Project Management Specialist - Power Sector at the U.S. Embassy

The U.S. Embassy in Abuja, is seeking to employ a suitable and qualified candidate for the position below in the Economic Section:

Job Title: Project Management Specialist - Power Sector - USAID

Ref: AID-620-S-00-18-00004-00
Location: Abuja
Period of Performance: Five (5) years renewable

Basic Function of the Position

• Given the significant resources invested by the U.S. Government (USG) in Nigeria to help address the country’s crippling power shortages and lack of connectivity, the Incumbent serves as a Power Sector Management Specialist, based in Abuja, Nigeria.
• He/she will primarily work to implement, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of power sector development programs and activities; coordinate with donor organizations, non-governmental organizations, and civil society organizations on appropriate power sector development strategies and responses; serve as an interlocutor with the Government of Nigeria on power sector development issues; and conduct and provide assessments on power sector issues.
• The Incumbent will coordinate and provide guidance to other U.S. Government Departments and Agencies engaged with power sector reform efforts, and make program recommendations to Power Africa in Washington D.C. and Pretoria, South Africa for power sector development funding allocations. 
• Security permitting, it is expected the Incumbent may travel up to 25% of the time either incountry to monitor program activities and to assess the state of the power sector or, on occasion, internationally to Washington D.C., Pretoria, South Africa and elsewhere, to inform programming, engage in technical exchanges, coordinate and share information and best practices.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• The Power Sector Management Specialist leads efforts to effectively manage, monitor, and evaluate power sector programs and activities in Nigeria.
• His/her primary responsibility is to manage and monitor activities and interventions supporting the Government of Nigeria’s sector plans, initiatives and objectives; and any other programming that Power Africa and/or the USG may implement in the country.
• He/she will also coordinate closely with and report on the implementation of power sector activities to the USAID/Nigeria Mission, the Power Africa head office in Pretoria, and to Contract or Agreement Officer’s Representatives (COR/AORs) in Abuja, Pretoria, and Washington D.C.
• Working with the Mission’s other technical teams, the Power Sector Development Specialist will actively seek out ways to integrate power sector development into various other activities such as in the health, education, water and sanitation, and agriculture sectors. 

The Power Sector Management Specialist’s duties will include, but not be limited to the following:
Activity Development and Management - 50%: 

• Serves as COR, AOR, and/or Activity Manager for multiple activities to benefit the Nigerian power sector. 
• Contributes technical expertise toward and takes responsibility for developing initiatives and interventions that support the Government of Nigeria (GON) to implement its sector plans and programs to increase the number of megawatts generated, transmitted, and distributed; and to increase the number of people with access to power. 
• Provides programmatic and administrative oversight for USAID energy sector programming to ensure the achievement of results, including but not limited to the technical review of implementing partner (IP) reports (like quarterly and annual reports, work plans, and monitoring and evaluation plans), monitoring activity implementation, and advising and authorizing implementing partners to undertake specific courses of action consistent with current USAID policies and regulations. 
• Guides USG power sector implementing partners to align activities and interventions with industry best practices and principles to accomplish program goals and objectives in the most effective and efficient manner. 
• Prepares and justifies program and activity recommendations, activity descriptions, USAID procurement records and certifications, as well as other required USG documentation, and brings programming recommendations to approval. Reviews and evaluates solicited and unsolicited proposals, as well as potential partner engagements, and makes recommendations as to the suitability for Nigeria Mission formal engagement. 
• Collaborates with USAID/Nigeria technical teams to identify synergistic opportunities for the integration of power sector activities into sector programs (such as agriculture, education, water and sanitation, and health). 

Communications and Partnership Support - 50%:

• Serves as Relationship Manager, as needed, for power sector partners and reports on interventions, partner support activities and monitoring and evaluation indicators into Power Africa MIS systems. Represents USAID in a technical-level capacity with key GON divisions, other international donors, and technical working groups. 
• Responsible for facilitating relationships between USAID/Nigeria and GON representatives, creating and disseminating Power Africa Nigeria communications and reports to the GON, participating in meetings with GON representatives, and recommending courses of action to best assist GON MDAs. 
• Responsible for facilitating relationships between USAID/Nigeria and technical counterparts in international donor community as well as managing USAID/Nigeria’s relations with the Power Sector Donor Working Group in particular; and serve as the primary interlocutor with local organizations, including civil society organizations active in the power sector. 
• Coordinates Power Africa activities among USG agencies, convene USG working meetings and ensure programmatic alignment across various agencies. Liaise with the Power Africa Coordinator’s Office and country desk officers on budget, congressional and event support, project updates and general information-sharing. 
• Prepare written materials on Power Africa activities, plans and results in support of USG (including that of the USAID Mission Director, the Ambassador, and other USG representatives) engage with GON counterparts as well as other external communication (through the Mission DOC, Power Africa Communications Office or Public Affairs Section). 
• Other duties relevant to Power Africa program management, coordination and implementation as determined. 

