Sector Manager, RDGE1, RDGW1 at African Development Bank - AfDB

Reference: ADB / 20 / 109
Locations: Nairobi - Kenya and Abidjan - Cote Ivoire
Grade: PL2
Position N°: 50092537 / 50092501

The Complex

• The Vice Presidency for ‘Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth (PEVP)’ is a Sector Complex focusing broadly on the Bank’s TYS and High 5 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 a pool of experienced individuals who can be consulted for their expertise on complicated transactions;
  • Develop new financing instruments;
  • Act as spokesperson for the Bank with external stakeholders on all aspects of “Light Up and Power Africa”.
• The Complex focuses specifically on areas of power systems development, policy and regulation, renewable energy and, climate and green growth.
• The Complex also ensures that the Bank operates successfully across its Regional Member Countries and oversees the full implementation of all aspects of the Bank’s energy operations in collaboration with the Regional Business Delivery Units (RBDUs). 

The Hiring Department:

• The Power Systems Development Department (PESD) within the PEVP Complex has the broad mandate of supporting the Bank’s Regional Member Countries, Power Utilities, Regional Economic Communities, Power Pools, Regulators and other stakeholders to develop and improve their own Power Systems and the performance of their utilities and power pools, through both Sovereign (SO) and Non-Sovereign Operations (NSO).
• he department has six (6) Divisions each supervised by a Sector Manager - a Power Systems Solutions Division based at the HQ (PESD.1) and five Power Systems Operations Divisions (PESD 2-6) covering each of the Bank’s five (5) operational regions.
• The Sector Managers who are part of the Bank’s Regional Business Delivery Units (RBDU) provide overall strategic direction to country offices within the regions and are responsible for the Bank’s sovereign and non-sovereign operations, power and energy business development, project management and effective delivery of three of the Bank’s High 5s; notably ‘Light up and Power Africa’, ‘Integrate Africa’ ‘Improve the Quality of Life of the people of Africa’, and indirectly contributes to ‘Industrialize Africa’ and ‘Feed Africa’ pillars.

The Position

• Under the supervision of the PESD Director, the Sector Manager, Power and Energy Operations serves as the leader of the Division in the region and empowers RBDU staff to accomplish their objectives by directing and delegating duties and tasks while supporting, mentoring and engaging with them to deliver the agreed regional work program.
• He/She coordinates the collaborative efforts with other Departments of the PEVP Complex and oversees engagement with other Complexes of the Bank to identify business opportunities that have a positive impact on overall achievement of the High 5s.
• As part of the PESD department, the Sector Manager, PESD4 / PESD5, is responsible for the delivery of the ‘New Deal on Energy for Africa’ (NDEA) and works in close collaboration with the PEVP Vice Presidency as well as other Bank Complexes with cross-cutting activities under the High5.
• He/She supervises and coordinates staff under him in the origination and implementation of power system development projects and programs, oversees the processing of Bank financing, mobilising co-financing, and supports Bank investment transactions in the power sector.
• He/She provides deep sectoral expertise related to the planning, development, technical structuring and financing, and monitoring and evaluation of national and regional power system projects / programs across the power value chain, including providing technical assistance on power utility benchmarking and reforms, electricity access and skills development.

Reporting:

• The Sector Manager, PESD4 / PESD5 reports to the PESD Director functionally with a dotted line reporting to the Regional Director General.
• At the regional level, he/she will work seamlessly with the other Bank units under the guidance of the Director and provide inputs to the overall regional portfolio status assessment and workplan.
• The Regional Director General will also provide inputs into the Sector Manager’s performance evaluation.

