USAID Project Management Energy Team Leader Specialist Jobs in Kenya

USAID Project Management Energy Team Leader Specialist Jobs in Kenya

General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

USAID/KEA’s energy team works in both Kenya and the broader East Africa region to increase access to clean, adequate, reliable and cost-effective electricity supply to drive economic development while providing opportunities for increased private sector participation.

The team works to achieve universal access, improve the enabling environment, advance on and off-grid power generation transactions, facilitate regional power trade, and increase private sector investment in energy infrastructure.

The energy team leads the execution of the interagency Power Africa initiative for Kenya and East Africa and serves as COR/AOR and Activity Manager for a diverse portfolio of contracts and grants with a life of project value exceeding $100 million.

Statement of Duties to Be Performed

Strategic Planning and Program Design 40%

The Project Management Specialist (Energy) provides strategic technical and managerial leadership to the conceptualization, planning, implementation and monitoring of significant components of the overall USAID and USG energy sector strategy.

The Project Management Specialist (Energy) leads and guides the design and implementation of programs/projects/activities that facilitate expansion of energy generation, transmission and distribution to increase access to reliable, affordable and sustainable electric power.

The Project Management Specialist (Energy) obtains support from and coordinates the involvement of IPs and major stakeholders (including GoK ministries and boards, the GOK parastatal operators in power, independent power providers, and private companies, businesses and investors) to identify components of effective clean energy strategies.

Policy and Technical Leadership 20%

The Project Management Specialist (Energy) serves as a recognized energy expert, with a strong knowledge of energy policy; keeps abreast of trends and issues in the Kenyan and regional energy/power sectors; reviews and analyzes developments and advises Mission management and Embassy officials on highly specialized and complex issues relating to energy and power in Kenya and the region, particularly those bearing on bilateral assistance or other USG interests.

The Project Management Specialist (Energy) carries out a full range of consultative, advisory, strategic, coordinating, planning and evaluation responsibilities related to the assigned portfolio. Contributes to the development of USAID policy and programs in KEA in the energy/power area.

Program Management, Monitoring, Reporting and Coordination 20%

The Energy Project Management Specialist (Energy) keeps track of all energy projects, collaborating closely with the Project Management Specialist (Energy) s, and with senior Mission management as required.

The Project Management Specialist (Energy) serves as the principal USAID employee responsible for interpreting, explaining, and clarifying US Mission policies, programs, and strategies in the energy sector, through regular contact with the GoK, NGOs, IPs, other donors, and civil society organizations.

The Energy Project Management Specialist (Energy) establishes and maintains senior-Ministerial level contacts with GoK officials and East African counterparts, donor agencies, the private sector, and a wide range of NGOs, research institutions, and universities as well as liaising with USG interagency coordination, private investors, and other donors.

The Energy Project Management Specialist (Energy) ensures coordination with other USG and GoK agencies active in the energy sector, to the extent that these are complementary to or integrated with USAID-funded energy programs.

Supervision and Office Management 20%

The Project Management Specialist (Energy) ensures fluid office operations and provides program leadership within the Energy Team. Supervises Cooperating Country Nationals, which includes developing annual work objectives, identifying appropriate training opportunities, mentoring and coaching them in facilitation of professional development.

Conducts regular performance reviews and address any performance challenges that may arise. The Project Management Specialist (Energy) is a vital member of the Private Sector Center of Excellence leadership team and will work with the overall leadership team to develop and implement OEGI’s strategy.

In the absence of the Director of the Private Sector Center of Excellence Director, the incumbent will serve as Acting Director for the overall Center with oversight of 12 staff.

Supervisory Relationship

The Project Management Specialist (Energy) works under the supervision of the Private Sector Solutions Center of Excellence Director and is part of the overall OEGI expanded management team. Most assignments occur in the normal course of the work, but the Project Management Specialist (Energy) is required to determine those that must be coordinated with the supervisor.

The supervisor provides a review of the assignment, the goals and objectives to be achieved, and the results expected. Work is reviewed in terms of results achieved.

Supervisory Controls

The Project Management Specialist (Energy) is responsible for supervision of two senior technical CCNs on the energy team and ensuring they have clear responsibilities, providing ongoing mentoring and guidance in the implementation of activities, and supporting their development of work objectives, training and professional development, and providing constructive feedback regarding their performance.

Physical Demands:

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

Minimum Qualifications Required for This Position

Any application that does not meet the minimum requirements stated below will not be evaluated.

Education:

A Bachelor’s degree in engineering and/or energy policy is required.

Prior Work Experience:

A minimum of seven (7) years of professional-level experience in an energy sector-related area is required. Experience in the development of sectoral and project documents, and performance of project design, program planning, and/or implementation work is required.

Experience must also include performance monitoring, and/or the analysis and interpretation of large amounts of data. At least three years of direct supervisory experience managing a unit, team, or a group of professional staff.

Language Proficiency:

Fluency in written and spoken English and Kiswahili is required.

Job Knowledge

Comprehensive knowledge of the GoK and East African energy sector and technical interventions and approaches to increasing power generation, clean energy, and expanding access to energy services.

Additionally, the Project Management Specialist (Energy) position requires an in-depth and expert knowledge of a broad range of issues of energy policy, generation, transmission, distribution and human resources capacity building as well as knowledge of private-sector development, investment, and competitiveness.

A thorough knowledge of energy sector issues in Kenya, including macroeconomic as well as private-sector and energy related areas is required.

Knowledge of strategies, programs, and the working methodologies of other donor agencies and banks in the energy sector in Kenya and East Africa is required.

Skills and abilities

A high level of technical expertise and ability in energy and private-sector development is required.

Must possess the ability to advise senior Mission and USG management on Kenyan and East Africa power development and issues across a wide range of energy related topics (such as the regulatory environment for energy, key barriers to energy reform, etc.) and their implications on programs.

Program design, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation skills are essential.

Due to frequent interaction with external stakeholders in high stakes environments, the jobholder must be able to perceive, use, understand, manage, and handle emotions and communicate effectively to ensure positive working relationships are maintained.

The ability to effectively communicate complicated policy, strategy, and program issues orally and in writing is also required.

Must have excellent interpersonal, coordination, and bureaucratic skills; be able to coordinate successfully with all parts of the USAID Mission and Embassy to advance energy program interests.

The Project Management Specialist (Energy) must be able to handle sensitive issues diplomatically, represent the USG authoritatively, and use good judgment in high-level meetings with the USG, the GoK, NGOs, and other donors and in conferences, seminars, and workshops.

Must possess good organizational and management skills, must have strong leadership skills with the capability to mentor new staff and support their technical development and capability to design and manage complex energy sector activities.

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; USAID Project Management Energy Team Leader Specialist Jobs in Kenya

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