Background:
RTI International is an independent, nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. The organization provides research, development, and technical services to government and commercial clients in more than 75 countries.
Power Africa East Africa Energy Program is a four-year project working to increase on-grid electricity access, accelerate private sector investment, and improve the enabling environment of the power sector in East Africa. RTI International leads implementation of this Power Africa coordinated program, a U.S. Government-led partnership, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
RTI International seeks to recruit a Utility Advisor Capacity, East Africa, to be based in Mogadishu, Somalia under the Power Africa East Africa Energy Program.
Job Summary
The utility advisor will support the Power Africa East Africa Energy Program objectives to strengthen utilities in East Africa. The ultimate objective of the program is to improve performance with more effective and efficient operational improvements, demonstrated within the utilities. The utility advisor will provide energy sector technical support to the Somali energy institutions, USAID regional mission, and USAID Somalia mission in support of Power Africa goals to strengthen utilities, increase generation capacity and expand electricity access in Eastern Africa.
Specific Responsibilities: The utility advisor will support the Power Africa East Africa Energy Program in the following tasks:
Representative of the East Africa Energy Program:
• Identify and maintain energy industry contacts in both the public and private sector in Somalia
• Support in understanding and conveying Somalia’s energy regulatory and legislative frameworks
• Track transaction and project information
• Track development partner energy initiatives in country and ensure collaborative relationships with other initiatives
• Be the key representative in Somalia for the East Africa Energy Program
• Support short-term technical assignments to Somalia by securing and participating in necessary in-country meetings and trainings
• Support the team in identifying individuals to participate in regional workshops or trainings
Support Utility Turnaround Work:
• Support Power Africa East Africa Energy Program utility strengthening objective team to achieve its targets
• Design commercial cycles for utilities and support the implementation of designed commercial cycles
• Design and implement energy accounting practices in utilities
• Support the increased number of customer verifications with existing resources
• Revision of the existing disconnection approaches and designing better processes
• Definition of specific responsibilities for losses and collection and assigning loss and collection targets
• Implementation of the performance evaluation system
• Customer enumeration/mapping
• Metering policies and strategies
• Interfacing with regional utilities personnel to obtain, assemble, and analyze information
• Working in the regional utilities in daily operations
• Designing efficient and effective organizational structure
• Improve accountability and decision making
• Buttress field operations
• Improve planning and operations
• Design transformation/turnaround initiatives for the utilities
• Monitor the implementation of transformation/turnaround initiatives
• Support utilities to set performance targets and assist in reviewing monthly performance evaluations
• Monitoring coordination of identification and implementation of strategies and actions to reduce unaccounted for energy and uncollected revenue
• Support utilities in capacity building by classroom and on job trainings
• Provide read-outs of meetings attended
• Be available for traveling throughout East Africa region
• Maintain data bases and files of financial, operating, and technical information
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the project manager (Objective lead)
Required minimum qualification and experience:
• Minimum bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, civil engineering, or other relevant degree.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in the power sector; preferably with focus on planning or operations, and power sector regulation. Experience with private sector investment with a preference for experience in East Africa.
• Strong knowledge of Somalia’s power sector is essential. Knowledge of East Africa is desirable.
• Strong understanding of power systems and power markets.
• Previous experience working with power producers and distributors, preferable.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Excellent English language proficiency required – reading, writing, and speaking.
• Strong listening, oral and written communication skills and client management skills. The ability to communicate at multiple levels in the organization; and the ability to coordinate activities with officials from host country government, NGO’s and other agencies.
• Ability to build effective relationships with all clients, peers, and stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in a local office environment with the utility employees.
• Ability to deal effectively with counterparts in both an office and field environment.
• Ability to work hands-on, independently, and with the team.
• Ability to complete assigned tasks independently, based on broad guidelines from the project manager.
• Internal travel throughout Somalia (up to 30% of time) and some regional travel required.
• High level of ethics, honesty and professionalism.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team-oriented setting.
• Excellent computer skills: Word, Excel and PowerPoint and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in power system analysis software’s: PSS/E or DigSilent and any other. Operations experience is preferred.
How to apply
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and curriculum vitae via the below link;
https://rtiint.referrals.selectminds.com/international/jobs/energy-speci…
by 25th September 2020 by 5.00 p.m.** Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
RTI International is an equal opportunity employer and female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
*No applicant will ever be asked for any payment either to secure a role with RTI International or as a follow-up to having been awarded a position with RTI International. If anyone ever approaches you asking for any such payment, please immediately email [email protected]
More Information
- Job City Mogadishu