Director of Energy and Mines, ECOWAS Commission at Deloitte

Job Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization, the incumbent is responsible for providing expertise in specific areas for the design and implementation of technical projects in line with ECOWAS objectives in the energy and mining sectors and managing the overall activities of the Divisions under his/her supervision.

Roles and responsibilities

• To supervise the implementation of the Community's strategic objectives in the energy and mining sector.
• Provide leadership and management of the Directorate of Energy and Mines and be responsible for interpreting the overall vision and policy directions of ECOWAS, developing and managing goals and objectives to fulfill this mandate.
• Develop regional policies, strategies, initiatives and action plans in the energy and mining sectors.
• Participate in the operationalization and proper functioning of the ECOWAS regional electricity market.
• Support coordination in the energy and mining sectors between the Commission, subregional institutions, other regional economic communities and African institutions.
• Maintain a network of technical specialists and policymakers in Member States, necessary to ensure the smooth introduction of ECOWAS programmes.
• Implement programmes and activities as elaborated in the ECOWAS Energy Policy, the ECOWAS Energy Protocol and the ECOWAS Mining Sector Development Policy, as well as other policy guidelines.
• Work with development partners to implement community-based programs in the energy and mining sectors.
• Plan the annual goals, objectives, activities and budget related to the Commission's overall plans; measure and monitor the achievement of objectives; Negotiate appropriate adjustments to objectives and budgets.
• Implement performance-based budgeting within management.
• Organize the Directorate effectively by clearly defining the reporting structure, minimizing bureaucracy and optimizing the delegation of responsibilities and authority.
• Support human resources departments such as recruitment, performance decisions, promotions, and related human resources administration matters.
• Provide regular and timely performance feedback to direct reports.
• Participate in the development of staff to develop their own skills in accordance with the plans, goals and objectives of the department.
• To create a productive working atmosphere within the Directorate, including through the involvement of staff.
• Clearly communicate to the Directorate's staff the vision of ECOWAS, how the Department is aligned with this vision, and how the Director expects the Department to act accordingly.
• Keep abreast of rapidly evolving technical, political, social or economic changes.
• Communicate continuously with other Directors of the institution to ensure that work is harmonized with that of other departments as necessary.
• Supervise department staff, including professionals and support staff. Provides the normal range of transactional management skills to ensure that the Department's staff work effectively and efficiently, and that they consistently deliver the required results, of sufficient quality and in a timely manner.
• Provide direct technical advice on program design/implementation in an area where high-level technical expertise is recognized.
• Represent ECOWAS at professional meetings or working groups, giving speeches, negotiating agreements and acting as a mediator in the event of disputes.
• Leads or participates in technical missions to develop projects/programmes.
• Provide advice to the Commissioner for Energy and Mines on issues relating to cooperation in the energy sector.
• Generate ideas in the technical area relevant to future ECOWAS initiatives.
• Support the Parliamentary Specialist Committee on Regional Legislation, as appropriate.
• Perform any other related duties as may be assigned by the Commissioner of Energy and Mines.

Qualifications

• Hold a Master 2 degree (or equivalent) in electrical/electromechanical engineering, geology, mine development and geological resources engineering, energy economics or other related fields, issued by a renowned university.
• 12 years of progressively responsible experience in energy security, energy efficiency, renewable energy, access to energy services, energy economics, cross-border electricity trade, power generation (solar, wind, coal, oil and gas, etc.), energy transmission and distribution, hydrocarbons, advanced energy technologies or related field, including six (6) years of international professional experience and five (5) years at a managerial level.
• Possess in-depth knowledge of energy policies, strategies, initiatives, guidelines and protocols; have the proven capacity to promote intra- and inter-regional and other international relations between ECOWAS and other key stakeholders for the development of the Community's mineral resources sector.
• Have a good knowledge of issues related to energy access, efficiency, technology, environmental impact and connectivity through the harmonization of infrastructure and energy-related fiscal and investment policies in the West African region.
• Have in-depth knowledge of mining, geology and natural resources policies, strategies, initiatives and action plans,
• Have extensive experience in the mining and geological sector, particularly with regard to interactions with governments, civil society, the public and private sectors, local communities and other stakeholders working in this sector.
• Has in-depth knowledge of the energy policy framework as it relates to the energy sector, as it relates to the Commission, sub-regional institutions and other regional economic communities.

