JOB SUMMARY: 

The USAID-funded Alternatives to Charcoal project in Zambia, implemented by Tetra Tech International Development (www.tetratech.com/intdev) is currently accepting expressions of interest for an Energy Sector Specialist. This position will be located in the main office in Lusaka.

The purpose of USAID Alternatives to Charcoal Activity (A2C) is to reduce urban charcoal energy consumption in Zambia and catalyze an increase in the use of private sector-led low emissions charcoal alternative technologies and/or fuels to reduce deforestation directly attributed to charcoal production. A2C works with the private sector, the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ), civil society, community-based organizations and communities to remove barriers and create opportunities to advance consumer adoption of alternative clean energy fuels and technologies and shift consumers preferences to reduce demand for charcoal.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:
The Energy Sector Specialist will provide direction to staff conducting project activities and will serve as the point of contact for private sector engagement and policy and regulation under the technical direction of the A2C Technical Director. The candidate’s support will focus on implementing energy sector technical interventions, contributing to technical deliverables, and coordinating between short-term technical assistance resources and the A2C team in Zambia to integrate them into in-country activities.

The Energy Sector Specialist will conduct the following activities:

• Enhance A2C deliverables with in-country energy sector data gathering and expertise and at the request of the head of the A2C project. Demand driven support could include but is not limited to contributing to private sector organization workshops, reviewing incubation and growth subcontractor deliverables, providing energy sector technical support and services to grantees, investors and other private sector partners through advisory services designed to increase entrepreneurial capacity in country.
• Coordinate A2C project activities as directed by head of the A2C project. These activities include but are not limited to collecting in-country data to enhance deliverables such as cost benefit analyses, clean cooking strategies, private sector surveys, annual events.
• The candidate will map out of the existing business enabling environment and provide energy sector targeted in-country technical support and advisory services to remove barriers in the enabling environment.
• Contribute energy sector expertise across objectives for project reports as requested by A2C including to quarterly reports, monitoring and evaluation data, annual workplan, and pause and reflect sessions.
• Support capacity building of local technical staff through direct mentorship.
• Review and/or draft technical inputs for annual work plans as well as quarterly and annual reports; identify and draft success stories in collaboration with technical staff.
• The Energy Sector Specialist will report to the A2C Technical Director and work with the project to develop, create, and implement discrete energy sector related activities.
• The Energy Sector Specialist will be based in Lusaka, Zambia at the A2C office.

QUALIFICATIONS: (MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS)
At least five years of experience working directly on USAID projects focused on the clean energy sector.

At least one year of experience designing USAID projects

At least one year of experience producing USAID reports and other work products related to the clean energy sector
At least one year of experience reviewing and approving reports and other energy-related work products submitted to USAID by its implementing partners.

At least five years of experience at the graduate level studying and conducting research in an energy-related field.

Experience collaborating and providing technical guidance to staff,

EDUCATION: Ph.D. in physics, engineering, or energy-related field

WORK EXPERIENCE: Experience interacting and working with high-level government officials on energy-related issues
Experience producing memos and briefs for high-level government officials on energy-related issues
Experience work with and providing support for private sector energy companies and industry associations, including on access to finance, market intelligence, and advocacy on policy and regulation
Experience designing government and donor programs in the energy sector
 SKILLS:        Ability to understand and work with large, complex donor-funded projects
Ability to understand and work on complicated data modeling and analysis
Ability to communicate verbally with and write documents in a clear and compelling manner for high-level private sector, donor, and government officials,
LANGUAGES & OTHER ATTRIBUTES:

Must be fluent in English

Ability to work well with a diverse team
Ability to maintain good relationships within the team and with partners of the project
Ability to work with minimum supervision and under pressure