GVEP International,Project Technical Support Manager Jobs in Rwanda

Position: Project Technical Support
Manager

Location: Rwanda, (Kigali)

Reports to: Programme Technical Manager

Background
and context

GVEP International
(Global Village Energ
y Partnership) is a UK charity seeking to reduce poverty
in Africa through accelerated access to modern energy products and services. To
do this we support the development of a broad range of micro and small businesses
and project companies in the energy economy, by providing them with
high-quality financial, technical and business management support services so
that they can grow and deliver access to energy in off grid areas.

In Rwanda, GVEP is
about to start a new programme which goal is to support the growth of a
sustained market for off-grid renewable energy by helping the private sector to
deliver access to energy to 120.000 people in rural areas, in a way that is
inclusive of people living in poverty called Scaling up Off-Grid Energy in
Rwanda (SOGER)

This programme will
comprise of three project components, designed and developed to respond to the
country’s challenges and the government’s priorities with regards to poverty
reduction and energy access in rural areas:

The programme
implementation is expected to start in July 2016 and in this context GVEP is
seeking a Project Technical Support (PTS) Manager to provide the expertise
required to deliver the technical aspect of each component. The PTS manager
will work under the supervision of the Programme Technical Manager and in close
collacoration with other team members to ensure coordination and integration of
the different expertise to succesfully deliver the programme.

The programme will
be based on an integrated approach, with a comprehensive package of services to
address barriers to development and growth of businesses trying to deliver
off-grid energy access in rural areas. This is in particular targeting small,
medium and micro enterprises (MSMEs) as well as project developers, where the
range of challenges faced by these businesses is so big and diverse, that a
tailored and wholistc package of interventions is generally required for each
enterprise. Our business model is based on the idea that, with the right
technical and business support and opportunities, a private sector delivery
model based on market mechanisms is the most effective and efficient way to
deliver energy services which are appropriate to the needs of poor communities.

The Role

The Technical
Support Manager is an energy technical specialist that provides day to day
operation support to each programme component. The Technical Support Manager
will also provide support to the programme with regards to administrative
matters. In particular he will provide support in three particular fields:

Key
responsibilities

Overall
responsibilities:

· Provide technical
support to the Programme technical Manager across all the programme components
by working in close collaboration with all the different teams and expert in
the programme

· Support and lead
on the evaluation of technical specifications and technology options across the
programme components

· Support the
programme monitoring and evaluation team by providing the required technical
data and inputs , in particular for baseline surveys

· Support the
Programme Manager in administrative tasks and liaison with programme
counterparts

Technical
support responsibilities:

Component 1:

• Support
  initial identification of pipeline of projects and production of needs
  assessments.
• Support
  in the design of a call for proposals and selection process for RESP projects.
• Support
  in designing a detailed approach to support the developers.
• Provide
  support to develop a productive use support strategy/methodology to
  support enterprises in newly electrified villages by the project,
  including an approach to undertaking technical needs assessment of micro-
  businesses. This will be a cross component methodology.
• When
  required provide technical support to project developers

Component 2

• Assist
  the process of identifying and recruitment of Pico Hydro developers into
  the program .

· Support in
finanlising pico-hydro site assessment and selection and produce a review
report

• Provide
  inputs to the development of the Climate Change Impact Analysis to inform
  the selection of the sites and advice to developers
• Organize
  and Deliver Technical development training to selected pico hydro
  developers
• Building
  relationship with local Government, Health centres and schools in the
  development process of pico- hydro power sites and engage Sector and
  District though awareness Compaign
• Provide
  Technical support to developers throughout the implementation of the
  projects
• Support
  Pico Hydro Developers during the site assessment and development of
  feasibility and business plans and ensure the busnesses use their business
  plans to help them in planning and fundrising.
• Provide
  technical advise during the inception and implementation of pico hydro
  project component
• Support
  the acces to finance team to develop a plan and approach to help access
  sources of finance for all 30 target projects

Component 3:

· During the
incepton phase support support in dentifying and selecting local agricultrue
partner

· Support the
development of an irrigation systems supplier survey and assessment study

· Providing support
to the Agriculture Project Manager in determining the types of, and ranges of
specifications for solar irrigation systems required to meet smallholders’
irrigation needs.

· Supporting the
identification of potential technology suppliers either active or potentially
active in Rwanda, and develop an initial catalogue of applicable products,
specifications and prices.

• Understand
  different suppliers’ attitudes and approaches to “extras” such as credit
  sales, after sales service, provision of agronomy advice.
• Support
  in identifying the likely financing needs of both farmers and irrigation
  system suppliers, considering both parties’ working capital cycles,
  procurement processes, etc.
• Provide
  support in desiging the implementation phase based on the findings and
  recommendation of the inception phase including: Mapping of related
  initiatives, – design options for distribution arrangements
• Provide
  contunuous technial assistance and technical support to suppliers and
  local agri-partners during project implementation phase

Project
management support and administration:

• Assist
  in Programme reporting and provide feedback to the Programme technical
  Manager on all development arround the entreprises and activities on the
  field.
• Building
  relationship with partners involved in the programme inception phase and
  implementation phase.
• Provide
  effective linkages between the projects, between partners, and developers
  and identify new partners where possible.

Required
skills and experience

• University
  degree in Electrical Engineering or other related field with 5 years experience
  in Hydro Power Sector and off-grid systems and electricity distribution in
  Rwanda and East Africa

· Expertise in
renewable energy and/or agriculture and other cross cutting theme such as
climate change

· Knowladge of the
energy sector in Rwanda, its regulation and Local Government structure.

· Knowledge of
renewable energy project financing a plus

· Experience of
implementing donor-funded and/or technical projects

• Comfort
  with the entrepreneurial culture of a fast growing organization in an
  ever-changing industry
• Experience
  of working with small businesses, and/or energy SMEs, and/or an
  understanding of renewable energy technologies and business models and/or
  of infrastructure management commercial arrangements is required.
• High
  level of inter-personal and presentation skills and an ability to
  communicate clearly and collaborate at a senior level with colleagues,
  SMEs, public agencies and other stakeholders;
• A
  can-do and collaborative mind set – comfort with the ambiguities and
  demands of a rapidly evolving environment.
• Excellent
  written and analytical skills is crucial
• Excellent
  problem solving skills
• Excellent
  written and spoken English; Knowledge of French is a plus.
• Ability
  to travel frequently in remote areas of the country and at short notice

Please send your CV
plus a cover letter (in English) outlining how your knowledge, skills and
experience match the job specification to recruitment@gvepinternational.org to
reach us by latest 4th July 2016.

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