JOB VACANCIES: DEADLINE 21 DECEMBER 2020 / Secretariat of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Project Facilitation and Support (PFS)

Publication Date:                             22 November 2020

Deadline for Application:                21 December 2020 (at midnight, Abu Dhabi Local Time)

Title and Grade:                              Programme Officer - Technical Assistance and Advisory Services, P-3

Indicative Annual Salary:                USD 60,962 to USD 69,843[1]

Duty Station:                                    Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an inter-governmental organisation mandated with the widespread and increased adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy. At present, IRENA has 162 Members (161 States and the European Union) that acceded to its Statute, and 21 additional States in the process of accession. IRENA supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. The Agency implements its mandate with the view to sustainable development, increased energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.

Within this mandate, the focus of the Project’s Facilitation and Support (PFS) division is on the assessment of pre-feasibility and feasibility of projects, helping IRENA Members to access to finance, up-scale investment and support to Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) implementation, especially along relevant Renewable Energy (RE) investments. It will also provide related project-based, fit-for-purpose technical assistance to support the development of a pipeline of projects, which is necessary to accelerate the energy transition.

The core of the PFS modus-operandi is to facilitate and support IRENA Members to achieve their NDC RE targets and projects by building a solid pipeline of projects at the entire spectrum of either utility-scale project, commercial and industrial (C&I) level, micro & small (M&S) level, or for a wide spectrum of Energy Efficiency (EE) measures and then facilitating their realisation through a comprehensive set of operational tools including – but not limited to – project-based technical assistance packages, targeted de-risking instruments; and structured Capacity Building activities for improving Legal, Regulatory and Administrative (LRA) investment-related business environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Director of PFS and the direct supervision of the Head of Department, the Programme Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Undertake direct technical assistance work, with particular focus on the following activities:
• Support the implementation of IRENA’s technical assistance activities provided under country-specific and regional projects and programmes for governments, regional energy organisations and other stakeholders;
• Actively engage with staff of development agencies and multilateral financial institutions on cooperation activities to promote the deployment of renewable energy technologies in different regions;
• For selected projects, in consultation with the countries, project developers and implementing agencies, support the identification of required technical assistance in project implementation;
• Undertake consolidation across divisions to gather required knowledge and expertise and coordinate project input;
• Identify capacity building and training needs of the countries; support preparing and undertaking training modules and follow up;
• Support development of tools and methodologies to assist project implementation; work with other divisions to translate the IRENA know-how into formats that are adapted to the audience;
• Organise feedback and measure the impact of past technical assistance initiatives.
• Undertake project support work, with particular focus on the following activities:
• Assist in the design and formulation of the work plan for project implementation interventions, setting goals, targets and performance standards for selected projects under PFS responsibility;
• Coordinate support and capacity building needs and inputs with UNDP and other development agencies working on projects on the ground;
• Support individual project implementation and coordination, and engagement of consultants, organisations and partners undertaking project support work; coordinate the finalisation of agreements and budgeting, and closure of project interventions through review;
• Assist in aggregating regular reports on undertaken activities, outputs and outcomes; assist in the preparation of financial reports;
• Contribute to the development of the project-level monitoring and evaluation framework to be put in place.
• Collect, compile and process the relevant work of other divisions of IRENA and integrate them in the project facilitation work, with particular attention to technical assistance and project support initiatives;
• Conduct research on trends, key topics, and emerging issues, and assist with the preparation of written outputs, e.g. reports, studies, brochures, background papers, and online material; systematically collect and analyse data and coordinate with internal and external experts to develop and update briefs, papers and/or web content;
• Support the development of various communications and marketing initiatives to make the work on technical assistance and project support more visible and better understood;
• Provide substantive support to technical, consultative and other meetings, conferences, including preparation of documents and presentations; support the organisation and follow-up of such meetings and conferences, including technical and logistical aspects;
• Perform other duties as required.

Professionalism: Possesses good knowledge of policy, regulatory and technical aspects of energy; familiarity with renewable energy economics and technologies; understanding of the role and potential of renewable energy technologies in different contexts, such as power grids, transport, buildings and services; proven ability to understand and convey the results of technical reports and papers to a variety of stakeholders.

Communication: Has excellent drafting ability and communication skills, both oral and written; creates and promotes enabling environment for open communication; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise, learns from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; builds consensus for task purpose and direction with team member; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Planning and Organising: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities to ensure successful completion of work assigned.

Education: Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in the field of engineering, energy, public policy, finance and/or any other relevant field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively increasing experience in at least one of the following areas, or a combination thereof:

• Developing and administering technical assistance programmes, establishing and coordinating public-private partnerships for accelerated deployment of renewable energy technology, structuring and implementing international collaboration with governmental, non-governmental organisations, bilateral/multilateral funding agencies and forums, designing and implementing projects with multilevel stakeholders. Experience with intergovernmental processes.
• Project development, management of complex international programmes, energy financing programmes or renewable energy technology deployment, with direct involvement of local and national stakeholders at the project level in developing countries.
• Practical experience in financing and managing energy projects, risk mitigation and/or implementation and management of energy or environment-related projects/programmes, including energy system transformations, district energy, renewable energy integration;  and/or assessment of financial mechanisms related to energy projects. Development of relevant training and technical assistance programmes.
• Experience in emerging markets and with the engagement of governments, financial institutions and private sector actors.

Language: Excellent command of written and spoken English is required; knowledge of French, Spanish and/or Portuguese would be an additional asset.

Qualified candidates must apply for the above-mentioned vacancy on-line, through IRENA’s recruitment platform, Taleo, by submitting a complete and comprehensive CV and a letter of interest, including details of three professional references who will be contacted if their application is shortlisted.

Applications from qualified women, especially from nationals of developing countries, are highly encouraged.

Please note that only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted for further assessment and receive notice of the final outcome of the selection process.

4 December 2020

IRENA