Вакансія: Energy Advisor

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Ukraine is seeking a qualified professional for the projects «Just Transition & Green Energy Sector Recovery Ukraine + H2Diplo – Decarbonization Diplomacy» to fill the position of the:

Energy Advisor (full-time, Kyiv or Lviv)

(internal SAP code: Energy Advisor)

The Russian war against Ukraine has changed the country’s priorities and possibilities for implementing energy policy. The short-term priority focuses on ensuring supply security and the repair of damaged and outdated energy infrastructure. At the same time, the Ukrainian Government as well as Germany, the EU and other partners are looking ahead and do not lose sight of the medium- and long-term perspective: to build a prosperous Ukraine based on modern, climate neutral competitive infrastructure.

Strengthening decarbonisation efforts are an integral part of all major strategic document, including the National Climate and Energy Plan, as well as the Recovery Plan (Blueprint) as foundation for a successful Green Recovery. In those documents Ukraine envisages a massive increase in renewable energy by 2032, also driven by major structural changes such as the phase out of unprofitable state-owned coal mines which are seizing their operations. This poses major social and economic challenges for the coal regions. The structural change needed to overcome them, based on the concepts of Just Transition and Green Recovery, can provide new impetus for the development and growth in the affected regions, and beyond.

At the same time, the potential of producing green hydrogen as alternative energy carrier is gaining momentum to respond to domestic energy needs as well as to eventually export to neighboring countries and the EU. Ramping up electrolysis capacities is a strategic step towards a decarbonized and more diversified economy and responds to necessary transformations in the course of the ongoing EU accession efforts.

The Energy Advisor will play a critical role in balancing the immediate needs of recovery with the goal of making Ukraine’s energy infrastructure resilient and future-proof by supporting the efforts of two ongoing GIZ projects:

The H2-diplo – Decarbonization Diplomacy office in Ukraine specifically addresses the foreign policy, geostrategic/economic and macroeconomic implications of the international H2 market ramp-up. The project engages with the Ukrainian Ministry for Foreign Affairs as primary partner and other governmental institutions, academia, think tanks, and civil society to explore possibilities to use green hydrogen to decarbonize and diversify their economies.

Just Transition for Ukraine’s coal regions: The project supports Ukraine in ensuring that structural change in the context of the coal phase-out is socially and economically equitable, environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and compliant with EU environmental and safety standards.

Responsibilities:

Energy Advisor is responsible for:

1. Strategic Energy Planning:

• Provide strategic advice to the project team to develop suitable measures to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy sources, green hydrogen, energy efficiency measures, and sustainable energy practices in Ukraine.
• Identify opportunities for integrating innovative technologies, such as hydrogen ecosystems, into the national energy infrastructure.

2. Government and Stakeholder Advisory:

• Develop needs -assessments to understand better the needs and demands of project partners.
• Provide expert advice and communication to relevant ministries of Ukraine and other political partners like regional/municipal level, state owned enterprises on sustainable energy priorities, including innovation, decarbonization, and energy efficiency, especially in the context of EU accession and required legislative changes.
• Analyze market trends, regulatory changes, and technological advancements in the energy sector to inform strategy and decision-making.
• Organize high-level events as platform for strategic exchange and discourse to feed decision making processes.

3. Project Management and Implementation:

• Support the project management in coordination with colleagues in country and remotely working from Germany, with a particular focus on stakeholder communication, steering of external experts /consulting firms, monitoring and evaluation and quality assurance according to GIZ standard.
• Monitor project progress, conduct impact assessments, and provide regular updates to stakeholders.
• Support the efficient partner dialogue by organizing and facilitating meetings and exchanges online and in person during business trips.

4. Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing:

• Work closely with regional authorities, local communities, businesses, and educational institutions to build capacity and raise awareness about sustainable energy and climate practices.
• Organize workshops, seminars, and training sessions to disseminate knowledge on renewable energy technologies and sustainability.
• Foster and facilitate partnerships with international organizations, thinks thanks, academia, civil society, and the private sector to exchange knowledge and best practices.

Tasks

Energy Advisor performs the following tasks:

• Communication with and advisory to the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and other Ukrainian political partners on priorities for the bilateral cooperation between Germany and Ukraine in the energy sector like structural change, innovation, and decarbonisation of the energy intensive and hard-to-abate sectors, especially in the light of EU assession and needed legislative changes.
• Organise meetings and technical reviews on the partners’ requests in all areas related to energy, climate, hydrogen eco-systems, structural change, infrastructure modernisation and socio-economic impacts, sustainable agriculture.
• Effective coordination with colleagues in the administrative division and with procurement officers in the Cluster, Country Office and Headquarters in Germany and other partner countries for capacity building and mutual learning.
• Support the development of technical TORs related to energy transition and hydrogen questions.
• Support the navigation within the Ukrainian energy transition and hydrogen ecosystem (public and private sector, academia, think tanks and, including identifying potential for cooperation, synergies or strategic alliances.
• Represent the projects on national and regional events.
• Advise Team Lead on strategic and risk analysis regarding partners’ related requests and grant recipients.
• Ensure quality and compliance with GIZ rules of the services provided by external experts and service providers, performing risk assessments on potential requests, contracts, and agreements.
• Make suggestions on how to further enhance efficiency the work.
• Perform other duties and tasks at the request of management.

Required qualifications, competences, and experience:

• Master of Sciences (MSc.) in social or political science, energy management, environmental sciences, economy or alike.
• Interest in and passion about sustainable and just decarbonization efforts, energy transition and a climate-neutral future.
• At least 3 years of work experience in the energy sector or a closely related field or a field, either in public or private sector or with thinks tanks, academia or the civil society.
• Preferably some distinct experiences in the hydrogen sector.
• Experience with facilitating and advising on structural change and sector reforms.
• At least 3 years of working experience in project management, with a proven experience of navigating in and coordinating a multistakeholder environment.
• In-depth understanding of the Ukrainian energy sector and its complex stakeholder ecosystem.
• Experience in engaging with high-level representatives of Government and /or private entitities, ability to network, establish collaborations and create strategic alliances.
• Strong and context sensitive communication skills (verbally and in writing).
• Very good knowledge of English; Ukrainian native level is required; knowledge of German is an asset.
• Strong self-organization skills and goal orientation combined with a high level of frustration tolerance.
• Work experience with international organizations or in an international environment is an asset.

We offer:

• Official employment with possibility to be waived from military service.
• Salary fixed in EUR, performance-related bonuses and 13th salary.
• Medical insurance, 29 vacation days annually.
• Language classes, hard and soft skills trainings.
• Individual and group psychological support.
• Possible remote and flexible work.
• Meaningful and valuable work, international environment.

Employment conditions

Full-time position with 40-hours working week. The contract duration is 1 year, possibly to be extended until 30.09.2026. Starting as soon as possible.

GIZ is an equal opportunity employer and offers an attractive and challenging working environment with opportunities for skill enhancement.

Application

We are looking forward to your application in English, comprising your CV and a Cover letter explaining your motivation to apply for the job to [email protected] until COB 27 February 2025, Thursday.

By sending the application the candidate gives the consent for the personal data processing for recruitment processes solely.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stages of the recruitment process.