Vacancy Announcement

Secretariat of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

IRENA Innovation and Technology Centre (IITC)

 

 

 

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 168 Members (167 States and the European Union) that acceded to its Statute, and 16 additional States in the process of accession and actively engaged. 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.

 

IRENA Innovation and Technology Centre (IITC) is responsible for the provision of the means for an accelerated renewable energy technology uptake, considering national conditions of resource endowment, social and economic frameworks. In accordance with the IRENA Statute, activities in this field include analysis of renewable energy technology policies; dissemination of information and increased awareness; technologies and equipment overview and assessment of success-failure factors; improved pertinent knowledge and technology transfer, and joint RD&D and provision of information about the development and deployment of national and international technical standards in relation to renewable energy.

 

IRENA’s Energy Planning Support team works across three main pillars\: 1) development of methodological research and international practitioner networks on the topics of Long-term Energy Scenarios (LTES) and Addressing Variable Renewables in Long-Term Planning (AVRIL); 2) development of IRENA’s in-house capacity expansion System Planning Test (SPLAT)-MESSAGE models for application largely in African member states; 3) providing capacity building on long-term energy planning and modelling at the national, regional, and continental scales. 

 

Recently, IRENA has been endorsed and selected as official Modelling Partner to the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) in the development of the African Continental Transmission Masterplan (CMP), and SPLAT-MESSAGE has been endorsed as the model to be used for the long-term capacity expansion planning which will feed into the CMP. IRENA will contribute to training, model and data provision, and advice and expertise in modelling in this context. The Energy Planning Support team also contributes to a wide variety of cross-divisional Agency work outside of the three pillars listed above, based on the team’s expertise and analysis regarding the African energy transition. The team plays an important role, for example, in the development of IRENA’s flagship publication World Energy Transition Outlook (WETO) and associated Regional Energy Transition Outlooks (RETO). 

 

Duties and Responsibilities

 

Under the supervision of the Senior Programme Officer – Power Sector Investment Planning, the Programme Officer will be responsible for the following\:

 

• Manage the process and analysis for the Energy Planning Support team’s development of the IRENA Africa Regional Energy Transition Outlook;
• Manage any associated SPLAT-MESSAGE model enhancements required for the IRENA Africa Regional Energy Transition Outlook;
• Contribute to the preparation of the World Energy Transition Outlook and Africa Regional Energy Transition Outlook;
• Manage the Energy Planning Support team’s long-term planning and modelling capacity building programmes using SPLAT-MESSAGE, including national, regional, and continental efforts;
• Strengthen the strategic vision of the Energy Planning Support team’s long-term planning and modelling capacity building programmes, including their relationship to other relevant internal and external capacity building efforts;
• Manage agreed resources and establish dialogues with donors and develop project proposals that can mobilize voluntary contributions to fund the programme; 
• Lead the strategic development of the team’s existing repository of tools for long-term energy modelling, data management, analysis and visualisation;
• Manage and review analysis of African energy and power systems through the use of models, including IRENA’s long-term SPLAT-MESSAGE model and others, to identify RE technology potentials and advice on the prospects of the future energy systems in Africa;
• Supervise, guide and support the development of staff members in ways that fully utilize their capabilities in support of the work programme;
• Ensure ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of planned work activities and their relevance, identify opportunities to expand and enhance the work, review priorities and propose solutions to address emerging issues;
• Facilitate cross divisional and intra-divisional cooperation and coordination. Work in close partnership with other IRENA teams to ensure synergies are exploited;
• Upon request, represent the Agency, at international fora, meetings and conferences;
• Initiate and coordinate outreach activities; conduct training workshops, seminars and expanding the network of national experts and partner organizations;
• Performs other duties as required.

 

Competencies

 

Professionalism\: Good understanding of renewable energy technology, markets or technology policy frameworks. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

 

Accountability\: Stands accountable for the accuracy and completeness of information under his/her control and handling of the information in a discreet and confidential manner; takes ownership for all responsibilities and honour commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes ownership of delegated responsibilities and authorities; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules.

 

Teamwork\: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational 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.

 

Communication\: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; 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.

 

Qualifications

 

Education\: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or higher) in energy, engineering, economics or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. 

Experience/Skills\: 

 

• A minimum of seven years of work experience in the energy field, including energy system analysis, some of which should be at the international level;
• Experience in the use of optimisation models for the power sector is required. Academic knowledge of operations research and other optimization techniques would be an important asset;
• Experience in international co-operation and in dealing with multilateral agencies and forums is required;
• Knowledge of energy technology, energy planning, energy balances and statistics, assessment of potentials, costs and benefits of energy technologies, renewable energy policy and related macroeconomic issues is required;
• Expert proficiency with Microsoft Excel is required. Knowledge of energy modelling tools and methodologies is required;
• Skills and experience in both project and staff management is required.

 

 

Language\: Excellent command of written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of other UN languages such as French and Spanish would be an advantage for the position.

 

 

Qualified candidates must apply for the abovementioned 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 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.