Duties and responsibilities
Under direct supervision of the Director, Power Systems Development, PEVP Complex, and in close collaboration with the Regional Directorate of the RDVP Complex, the Sector Manager, PESD4 / PESD54, will perform the following:

Leadership and Management:

• Lead the strategic staffing of the Power Systems Development team in the region, giving due support to and championing the Bank’s Energy Strategy, and delivery of the Light Up and Power Africa component of the High Fives.
• Lead and manage the Power Systems Development team in the assigned region and ensure the team is high-performing, well-motivated and committed to the success of the Bank.
• Lead, plan, organize, manage and supervise the activities and work programme of the Division with appropriate delegation of day-to-day activities.
• Drive and ensure operational efficiency and effectiveness of the Power Systems Development Division in achieving the Bank’s strategic imperatives and the management of change.
• Cultivate and ensure a culture of "ONE-Bank" in the entire Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth Complex with the highest levels of ethics, fiduciary responsibility and professionalism to protect and enhance the reputation of the Bank.
• Provide technical and managerial leadership to empower staff in the definition and realization of the key performance indicators (KPIs) of the Division as derived from the PESD Department’s KPIs / targets - including joint / shared KPIs with other PEVP units and Bank Complexes.
• Ensure effective Divisional budget resources management.
• Strengthen the human and institutional capacities of countries and regional power development institutions, to deepen the capacity of the Bank to prepare and implement transformational flagship power sector projects/programs effectively, and to become the thought leader in knowledge products and advisory support services in power utility and electricity services management.
• Build and reinforce teams of highly talented and motivated technical and operational staff, for efficient and effective business development and delivery of the lending and non-lending work programmes in the assigned region.
• Ensure the Task Managers of the Division contribute to the development of Country Strategy Papers (CSPs) and Regional Integration Strategy Papers (RISPs) in relation to Power Systems Development needs of countries of assignment.
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams including Investment Officers, Economists, Financial Analysts, Engineers, Environmental & Social, Fiduciary experts, Lawyers, etc., to identify, prepare, design, appraise operations, and lead technical dialogue in power sector development, reforms and restructuring.
• Lead and drive the Division’s contribution to development policy dialogue with Government Officials in the Power / Energy Ministry in close collaboration with PEVP management/personnel and the Regional Business Delivery Unit.

Business Development:

• Manage the delivery of the lending and non-lending programmes for member countries in the region in accordance with Bank policies and procedures.
• Advance regional integration through the development of, and contribution towards the execution of major regional transformative development projects to attain the Bank’s High 5s: Namely, ‘Light up & Power Africa,’ ‘Integrate Africa’, ‘Industrialize Africa’, ‘Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa’ and ‘Feed Africa’.
• Ensure demonstrable impacts are made as per the objectives of the Bank ‘Strategy for the New Deal on Energy for Africa’, the ‘Gender Strategy’ and the ‘Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy’ among others.
• In close collaboration with PEVP management/personnel, develop critical resources including tools and technical capability necessary for originating bankable projects, and contribute to strengthening cross-complex programmatic linkages and efforts.
• Pipeline Development: In collaboration with regional power development institutions, build and maintain a diversified pipeline and lending programme of investments (SO and NSO) in the power sector across the region to meet the Bank’s profitability targets while delivering transformative impacts throughout the electricity supply value chain.
• Identification of Opportunities: Identify and secure project/program co-financing opportunities and joint collaboration activities with other Development Partners including in the financing of innovative Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) power infrastructure projects.
• Under the guidance of the Director, PESD, and in collaboration with the Regional Director General, spearhead national and regional business development and investment campaigns, and drive resource mobilization across the countries to grow and diversify the portfolio of the Bank.
• Jointly with the Regional teams and the PEVP Complex, manage client relationships, and ensure high levels of client satisfaction;

Building Relationships and Using Influence:

