Senior Energy Specialist

As part of the Infrastructure Practice Group, the Energy & Extractives (EEX) Global Practice (GP) focuses on providing affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to meet the needs of fast-growing economies, ensure universal access to modern energy services for people in client countries, strengthen policy and institutional frameworks to promote transparent and equitable growth of the extractives sectors for public benefit. There is a strong emphasis on private sector resource mobilization and catalyzing financing from commercial and other sources of development and climate finance.

The Africa energy sector grouping consists of four units across two regions of Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) and Western and Central Africa (AFW), each managed by a Practice Manager. The units together total over 120 staff of which 58% (over 70) are based outside the US, and more than half of the operational and advisory activities are managed /led by field-based staff.  The Bank is engaged in all aspects of the electricity sector – generation, transmission, distribution, rural electrification, and off-grid.

The Africa Energy Program in Western and Central Africa currently comprises about 41 projects with a value of over US$9 billion, covering reforms (sector and corporate governance, energy security and the environment, regional energy trade, public-private partnerships, energy efficiency, etc.) and investment support in power generation, power and gas transmission and distribution, regional connectivity, rural energy services, renewable energy development, low-carbon and climate friendly initiatives. The Program uses a variety of instruments, including investment lending, guarantees for public private partnerships, and development policy lending. In addition, the Bank manages a strong knowledge agenda to inform the policy dialogue in the sector. 

The AFW Energy Program is now at a turning point since the Bank has embraced the objective to provide electricity access to additional 250 million people by 2030. As a result, all Units are gearing up efforts and new lending is expected to reach approximately US$2 billion per annum. 

The IAWE2 (West Africa) unit seeks an experienced Senior Energy Specialist based in Washington D.C. to contribute to the Unit’s strategic, advisory, and operational work. He will lead lending and non-lending activities and support teams on the growing energy portfolio of the unit.

In West Africa, where insufficient electricity supply is a major barrier to expanding access, regional power system integration and clean energy transition are key areas of focus to help countries achieve energy security. Also, reforms remain critical to improve the financial standing of power sectors and utilities and ultimately create the conditions for private investment. Finally, renewed focus will be given to electrification, based on attentive planning and a combination of grid-based and decentralized solutions as the WBG joins forces with other partners to increase energy access to at least 300 million people in Africa.

Duties & Accountabilities:

The duties and accountabilities of the Senior Energy Specialist (SES) will be as follows:

• Lead and contribute to the Bank’s energy policy dialogue with the authorities, development partners and other sector stakeholders, on the implementation of ongoing energy sector reforms and others strategic energy issues.
• Lead and contribute to the identification, preparation and supervision of specific energy investment operations and coordinate operations led by other task team leaders (TTLs) working in the unit to fully support the client needs in a harmonized manner – including in regulatory reforms, power utilities reform, energy access, energy efficiency and renewable energy, Public Private Partnership (PPP) investments in infrastructure projects and regional integration projects.
• Lead analytical and advisory work in the energy sector and related areas to inform sector dialogue and operations including political economy and macro-fiscal aspects.
• Contribute to the Maximizing Finance for Development (MFD) approach. The AFR Energy team is a key contributor to the WBG strategy for MFD with the objective to help countries maximize their development resources by drawing on a range of financing sources and sustainable private sector solutions.
• Lead teams and provide guidance and mentoring to junior staff on operational, policy dialogue and analytical activities.
• Actively contribute to the dissemination of our activities, within the WBG and in external events. Provide inputs to operational products/outputs for sector and country/regional briefings, analytical and advisory reports and studies, portfolio performance and monitoring reviews, and liaison between the energy and extractives practice and other units on energy issues.

Selection Criteria:

• Master’s degree in engineering, energy planning/economics, business administration, or equivalent areas relevant for energy/extractives sector development;
• At least 8 years of combined experience in the World Bank, other international institutions and/or companies, government agencies, and/or power sector utilities with consistent record of successful engagement with complex projects;
• Understanding of energy policies, regulations, technologies or strategies, private sector participation, and institutional development needed to support development and for the success of project and analytic work; experience leading and/or playing key roles in policy dialogue with clients and partners;
• Strong experience in planning, designing, and implementing power infrastructure projects including renewable energy generation, transmission and distribution, and on-grid and off-grid electrification and access projects; Hands-on experience with infrastructure projects with power sector utilities will be a distinct advantage;
• Strong knowledge of at least one of relevant thematic business lines such as Energy Access; Economics, Markets & Institution; Energy Efficiency; Renewable Energy; Energy Finance; Hydropower; Power Systems & Technologies.
• A consistent track record in carrying out high quality and timely analytical reports and activities would be advantageous;
• Experience working on World Bank or other International Financial Institutions (IFIs) lending and non-lending operations is desirable; including knowledge and experience with fiduciary and safeguards policies and application.
• Active listening skills, excellent interpersonal skills, able to influence the audience and build positive relationships with clients, different partners and colleagues across units and departmental boundaries in a multi-cultural environment with disperse teams located in different countries.
• Experience working with large global teams, producing high-quality results and outputs with minimal supervision; Proven record of teamwork and ability to lead and mentor junior staff, to advise and guide senior staff in your core skills, to produce high-quality policy and project related written outputs with autonomy and in a highly-visible country profile;
• High level of excitement, ability to work independently, taking initiative, and flexibility in quickly adjusting to changing work program requirements;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including an ability to communicate complex issues in simple terms and to engage in evidence-based dialogue with clients.
• Full proficiency in spoken and written French and English.

Source: https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=28714&site=1