Project Coordinator Consultant

This position is based in Suva, Fiji (with the possibility of remote working), within the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Office at the Ministry of Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics. The Project Coordinator Consultant will work alongside the project manager and assist in the coordination and implementation of the project components, under the “Accelerating Solar Mini-grid Deployment in Fiji” project. 

The project is supporting the Fiji Rural Electrification Fund (FREF) by conducting preparatory activities to identify Solar mini-grid sites, conduct feasibility assessments, complete preliminary technical designs and power engineering, provide geospatial mapping, compare ownership and operation models, and assess financial viability of remote, rural and maritime sites in Fiji. FREF is situated in the Department of Energy in the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Meteorological Services.

This will start with geospatial databases of all 300 sites in Fiji that lack access to reliable and affordable electricity. A total of 75 prioritized sites will be visited for community engagement and detailed feasibility assessments. These site assessments will include analysis of technical models, geospatial site planning, sustainable business models, climate change impact assessments, and ownership and operation models. Public tenders will be prepared for a public bid for mini-grid construction, operation, and maintenance.

The project is funded by the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and is lead and implemented by Arizona States University (ASU), in consortium with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and XENDEE Corporation. The Consortium is leveraging ASU and XENDEE’s technical expertise with GGGI’s in-country capacity and partnerships to create tenders for FREF, designed for U.S. export and implementation of solar and storage components, back-up generators, inverters, controllers, metering infrastructure, demand side management and distribution network equipment.

Objectives Of The Assignment

The project coordinator consultant, under the guidance of the project manager, will support project implementation from a technical perspective. The primary role of the consultant is to work closely with relevant government ministries and departments, local government, province and district officers and community leaders to consult, organize and conduct site visits in selected remote rural communities under the project. He or she will apply specialized conceptual knowledge regarding renewable energy, energy efficiency, community development, and participatory approaches and will assist in the coordination and implementation of project activities with the consortium team members.

The project coordinator will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Establishes good working relations and works closely with project partners, relevant ministries and departments, local government and target remote rural communities.
• Review project activities, develop activity plans and timeline.
• Collect data and carry out project reporting using GGGI templates and online systems.
• Support the implementation of specific parts of a project under guidance of his/her manager.
• Provide technical input to support project output delivery.
• Support country-level communications and outreach campaigns for the project

Expertise Required:

• Degree in a relevant field, such as public administration, project management, development economics, community engagement, environmental studies/natural resources, development studies, engineering, education, etc.
• At least 5 years relevant experience (international development, community development, project management, etc.)
• Exceptional analytical and quantitative skills, alongside strong synthesis and strategic thinking skills
• Experience in the energy sector, particularly renewable energy, energy efficiency, or climate change projects is an advantage.
• Project delivery experience, including managing the delivery of results on time and on budget.
• Candidate must have excellent communication and writing skills in English.
• Fluency in iTaukei language is required, and fluency/familiarity with other local languages/dialects would be an advantage.
• Experience is working and travelling to remote rural communities in Fiji.
• Candidate must have an excellent standard of computer literacy, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and online tools (e.g. SharePoint, Dropbox, etc.)

Source: https://careers.gggi.org/vacancy/fiji-project-coordinator-consultant-energy-570281.html