Chief Power Engineer (Power Sector Reform) at African Development Bank - AfDB

Reference: ADB/17/399
Location: Côte d’Ivoire
Grade: PL3
Position N°: 50093670

The Complex

• The Vice Presidency for ‘Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth’ is a Sector Complex focusing on the Bank’s Ten Year Strategy High 5s priority of “Light up and Power Africa”.
• The complex’s objectives are:
  • To develop policy and strategy;
  • Provide deep sector technical expertise to the Regions by gathering pool of experienced individuals who can be consulted for their expertise on complicated transactions;
  • Develop new financing instruments;
  • Act as spoke person to represent the Bank with external stakeholders on all aspects of “Light Up and Power Africa”.
• The Complex will focus on areas of Power systems, policy and regulation, renewable energy; and, Climate and Green Growth.

The Hiring Department/Division

• Within this new Complex, there is a Directorate in charge of Power Systems Development.
• This Directorate includes the “Power Utilities” Division which supports the Bank’s Regional Member Countries, Utilities, Regional Economic Communities, Power Pools, Regulators and other stakeholders to develop and improve their power systems both for both sovereign (SO) and non-sovereign operations (NSO).

The Position

• The Chief Power Engineer (Power Sector Reforms) will ensure the technical strength of the Bank’s activities in the support of transactions linked to private sector investments in the electricity sector.
• He/She will provide deep sectoral expertise related to the planning, structuring, financing and implementation of power / utility reforms to increase private sector participation across the power value (i.e. fuel supply, and power generation, transmission and distribution / retail).
• This will involve the entire gamut of reforms (i.e. management contracts to full divestiture) to enhance and facilitate utility performance benchmarking / knowledge sharing and provision of quality advisory services required for successful reform and restructuring of utilities.
• The job will also contribute to the delivery of the High5 flagships as required.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the overall supervision of the Manager, Power Utilities, the incumbent will perform the following:
• Coordinate the delivery of flagships as relevant to ensure delivery of the New Deal on Energy objectives;
• Provides advisory support to Regional Member Countries and Task Managers in preparation and implementation of complex and innovative projects aiming at reforming utilities and enhancing / benchmarking management performance through transmission / distribution network rehabilitation and expansion, and loss reductions and increased efficiency;
• Provide leadership, along with Hub-based staff, in the process of identification, preparation and execution of operations related to the transformation of utilities, including loss reduction and last mile access programmes;
• Coordinate/Lead, in conjunction with other teams, operations (investment plan support, technical assistance) to support transformation;
• Coordinate with the Hubs and governance units in conducting policy / result based operations and technical assistance to support utility reforms and private sector participation;
• Provide deep sector expertise for quality assurance: preparation of terms of reference, review and validation process of feasibility studies and utility performance diagnostic;
• Ensure timely review and quality assurance of project preparation, appraisal and supervision documents vis-à-vis technical, financial and economic requirements;
• Work with other PEVP Divisions on relevant policy and regulatory matters and the structuring and financial analysis of complex / innovative projects, especially those involving private sector participation (e.g. streamlining / standardization of project and transaction documentation, and financing instruments);
• Support delivery of Economic and Sector Work related to utility performance benchmarking in collaboration with other directorates of the complex;
• Undertake any other tasks the Director or Division Manager may assign.

Selection Criteria
Including Desirable Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Hold at least a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering or related disciplines.
• Have a minimum of seven (7) years of experience  in utilities or in the power sector including utility reform and turn around exposure;
• Private sector experience will be an added advantage;
• Experience working across multiple institutions and ensuring collaboration across power sector reform stakeholders is essential.
• Experience in a combination of the following areas will be essential: Utility Management, Regional integration, infrastructure development and policy; IPPs / PPPs; and/or regulatory specialization along with experience of working on Management Contracts, Concession Agreements and Divestiture transactions.
• Ability to innovate and create new approaches in order to enhance performance;
• Ability to communicate effectively and mobilize key actors to delivery (private sector, public sector and civil society);
• Proven ability to build and direct a high performing team to achieve visionary and challenging goals;
• Proven interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment, with sensitivity and respect for diversity and the ability to build trust and provide leadership to different team members;
• Highly developed negotiation skills proven to yield positive outcomes with counterparts,
• both internal and external;
• Clear understanding of the drivers and barriers to success of power utilities in complex regulatory, political environments;
• Deep knowledge of integrated least-cost national / utility power system planning and network development process and tools utilized in Africa; and familiarity with the work of multilateral Development Finance Institutions;
• Deep knowledge of utility Quality of Supply and Service Standards; and related performance management systems;
• Excellent project management and contract administration skills;
• Ability to draft Terms of reference (TORs), Requests for quotation (RFQs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to procure services from consultants;
• Good knowledge of national power / utility regulation, procurement and contracting models and standards; and grid code / operating rules / limits / reserves (including power import, export, wheeling and trading);
• A good understanding of, and ability to lead / support negotiation of, power project agreements such as Power Purchase Agreements, Grid Connection Agreements, Fuel Supply Agreements, Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) Contracts, Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Contracts, Long Term Service Agreements (LTSA) and familiarity with the work of Development Finance Institutions.
• A good understanding of SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) and asset management systems;
• A good understanding of the Bank’s Environmental & Social policy requirements;
• Good knowledge of utility governance, regulation, operations, maintenance and management, client relationship, billing, financial management of utilities;
• Highly developed strategic thinking skills allied to an ability to translate strategic concepts and direction into the implementation of workable and sustainable policies and regulations;
• Excellent spoken and written English or French, with a working knowledge of the other language;
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications;
• Ability/willingness to quickly become familiar with the use of various tools available and applied by the Bank such as SAP.