Energy Project Development Specialist

USAID/Tanzania has a vacancy for an Energy Project Development Specialist in its Economic Growth portfolio, and invites applications from well-qualified individuals. This is a full-time Personal Services Contract position.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Energy Project Development Specialist (EPDS) is responsible for ensuring effective performance management systems are developed within the Economic Growth (EG) Team to ensure overall program impact. The position will work in the Energy and Infrastructure Team, within the Power Unit subdivision, providing support on Energy, Irrigation and Rural roads. The incumbent is a Senior Foreign Service National (FSN) and performs a variety of independent complex research, reporting, activity monitoring, and analytical duties for programs related to energy

Key Position Elements Include But Are Not Limited To

 Provide Policy and Energy Sector Advice and Support to USAID/Tanzania - this includes: (a) AdvisingUSAID/Tanzania on the formulation of energy projects in support of Power Africa and follow up on relevant energy programs or legislation. (b) Leading the planning and development of select energy projects. (c) Gathering information, developing plans, structure and implementing program initiatives and technical assistance activities that support the Power Africa Initiative. (d) Preparing an Energy Plan for USAID/Tanzania that is in line with Power Africa, develop budgets, and undertake steps that are necessary to advance energy projects. (e) Working with the USAID regional mission to help coordinateUSAID/East Africa's energy activities with the energy programs being implemented in the other twoUSAID regional missions in Africa. II. Manage Energy Activities - this includes: (a) ManagingUSAID/Tanzania budget levels, designing and implementing new projects and/or activities in energy. (b) Conceptualizing, planning, developing, and managing regional energy and infrastructure initiatives and programs, including those sponsored by the Power Africa Initiative. III. Develop Synergies betweenUSAID/Tanzania and Other Stakeholders in the Energy Sector - this includes: (a) Collaborating with other USAID missions, donors, and partners to the maximum extent possible to achieve the greatest possible synergies in national and regional energy activities. (b) Exploring ways to achieve synergies through the joint sponsoring and participation in regional conferences, capacity building activities, programs 'of joint technical assistance and support. (c) Advising on decisions regarding alternative ways to fund its initiatives, including Development Credit Authority (DCA) and/or Global Development Alliance (GDA) mechanisms. (d) Reviewing and making judgments upon proposed requests for assistance in energy and infrastructure, advising the Mission on initial structuring of public private partnership arrangements, advising the Mission on the development of sector market strategies, investor identification and the planning of conferences, comparing the environmental consequences and sustainability of various energy development options, and serving as the point contact for stakeholder inquiries relating to assistance in energy. (e) Serving as an important source of expert information, advice, and assistance to USAID/Tanzania, the Africa Bureau in Washington, and sometimes other USG officials on energy issues. IV. Assist USAID/Washington Africa Bureau and the Power Africa Initiative - this includes: (a) Providing direct support to USAID/Tanzania, assisting theUSAID Africa Bureau in its implementation of Power Africa. This may include provision of technical support to selected late-stage projects in Tanzania with the goal of providing an extra push that will help move the project forward towards financial closure and ultimate construction. (b) Helping identify quality candidate energy transactions in Tanzania.  (c) Providing direct assistance in the definition, structuring, and implementation of late-stage transactional activities. (d) Working with international and regional financial institutions in the structuring and closure of the transactions. (e) Talking to developers and other partners to identify potential project opportunities, and sorting and reviewing proposals from public and private sector project sponsors. V. Mission Representation on Energy Infrastructure - this includes: (a) Representing USAID/Tanzania on most matters relating to energy infrastructure. (b) Liaising with senior national and regional authorities, other USG employees, agencies, and private business leaders on energy infrastructure issues. (c) Working in close coordination with other members of the Power Africa Initiative and implementing partners, working in closely with the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), regional banks, other donors, international financial institutions, and/or host-country governments to bring targeted transactions towards/to financial closure. (d) Arranging meetings with government officials, regional organizations, regulators, researchers, and the private sector to collect information for the preparation of notes, policy briefs, and concept papers.

Required Qualifications:

Applicants will initially be evaluated based on the documentation submitted with the application. Competitively ranked applicants will be interviewed. The following are the evaluation criteria for this position: (a) Education: A minimum of a Master's degree in a relevant field of energy and/or engineering. (b) Prior Work Experience: A minimum of 7-10 years of substantive practical energy-specific experience directly or indirectly managing energy project development, working for an engineering consulting firm, international finance institution, or working in the private sector. (c) Language Proficiency: Fluency in spoken and written English and Swahili is required. (d) Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Must have a practical and experience-based understanding of the energy sector in Tanzania and the region, and a broad understanding of existing energy initiatives and/or programs. Must have a sound understanding of energy project management and evaluation, as well as understanding of bankable deals and project risks. Must be familiar with legal and regulatory processes associated with energy and infrastructure projects including negotiations of energy projects in the Tanzania and/or the east Africa region, demonstrated understanding of regulatory, institutional, and governmental and inter-governmental policy matters. The applicant must possess good interpersonal skills, including a demonstrated ability to perform in a complex institutional and multicultural environment. The person must be able to analyze and evaluate complex information from a variety of sources and support innovative solutions to complex problems. He/she should have strong oral and written communication skills and an ability to communicate with high level government officials, financial institutions, and managing complex multi-disciplinary teams of consultants .

Selection Process:Applicants will initially be evaluated based on documentation submitted with application; then competitively ranked applicants will be interviewed. Therefore, it is essential that applicants address the required qualifications stated above in the application.

Application Instructions:

Applications:

Letter of application together with current resume or curriculum vitae, plus copies of relevant certificates, testimonials, awards, copes of degree earned, etc., should be addressed to the

Executive Officer,

USAID/Tanzania,

P. O. Box 9130,

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Closing Date for Receipt of Applications:September 02, 2013.

The U.s Mission is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates for the above position will be considered without regard to sex, color, religion, race, age, nationality, or handicap. NOTE: Those applicants who do not receive a response within three weeks of the closing date should assume that their application has not been successful.