Sustаіnable Energy Expert

USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) was designed to foster Ukrainian economic resilience in the face of Russia`s invasions. ERA supports displaced businesses and persons, and the newly liberated areas of Ukraine, to rebuild their lives and livelihoods and capitalize on entrepreneurial opportunities; and local institutions to rebuild a resilient post-war economy. Also, ERA is now one of the implementers of a U.S. government interagency Agricultural Resilience Initiative (AGRI) to bolster Ukrainian agricultural production and exports and to help alleviate the global food security crisis exacerbated by Putin`s brutal war on Ukraine, and USAID`s Economic Stability and Recovery Initiative (ESRI), focusing on keeping and creating jobs and helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) survive and grow.

ERA`s objective is to improve Ukraine`s economic resilience in response to Russia`s aggression, including the expanded invasion that began on February 24, 2022, which has disrupted critical market linkages, catalyzed the economic decline of previously dominant industries, and caused massive population disruption. ERA`s focus is to support Ukrainians forced to flee eastern Ukraine.

The activity aims to improve Ukraine`s economic resilience, specifically those Ukrainians impacted by Russia`s expanded invasion, by accomplishing the following objectives:

1) provide assistance to stabilize the economy of Ukraine;

2) support the sustainable development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); and

3) build confidence in the future of the Ukrainian economy.

Business Revival / Growth is ERA’s largest component, working with a wide range of beneficiaries across many business sectors/industries. Business Revival / Growth focused on multilevel support for MSMEs from all over Ukraine with an inclination toward relocated businesses or those who face more considerable risks due to proximity to borders with russia and the frontline.

Now, ERA is looking to extend the work in the sustainable energy  industries (including, but not limited to, support for the following types of businesses)

• Developers of sustainable energy technologies – companies that design and sell sustainable energy technologies of various kinds.
• Producers of renewable bio-fuels – companies that provide any type of renewable bio-fuels from sustainable sources, including advanced biofuels and liquid automotive biofuels.
• Manufacturers of biofuel equipment – producers of devices that allow using biofuels for energy purposes, including, inter alia, producers of biofuel boilers of various types.
• Community-based sustainable energy projects (including energy cooperatives) – private organizations of various forms that implement projects enabling the usage of renewable energy for self-organized groups of citizens or companies.
• Developers of innovative energy projects – companies developing projects for the emerging energy markets in Ukraine, including biomethane, BESS, microgrids/smartgrids.

About the job

The Sustainable Energy Expert is a member of the Business Revival team and responsible for support of Ukrainian companies striving to scale up their usage or sales of sustainable energy solutions. The Sustainable Energy Expert provides technical assistance to the MSMEs, industry associations, and NGOs helping Ukrainian businesses and local communities with improving their energy resilience and energy-efficiency. The Sustainable Energy Expert ensures fruitful communication with public authorities and regulatory bodies influencing the government policy-making process and regulatory decisions impacting the capacity of Ukrainian business working in sustainable energy sector. The Sustainable Energy Expert coordinates ERA`s efforts in energy efficiency for Ukrainian enterprises with international donors and financial institutions working in the sphere of economic and post-war recovery. The Sustainable Energy Expert reports to Sustainable Energy Lead and is based in Kyiv (remote mode until further notice).

RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Sustainable Energy Intervention Coordination:  