• Developing partnerships:  Lead the Division’s contribution in the creation of networks and partnerships to implement the ‘Light up and Power Africa’ of the High 5, and make impact on ‘Feed Africa,’ ‘Industrialize Africa,’ ‘Integrate Africa,’ and ‘Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa’ pillars of the High 5s;
• Build strong relationships: Build strong and strategic relationships with regional and local private businesses and firms, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), River Basin Organizations (RBOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), United Nations (UN) organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners and Government officials to share information and experiences to develop impactive (socially & economically) investment opportunities and to ramp up co-financing and loan syndications to realize projects.
• Project Management: (i) Ensure that when preparing and designing projects in Countries in fragile situations, there is effective liaison with internal Fragility and Resilience Experts to ensure effective application of the fragility-lens, taking into consideration the fragility context (economic, political, social, environmental, employment and regional factors) and implications from a risk management point of view to minimize negative impacts, and to make an informed beneficial impact to project design; (ii) Supervise all stages of the project cycle, including Board presentation and technical support up to project completion (SO) and debt repayment / exit (NSO); (iii) Drive the development and delivery of transformational power infrastructure projects for the region and the continent.

Performance Management:

• Execute staff performance management, including work performance appraisals and assessments of staff potential, and training and development needs.
• Foster an environment that stimulates and rewards performance, initiative and innovation, and encourages continuous learning, open communication and teamwork.

Selection Criteria

• Hold at least Master’s degree (or its university equivalent) in Electrical/Power Engineering, Electro-mechanical Engineering, Energy Services or any other relevant field.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of professional experience in a senior management position or leadership role in a power utility, with at some private sector experience; and certified by a recognized Engineering institution.
• Must hold Qualification or Certification in any of Project Management, Power and Energy Economics/Finance or any Construction works management certification.
• Experience in development of national and multinational Power and Energy Strategies and strong understanding of socio-economic and development issues of evolving national and regional electricity markets in Africa.
• Demonstrated experience and successful track-record in working with Development Finance Institutions.
• Demonstrated experience in management of a portfolio of energy/power investment projects, portfolio optimization and risk evaluation, project re-financing and restructuring in response to changing business environments.
• Familiarity with strategies, policies, procedures and practices of bi-lateral and multilateral development institutions.
• Demonstrated understanding of sovereign and non-sovereign project cycles and financing structures, including alignment with least-cost national / regional master-plans and project identification, development, design, due diligence, risk assessment / allocation and implementation / management strategy (including procurement strategy, communication strategy, knowledge management, capacity building, handover and other critical success factors).
• Has knowledge and understanding of the elements essential for the effective delivery and measurement of electricity access development impacts through projects and programs in developing countries.
• Ability to identify and create meaningful linkages across sectors, and with other development partners to drive development impact at a country and regional level.
• Demonstrate effective communication and corporate negotiation skills, proven to yield positive outcomes with senior counterparts, both internal and external; and understanding of when and how to apply diplomacy, influence, maintain a hard line, make or break contacts, unwritten lines of influence and conduct oneself professionally.
• Knowledgeable in the technical structuring and execution of debt and equity investments, and project and finance documents, such as FIDIC-based Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) Contracts, Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Contracts, Power Purchase Agreements, Fuel Supply Agreements; Partial Risk Guarantees); and familiar with the restructuring and contract / agreement risk allocation / optimization, in rapidly evolving electricity markets.

Attributes:

• Ability to take prudent business risks and make effective, timely and well-determined decisions.
• Networking ability required to build successful relationships and partnerships with a broad range of clients, internal and external, for effective delivery of results. Prudence and skill in identification of such relationships and partners based on meeting the needs and long-term interests of clients within and outside the institution.
• Highly developed strategic thinking skills allied to an ability to translate strategic concepts and direction into the implementation of workable and sustainable projects and programs.
• Innovative, Creative and Client Oriented.
• Operational Effectiveness and focus on agreed results and impacts.
• Good Communication and Problem-Solving skills.
• Excellent team-building, mentoring and supervision skills.
• Excellent Professional written and verbal communications in English or French, with a demonstrated working knowledge of the other; a bilingual candidate will have added advantage.
•  Competence in the use of standard Microsoft office applications (Word, Excel, Access, Projects and PowerPoint) and familiarity with Development Finance Corporate applications / tools.