Key Competences Concerning ECOWAS

• Strong leadership experience in building strategic partnerships, collaboration and consensus-building with multiple internal or external stakeholders on complex issues, within a multidisciplinary governmental or international organization.
• Has a good knowledge of the mandate, strategic plan/priorities of ECOWAS as well as the economic, political and social status/trends of the Member States, as they relate to their own field of action.
• Demonstrate consistency in actions, have the ability to respect values, methods, confidentiality, ethics, measures, principles, expectations and results; Be able to demonstrate a deep commitment to doing what's right for the right cause, no matter the circumstances.
• Ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with heads of institutions, elected representatives and statutory officials to facilitate compliance, generate commitment, resolve conflicts and gain support for change.
• Ensure scrupulous respect for the hierarchy.
• Be able to promote a culture that makes agents feel personally accountable for results.
• Has the ability to provide leadership, management and technical supervision of all activities related to projects and programme results, in accordance with ECOWAS legal and administrative practices and standards.
• Be willing to conduct periodic staff performance evaluations in accordance with the ECOWAS Performance Management System, coach, motivate and engage staff, develop their teamwork skills.
• Ability to oversee project management, internal controls, financial resource management and approach issues in a confident and competent manner while making impartial and non-partisan decisions.
• Ability to demonstrate the initiative and ingenuity required to meet all stakeholder needs, conduct multiple assigned tasks and achieve positive results.
• Ability to create synergy with client groups and other stakeholders to achieve objectives for the definition and monitoring of service standards and indicators.
• Ability to engage others in promoting or adopting good customer service practices.
• To be able to identify and improve services and exchanges with customers through appropriate networks and to create new methods to respond to them in a responsible and transparent way.
• Have a good knowledge of the regulatory environment for combating discrimination/human rights violations, as well as the ability to promote strategies to foster an inclusive workplace and a healthy organization, respectful of cultural diversity and gender balance and free from harassment and discrimination.
• Has a good understanding of diverse cultural perspectives, including those of West Africans, sensitivity to differences between groups, gender issues, and contributes to advocating for and/or developing policies that are sensitive to gender and different cultures.
• Be willing to foster a diverse and inclusive interactive work environment that can bring together different ideas and experiences to solve problems, develop projects and programs, and improve outcomes.
• Be able to integrate a gender perspective and ensure the equitable participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Ability to be objective in managing conflict across cultural, positional and gender differences, and to encourage staff to overcome cultural and gender biases and differences.
• Have a thorough understanding of the ECOWAS organizational structure, culture and workplace dynamics.
• Has the ability to apply knowledge of the ECOWAS legal framework, strategic priorities and operational standards to develop/update policies and programmes and/or implement policies and programmes in a sustainable and effective manner.
• Have a keen eye for business, social and political issues, and demonstrate a strong commitment to the ECOWAS vision and mandate.
• Has the ability to judge and make decisions on issues relating to the development of policies and strategies critical to the achievement of ECOWAS' mandate and improved results for Member States.
• Ability to write and analyze reports and identify potential obstacles or challenges; Ability to develop solutions or propose new alternatives to overcome obstacles and achieve strategic/operational priorities.
• Ability to predict and interpret the effects and impacts of environmental changes (social, economic and political) and to make recommendations.
• Ability to identify/identify strengths and weaknesses, stimulate creativity, reduce resistance to change, and improve the achievement of strategic objectives.
• Ability to make prudent decisions in the management of human, financial and material resources.
• Good listening skills and understanding of the views of others, in order to inform statements, decisions or recommendations.
• Ability to build external relationships and collaborative networks to support the achievement of strategic and operational objectives; Ability to identify key issues and engage key stakeholders through well-designed communication and management plans.
• Ability to communicate with clarity and conviction, make compelling presentations that can foster new knowledge, ideas and perspectives, and a better understanding of issues and challenges.
• Ability to demonstrate listening skills in order to encourage better communication between team members, to show care for them and to make them feel valued; To encourage employee engagement within the various institutions and agencies.
• Excellent negotiation and conflict management skills; Ability to develop and maintain cordial and collaborative relationships.
• Have a perfect mastery of information and communication technologies (ICT).
• Be fluent in writing and speaking one of the three official languages of ECOWAS (English, French and Portuguese). Working knowledge of one of the other two languages would be an added advantage.
• Excellent planning skills, the ability to set clear expectations, conduct consistent and effective monitoring of performance management practices, and ensure that objectives and standards are met.
• Ability to set goals, achieve expected results and manage change; Ability to demonstrate resilience, composure and positivity in an uncertain and hostile environment.
• Ability to foster the development of organizational and individual talent throughout the implementation of strategic, operational, program, project and individual plans.
• Ability to implement plans, mobilize and engage employees, identify key success factors, mitigate risks, monitor indicators and feedback, take corrective actions, and build capacity for sustainability.
• Ability to implement rigorous monitoring and evaluation practices and learn from failures and mistakes to ensure continuous improvement.