Power Project Consultant

IPMC is part of the Sustainable Development Network of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and is responsible for: a) the quality of the social development aspects of the governments lending and non-lending operations, and b) quality enhancement of the social development portfolio. We seek to empower the poor by increasing their social assets and capacities. It aims to promote inclusive institutions, thereby increasing opportunities for more secure livelihoods, ultimately creating more gender-equitable, inclusive and just societies. IPMC contributes to increased development effectiveness and helps projects, programs, and policies better meet their goals and objectives. IPMC is currently implementing an initiative to formulate an operational framework for enhancing development benefits to the Urban Water Sector Reform, facilitate Water supply and Sanitation projects in local communities as part of the wider Sustainable Development Network’s effort to ensure that infrastructure projects are socially and environmentally sustainable.
Power Project Consultant
Job Description:
The Power project consultant will ensure the technical soundness of the company’s activities in supporting transactions related to investments in the power sector. He/she will provide in-depth sectoral expertise related to the planning, development, structuring, financing, and implementation of national and regional power systems, including power generation, transmission, and distribution. He/she will contribute to the definition of reforms required to improve and facilitate the benchmarking of the performance of power utilities/knowledge sharing and the provision of quality advisory services required to ensure the successful reform and restructuring of public power utilities. The work accomplished will also contribute, as required, to the implementation of High 5 flagship programmes.
Duties and responsibilities:
1.  Coordinate the implementation of relevant flagship projects to achieve the objectives for Energy in Nigeria;
2.  Provide advisory support to Countries and project leaders in the preparation and  implementation of national projects aimed at reforming power utilities and improving/assessing management performance by rehabilitating and expanding transmission/distribution networks, as well as reducing loss and optimizing efficiency;
3.  Provide leadership, along with regional platform staff, in the process of identifying, preparing, and executing power utility transformation operations, including loss reduction and electricity access programmes;
4.  Coordinate/lead, together with other teams, the operations (investment plan support, technical assistance) aimed at supporting transformation;
5.  Work in coordination with national platforms and governance units in the conduct of strategy-related operations and the implementation of technical assistance to support power utility reforms and private sector participation;
6.  Provide in-depth sector expertise to ensure quality assurance in the preparation of terms of reference, analysis, and validation of feasibility studies as well as  performance analysis of power utilities;
7.  Ensure timely review and quality assurance of project preparation, appraisal and supervision documents against technical, financial and economic requirements;
8.  Work with other sector divisions on relevant policy and regulatory issues, as well as on the structuring and financial analysis of complex / innovative projects, particularly those requiring private sector participation;
9.  Provide support for economic and sector studies related to the benchmarking of the performance of power utilities.
 Position/Program Requirements:
1.  At least a Master's degree or its equivalent in Electrical Engineering or related disciplines;
2.  A minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience in power utilities or the energy sector, including the reform and restructuring of power utilities;
3.  Ability to innovate and create new approaches to improve performance;
4.  Ability to communicate effectively and mobilize key actors to achieve set objectives (private sector, public sector, and civil society);
5.  Proven ability to build and lead a successful team to achieve visionary and challenging goals;
6.  Proven interpersonal skills demonstrated through the ability to work in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment, with sensitivity and respect for diversity, as well as the ability to build trust and coach each individual member team;
7.  Strong negotiation skills, demonstrated by achieving positive results with peers, both internal and external;
8.  Sound understanding of success factors and barriers to the success of power utilities in complex regulatory and policy environments;
9.  In-depth knowledge of the processes and tools for the development of low-cost integrated national power networks/systems used in Nigeria and familiarity with the working methods of national development finance institutions;
10. In-depth knowledge of service quality standards for power utilities and related performance management systems;
11. Excellent project management skills;
12. Ability to draft terms of reference and requests for proposals for the procurement of consulting services;
13. Sound knowledge of the national regulation of the power sector, procurement models, contract management and standards as well as network code, operating rules, thresholds and reserves ( including the import, export, transmission, and trading of power);
14.  Sound knowledge of the governance, regulation, operations, maintenance and administration of power utilities, customer relations, billing, financial management of these services;
15.  Highly developed strategic thinking skills, coupled with the ability to translate concepts and strategic directions into the implementation of viable and sustainable policies and regulations;
17.  Ability to communicate effectively in the English language;
18.  Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications such as SAP
                                                                                         
Skills and other requirements:
Demonstrable track record of successful business development and achievement of targets or significant contributions to the same
Sound knowledge in procurement, building contract, cost management, and construction planning
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Microsoft Project and/or Primavera
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Strong negotiation and presentation skills
Ability to develop and manage budgets
Ability to recognize and assess risks through the due diligence processes