Area of Consideration:

• Nigerians and all individuals eligible to work in Nigeria with a valid Work permit.

Physical Demands:

• The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

Minimum Qualifications Required
Education:

• Minimum of a Master's Degree in Business Administration, Economics, International Development, a Technical Field (E.G. Engineering, Energy Systems Development), or a related area is required.

Prior Work Experience: 

• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the energy sector or in the broader development sector is required.
• At least five years of relevant work experience in a managerial or technical capacity, with specific competence in the power sector, in a large local enterprise, government, an international organization, or a global private sector firm is required. 

Post Entry Training:

• On the job training. Candidate must take USAID training courses to become a Contracting Officer’s Representative and Agreement Officer’s Representative. 

Language Proficiency (List both English and host country language(s) proficiency requirements by level (II, III) and specialization (sp/read):

• Level IV (Fluent) speaking, reading, and writing in English is required. 

Job Knowledge:

• Must possess an advanced knowledge of technical and programmatic power sector topics and/or the function and operation of foreign aid programs.
• At least three years of experience in one or more aspects of managing power sector activities, such as project development, project finance, technical feasibilities or environmental and social assessments; or development projects, such as performance monitoring, activity design, and the management of monitoring and evaluation plans, is required.
• Technical experience in sectors such as engineering, power sector development, and finance is desired. Knowledge and implementation of effective management techniques is essential. 

Skills and Abilities:

• Must possess the ability to foster communication and partnerships with counterparts from within the USG, implementing partners, the Government of Nigeria, international donor community, civil society, and local and international private sector investors.
• Demonstrated capacity for perceptive analysis and the ability to develop solutions is required. A high degree of professionalism, discretion, teamwork, and excellent interpersonal skills in a diverse work environment is essential, in addition to sound judgment.
• The ability to communicate logically and effectively in English, both orally and in writing, is essential. A writing sample may be requested.
• Computer literacy in MS Office applications including Word, Excel, and Power Point; in and web-based applications such as Google Docs; as well as general competency in working with internet and web-based research is also required. 

Evaluation and Selection Factors
Applications will be required to have the minimum qualifications expressed above. Qualified applicants possessing skills above the minimum requirements will be assessed based on the following factors:

• Education (10 points)
• Work Experience (20 points)
• Knowledge (30 points)
• Language Proficiency (10 points)
• Skills and abilities (30 points)

Market Value

• N11,581,095.00 equivalent to FSN-11 In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of United States Mission, Nigeria (Effective September 04, 2016). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

Application Closing Date
3rd January, 2018.

• Application for US Federal Employment (DS - 174); or a current resume or curriculum vitae that provides the same information as a DS - 174;
• Any additional documentation that supports or addresses the requirements listed above (e.g.transcripts, degrees, NYSC certificate/exemption etc.)
• A type - written and signed application letter specifically applying for this position, and addressing the minimum requirements as advertised.  Please reference the job title and announcement number on the application letter.
• Limit all electronic (e - mail) submissions to one entry/e - mail not larger than 5MB.  Please submit attachments in PDF and Word formats, not pictures.
• E - mails received without the appropriate subject line and incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I, item 11.
• To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.

Note:

• Per this scoring rubric, Work Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities are the most important factors.
• Applications will initially be screened for conformity with minimum requirements and a short list of applicants developed. USAID reserves the right to interview only the highest ranked applicants in person or by phone OR not to interview any candidate.
• After the closing date for receipt of applications, a committee will be convened to review applications and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria. Applications from candidates which do not meet the required selection criteria will not be scored.
• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
• No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants. As part of the selection process, finalist candidates may be interviewed either in person or by telephone at USAID’s discretion.
• Reference checks will be made only for applicants
• considered as finalists. If an applicant does not wish USAID to contact a current employer for a reference check, this should be stated in the applicant’s cover letter, and USAID will delay such reference check pending communication with the applicant.
• Only finalists will be Contacted by USAID with respect to their applications.