Power Africa Energy Specialist (Training Level) Power Africa Energy Specialist

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION: The Energy Specialist is responsible for management of USG and Power Africa electricity sector-related activities in the US Embassy Luanda energy portfolio. Power Africa seeks to strengthen legal, regulatory, and enabling environments in Sub-Saharan Africa to facilitate greater private sector participation and investment in the electricity sector to support sustainable economic development. The specialist designs and manages electricity electrification expansion enabling environment policy reform, including national level policies, laws, and regulations governing access to affordable and reliable electricity by citizens and businesses. The Specialist advises the Energy Officer, USAID General Development Office Chief, Ambassador, Political/Economic Counselor, Mission Director, and others on Angolan economic development issues, with a major focus on electricity policy, energy efficiency, and power infrastructure. The Specialist contributes to the design and planning of USG power sector support programs, and participates actively in the Mission decision-making process for designing, drafting, and soliciting contracts and grants for carrying out the Power Africa initiative. The Specialist conceptualizes and articulates electricity and economic growth strategies, and implements, monitors, and evaluates existing and new power sector support programs/projects/activities. The Specialist utilizes knowledge of the Angolan power sector, and of infrastructure issues in Angola and the region; maintains contacts for Mission management in the Angolan government (GRA), the donor community, with civil society organizations, with implementing partners (IPs), and with other stakeholders; and, reports on power-sector progress to ENR at the State Department, USAID/Washington, and the Power Africa office in Pretoria, and contributes to annual reporting documents. The Specialist reports directly to the Energy Officer and receives oversight from the Political-Economic Counselor.

The Specialist supports the development and design of the overall Mission power sector strategy; designs and implements programs/projects/activities that facilitate energy efficiency, improved power sector policy and accountability, and electricity infrastructure improvements, including fuel supply for conventional energy sources and renewable energy; serves as COR/AOR for grants and contracts; formulates, administers, monitors, and evaluates the power sector portfolio; monitors and evaluates on-going programs; prepares performance reports, briefing papers, concept papers, and other periodic documentation for the Mission, Embassy, and Power Africa; drafts and analyzes technical documentation needed to develop the power sector strategy, obligate funds, and award grants and contracts; and, serves as a member on various Technical Evaluation Committees (TECs), including those for proposal review and the hiring of personnel. The Specialist represents the Office in discussions with IPs and other donors; assists the Energy Officer and Program Office Director in coordination of visiting VIPs and others in public meetings, field trips, and discussions with Angolan officials and partner organizations; advises on other bilateral and regional interests; acts as a first point-of-contact for entities interested in contributing to the goals of Power Africa; and establishes and maintains necessary contacts for Mission management in the GRA, the private and non-governmental sectors, universities, research institutions, and within the donor community.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES: A high level of technical expertise in the sector is required. The ability to effectively communicate complicated policy, strategy, and program issues orally and in writing is required. The Specialist must have good interpersonal, coordination, and project management skills; be able to coordinate successfully with counterparts throughout the Embassy, to advance program/project/activity interests; and, use good judgment in speaking on behalf of the Mission in meetings with senior GRA officials, representatives from NGOs, and other donors and in conferences, seminars, workshops, and similar events; and, possess good organizational and management skills
JOB KNOWLEDGE: The work requires an in-depth knowledge of the GRA development agenda, developmental initiatives, and development priorities for the Power sector, as well as the socio-political culture prevalent in various Angolan provinces and the region, as it relates to the sector. An in-depth knowledge of a broad range of issues of energy efficiency, policy, and infrastructure requirements is required. Familiarity with the Power Africa Initiative, and the strategies, programs and working methodologies of other donor agencies (bi- and multi-lateral) in the energy sector is required.

This Position is also being announced at full performance grad FSN-10. Please see announcement 18-010.
Please for more information vise our Embassy website https://ao.usembassy.gov