Senior Programme Officer – Project Facilitation P-5

Vacancy Announcement

Secretariat of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Project Facilitation and Support (PFS)

Publication Date\:                              16 August 2021

(at midnight, Abu Dhabi Local Time)

Title and Grade\: Senior Programme Officer – Project Facilitation P-5

Indicative Annual Salary\:                        USD 89,837 to USD 99,973and other benefits[1]

Duration of Appointment\:                Two years, with possible extension

Duty Station\:                                     Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Expected Date for Entry on Duty\:  As soon as possible 

Background

The International Renewable Energy Agency is an inter-governmental organisation headquartered in Abu Dhabi, mandated to promote the widespread and increased adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity. IRENA’s mission is to play a leading role in the ongoing transformation of the global energy systems as a centre of excellence for knowledge and innovation, a global voice of renewable energy, a network hub for all stakeholders and a source of advice and support for countries.  At present, IRENA has 163 Members (1602States and the European Union) that acceded to its Statute, and 21 additional States in the process of accession and actively engaged.

The Project Facilitation and Support (PFS) division is a new division that integrates all the previous initiatives of IRENA related to project facilitation. It has an ambitious goal to achieve a tangible impact by facilitating funding and investments for promising projects, co-organising regional investment forums with matchmaking events, and fostering cooperation between international institutions that have compatible objectives. One of the main instruments is the platform that organises IRENA’s contribution to the Climate Investment Platform (CIP), a joint initiative of IRENA, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All). The activities include the preparation of projects, support to the partners who can help projects to achieve financial close, and the organisation of international and regional matchmaking events where project owners, lenders, investors and donors can meet.

Other responsibilities include the development and promotion of project facilitation tools, like the Project Navigator, the Risk Assessment and Mitigation Platform and the Open Solar Contracts initiative. PFS further manages IRENA’s partnership with the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and the development of a new funding facility . All these initiatives have in common that they help to attract investments in the renewable energy sector and provide support that is directly relevant to projects.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Director of PFS, the Senior Programme Officer has the responsibility to lead and coordinate the Agency’s work related to RE investment scale-up and will fulfil the following duties and responsibilities\:

• Lead, contribute and manage the development and optimization of the project facilitation tools of IRENA.
  1. Ensure that existing and potential new project facilitation tools meet market needs, assess needs for new instruments. Research the market and collect input from inside IRENA.
  2. Facilitate development of the new features and tools\: prepare and validate the specifications, organise the development and ensure that the tools meet the user’s expectations.
  3. Generate support for the tools among IRENA’s strategic partners and encourage partner institutions and member countries to disseminate them. 
  4. Develop marketing products and communication strategies to reach potential users and promoters, including the private sector. 
  5. Ensure cooperation with other teams within IRENA in order to ensure all project facilitation work is coordinated. 

• Lead and manage the use and promotion of the project facilitation tools in the context of the Climate Investment Platform (CIP).
  1. Oversee consolidation of input to coaching and mentoring programs for project developers and countries based on identified needs of countries and investors. 
  2. Coordinate the usage of the different tools in the context of the funding initiatives in which IRENA is involved. 
  3. Collect input from Investment Forums to guide update of the different tools and ensure that they are meeting the needs of the different target audiences.

• • Ensure that the different users and projects of the tools register in the Climate Investment Platform and participate in the investment forums.
  • Develop training modules and workshops that can be used in Investment forums and Technical Assistance programs.

• Leverage relevant inputs of other agency divisions, lead regional and sub-regional dialogues to support RE investments and supportive polices within the Climate Investment Platforms of IRENA;
• Lead the development of IRENA’s activities for leveraging resources from IFIs, public and private financiers and convene the proper matchmaking with RE projects pipeline;
• Lead agency activities with regard to the Projects’ Facilitation for innovating the creation of new instruments and mechanisms for financing large, medium and small scale RE projects;
• Develop and implement innovative initiatives so as to increase the impact of IRENA in the energy transition and relevant energy market transformation measures;
   
   
• Lead IRENA’s role to establish and operate the Climate Investment Platforms;
   
   
• Lead and contribute to the preparation of state-of-the-art reports and other written material and lead effective outreach activities (workshops, conference participation, webinars, etc.) on the subject matter;
   
   
• Engage with representatives of IRENA member states, public and private finance institutions, and project developers;
   
   
• Maintain close working relationships with other teams in PFS and other divisions of IRENA, and advise senior management of important trends and developments regarding renewable energy policies, markets and finance; and

Competencies

Professionalism\: Possess in-depth knowledge of issues surrounding renewable energy, including financing, project management and risk mitigation; familiarity with renewable energy economics and technologies; good understanding of the lifecycle of a renewable energy project; shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence in subject matter and pays attention to detail; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. 

Communication\: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; creates and promotes enabling environment for open communication; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; 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; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

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

Client Orientation\: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Qualifications 

Education\: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in engineering, policy, energy planning, finance, sustainable development, environment or natural science or another relevant field. . A first university degree in combination with at leaves two years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience\: A minimum of ten years of experience in project development, project finance, energy financing programmes, development funding or renewable energy technology deployment. At least part of this experience is with the private sector. Proven ability to cooperate diplomatically in multicultural environments. Experience with intergovernmental processes is an advantage. 

Language\: Excellent command of written and spoken English. Fluency in other languages would be an addition benefit. 

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 an interview and will receive notice of the outcome of the selection process.