Lead Energy Industry Specialist, PESA at African Development Bank - AfDB

The Complex

• The Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth Sector Complex (PEVP) of the African Development Bank aims to fulfil the objectives of “Light Up and Power Africa”. PEVP oversees strategy and policy development in the energy systems space; builds alignment across stakeholders and represents the Bank with external stakeholders; originates projects, develops new, innovative financing instruments; and ensures delivery of the “Light Up and Power Africa” agenda.
• The Complex focus on areas of Power systems, policy and regulation, renewable energy and climate and green growth

The Hiring Department

• The Vice-President Front Office (PESA) is responsible for planning, directing, managing and coordinating the day-to-day functioning of the Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth Complex.
• The Lead energy specialist will provide advisory and technical support to the Vice-President

Key Functions
Reporting directly to the Vice President, Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth (PEVP), the Lead energy industry specialist will perform the following duties:

Operational work:

• Support quality at entry of the PEVP projects through technical reviews and inputs to PENs, PCNs and PARs as a peer technical reviewer. Support quality during implementation and results management by reviewing IPRs and advising on any remedial actions to be undertaken on portfolio operations.
• Support operating departments in their resource mobilization efforts as and when needed, which will include maintaining progressive relationships/collaboration with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) such as the World Bank Group, EBRD, EIB, KfW, AFD, etc. Promote the use of internal trust funds such as ADF-PPF and ADF-RO envelope and support the proposal development stages.
• Support operating departments with market assessments, technical and financial due diligence of opportunities, and general business development, to guarantee robust and growing pipeline of viable energy projects.
• Support the identification, preparation, and supervision of specific energy investment operations

Coordination of analytical work:

• Lead analytical and advisory work in the energy sector and related areas to inform sector dialogue and operations planning
• Effectively contribute to the development of knowledge-based operations (advisory mandates), Economic Sector Work, and CSPs (as PEVP technical focal point) in liaison with operating departments and Regional Development Business Units.

Portfolio management and Monitoring:

• Provide bi-monthly operations report to the Vice President outlining the status and progress of portfolio projects.
• Monitor and advise the Vice President on the management of key performance indicators on portfolio performance and result indicators. Harmonize management reporting tools within the various departments in the Complex.
• Support regional sector managers in reducing the share of flagged projects, identifying projects at risk, and addressing the complex’s portfolio challenges, including exploring solutions for flagged operations.  Ensure that any operational weaknesses recorded, lessons learnt, and best practices are captured for purposes of application in future projects and presented in a bi-monthly senior management report.
• Coordinating with PEVP operating Departments (PESD/PERN/PESR) with a view to mapping and troubleshooting delivery processes, including supporting active monitoring of the lending program, and timely submission of Project Appraisal Reports, Implementation Progress Reports, Project Completion Reports, etc.

Administrative, planning and coordination of activities:

• Support the Vice President in high-level strategic engagements with Regional Member Country (RMC) related to utility transformation, tariff and regulatory reforms, just energy transition, development/adoption of new technologies such as green hydrogen as well as carbon capture and storage technologies amongst RMCs, etc.
• As the PEVP focal point for the development of cross-departmental and cross-complex operations and work, proactively champion one-complex and one-bank approaches to development of projects, ensuring efficient, seamless, and inclusive project development.
• Represent the VP PEVP in meetings, as may be delegated by the Vice President, from time to time.
• Oversight of the Coordination role of the work of the Special Envoy to the President on behalf of PEVP and PIVP on the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa.
• Improve the visibility of the Bank’s energy projects in the RMCs.

Competencies (Skills, Experience and Knowledge)

• Holds at least a Master's Degree in Engineering, Energy Planning / Economics, Business Administration, or equivalent areas relevant for energy sector development.
• At least 8 years post-qualification experience in planning, designing, and implementing power infrastructure projects including renewable energy generation, transmission and distribution, and on-grid and off-grid electrification and access projects.
• Hands-on experience with infrastructure projects with power sector utilities will be a distinct advantage.
• Specific knowledge and experience with power systems, demonstrated by expertise in power generation technologies, especially renewable energy – wind, solar, hydropower and geothermal, transmission and distribution systems.
• Familiarity, and experience with International Financial Institutions will be a strong added advantage.
• Experience in forging and managing relationships with a variety of stakeholders - local organizations governments and financing institutions.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately
• Problem solving: Able to search for and produce innovative and creative approaches to activities in order to enhance performance
• Client orientation: Able to build partnerships with a broad range of clients and deliver results that meet the needs and long-term interests of clients within and outside the Bank
• Team working and Relationships: Able to work with others to maximize the effectiveness of the team as a whole, sharing the knowledge and workload.
• Familiar with energy policies, regulations, technologies or strategies, private sector participation, and institutional development needed to support the development of projects and analytic work.
• Familiarity with power system expansion planning processes, power structures, utility, tariff and regulatory reforms, etc.
• Knowledge of capital cost, operating costs, operating parameters, and productivity benchmarks of various energy subsectors.
• Good knowledge of emerging energy technologies, such as such as green hydrogen, energy storage, as well as carbon capture and storage technologies, and their application to energy transition processes.
• Exposure and excellent understanding of the international agenda and geopolitics of energy systems, climate change and green growth.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, evidenced by ability to work in a team and interface between members of cross-functional teams.
• Personal sensitivity and commitment to Bank Group values and ethics.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) in English or French. A working knowledge of
• the other will be an asset.
• Proficient in the use of common MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), statistics tools, preferably in combination with knowledge and experience of SAP operations.