• Search for a comprehensive partnership that may include, but is not limited to, consultants, service providers, profile associations, IFOs and other financial institutions, and donor-funded initiatives in Ukraine and globally.
• Organize and conduct the comprehensive stakeholder analysis, and build the pipeline of promising Ukrainian companies capable of scaling up massively their activities in the sustainable energy field.
• Perform early technical/economical evaluation of incoming ERA intervention ideas in the sphere of sustainable energy and identify the ones that hold the potential of high impact.
• Facilitate the development and finalization of promising ERA interventions in the sphere of sustainable energy.
• Conduct and coordinate research necessary for development of impactful ERA sustainable energy interventions.
• Develop and maintain databases of promising Ukrainian businesses working in the energy-efficiency, renewable energy and adjacent industries who could scale up their business activities as the result of ERA interventions.
• Analyze financing opportunities available for Ukrainian businesses from banks, investment organizations, IFOs, donors; develop and maintain a database of available financing sources for Ukrainian businesses working in sustainable energy field.
• Perform technical and economic analysis of sustainable energy projects considered by ERA Growth team.
• Evaluate the feasibility of the energy-related projects designed by ERA Growth team.
• Monitor and report on the key developments in the energy regulations and changes in state energy policies.
• Initiate and manage assessments and research needed for ERA projects in sustainable energy sphere.
• Prepare procurement technical documents, including RPF, RFQ, and SOWs for consultants.

Grants Management: in coordination with the grant management team,

• works with grant recipients and the ERA technical staff to develop new grant proposals and ensure that they are aligned with the USAID ERA objectives and performance indicators.
• provides technical assistance to grant recipients to support the implementation of their grant agreements.
• coordinates with procurement personnel purchases approved under grant contracts.

Monitoring & Evaluation:  in coordination with the M&E team,

• supports data collection during the implementation of the technical tasks.
• monitors the implementation of activities according to the ERA M&E plan.
• provides information and data to the M&E team in a required format.

Communication: in coordination with the communication team,

• professionally represents ERA to relevant stakeholders.
• fosters ongoing positive cooperation with the stakeholders and ERA staff.
• ensures that the correct USAID ERA branding and marking are utilized during the performance of the technical tasks.

Reporting:

• maintains records of all activities using existing reporting tools in TAMIS.
• prepares accurate and timely progress reports quarterly and contributes to the preparation of annual reports.
• compiles technical information for the Growth manager and ERA Senior Management Team (SMT) upon request.

About you

• Master`s degree in Energy. Additional degree in economics/finance is an advantage.
• Min 5 years of experience in utility-scale energy projects at senior management positions, working with district heating utilities or other municipal utilities.

• Profound understanding of energy industry`s technical and economic aspects (electricity, heat, gas sectors).
• Hands-on experience in developing applications for obtaining licenses from energy Regulator (NEURC).
• Solid understanding of the governmental energy industry regulations and key policy trends.
• Solid understanding of the fundamentals of sustainable development principles and circular economy
• Experience in the investment/financial sector is an advantage.
• Experience with designing credit application and strategies for private businesses is an advantage.
• Experience in designing local or national publicly-funded energy-efficiency programs is an advantage.
• Good understanding of sectoral development and donor-funded principles.
• Ability to work well independently and with a team; Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; Detail-oriented with good organization and prioritization skills.
• Excellent computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office and Outlook.
• Written and spoken fluency in Ukrainian and English.

• Practical experience of developing feasibility studies, financial plans, business plans for commercial utility-scale energy projects is an advantage. Experience in development of renewable energy projects is an advantage.

• Experience of work with national and local authorities in the sphere of energy-efficiency is an advantage.

In this position, you are expected to share the DAI’s four core values:

• Integrity: commit to civil and ethical behavior, play by the rules, and do the right thing;
• Responsibility: Be accountable to clients, partners, grant recipients, beneficiaries, colleagues, and communities where we work. If you fall short, you own up, fix the problem, and get it right the next time;
• Excellence: adhere to the highest technical and professional standards in innovation, learning, and service;
• Global Citizenship: respect cultural diversity and treat everyone everywhere with professionalism and dignity to make the world a better place.

We offer

Contract length: 12 months with possible extension

Designation of Duty Location: Kyiv (remote mode until further notice)

Start date: April 2023

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with USAID ERA Terms of Employment and the Ukrainian Labor Code.

Application process

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English to [email protected]. Only selected candidates with relevant experience will be contacted for an interview.

Closing date for applications: April 9, 2023.