can happen at the pace required.
Diversity & Inclusion
At Systemiq, we absolutely believe diverse perspectives are essential to driving system change. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where people feel respected, supported and able to do their best work.
Click here to view our Data Policy.
Ready to apply?
Apply to Systemiq