Renewable Energy Specialist Job in Kenya - GVEP International

Job Title: Renewable Energy Specialist

Reports to: GVEP International Regional Manager Africa

Based in: GVEP International Africa Regional Office, Kiganjo House, Rose Avenue, Nairobi, Kenya

Purpose

This is a fixed term contract (20 months) to support the Africa Regional Office in providing technical assistance to SMEs in the ESME programme under the World Bank administered Russian fund.

The fund is for supporting Energy SMEs in Sub Sahara Africa to strengthen their capacity to provide energy services to poor communities in the SSA region.

GVEP International has $5m in funding to provide technical assistance, business development services and assistance in accessing finance for SMEs in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Mali and Senegal.

Government agencies in these countries also receive funding from the Trust Fund to support SMEs through specific programmes which GVEP International has helped to design.

The primary focus of the GVEP International programme is on assisting eligible SMEs and projects to access the support being provided through government agencies and ensuring they become sustainable and successful enterprises.

Activities also extend to assisting similar SMEs and projects to qualify for finance from other sources, e.g. other government initiatives, donor programmes, banks and/or investors. Follow up with these various enterprises to enable them to realise their potential is a key part of the GVEP International work plan agreed with the World Bank.

The Role

The Renewable Energy Specialist will be responsible for analyzing projects being assisted under the programme and advising on their technical viability. He/she will report to the ESME programme Manager based in the Africa Regional Office in Nairobi.

Main responsibilities include:
  • Developing frameworks and tools for analyzing projects in small/mini/micro/pico hydro, solar, biomass and other renewable technologies which involve electricity generation;
  • Analyzing individual projects for technical feasibility and advising project developers, financiers and other stakeholders on the same;
  • Procuring technical consultants where specific expertise is required to support a project or SME;
  • Making recommendations on how the projects may be redesigned to make them viable, where possible;
  • Developing standards and benchmarks for project implementation;
  • Monitoring projects as they are implemented to ascertain that they are proceeding as per specifications and that they meet industry standards and best practices;
  • Providing advice and support to projects to ensure their success and viability;
Requirements:
  • Educated to a post graduate degree (MSc/MA) level in a related field such as Renewable Energy or Engineering.
  • Knowledge and experience in design, implementation and/or operation of small hydro plants, and experience in analysis of such projects for technical feasibility;
  • Knowledge and experience in other renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind, and biomass;
  • Project management skills and experience of hiring and managing specialist consultants;
  • Knowledge of the renewable energy sector in the East Africa region;
  • High level of inter-personal skills and ability to communicate clearly verbally and in writing;
The position will require some travel within East Africa.

To apply please send your CV plus a covering letter (in English) outlining how your knowledge, skills and experience match the job specification to east.africa@gvepinternational.org

Deadline for applications submission is 31 March, 2011.

Interviews will be held on: 11/12 April in Nairobi.

GVEP International is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability.

You can also visit www.kenyanvacancies.com for more jobs