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Job Description

Renewable Energy Policy Specialist

(Full Time Staff Position)

USAID Clean Power Asia Program, Bangkok Based

Abt Associates, a global leader in technical assistance, program implementation and international development, seeks qualified individuals to fulfill the position of Renewable Energy Policy Specialist) for the USAID Clean Power Asia program, reporting to the Renewable Energy Policy Expert.  This position is full-time, based in Bangkok, Thailand, and is open to Thai Nationals ONLY. No allowances or relocation will be paid.

The purpose of USAID Clean Power Asia is to accelerate the regional transition to high performing, low carbon power sector. The Activity will assist the governments of the Lower Mekong and other developing countries in Asia in energy planning and help establish effective policy, regulatory, and technical environment for low-emissions growth in the power sector, while simultaneously attracting public- and private-sector investment in Renewable Energy (RE) development. USAID Clean Power Asia is focused on the following resources: solar, wind, small hydro (<15 MW), and biomass residues.

The program will initially focus on the four Lower Mekong countries of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam, and will include activities on the ASEAN regional level.

Overall Responsibilities

• Work in close coordination with the project team, under the direct supervision and guidance of the Task 2 Lead, to improve the enabling environment for large-scale renewable energy deployment, promote U.S. government energy sector activities; and share lessons learned with the broader community;
• Work closely with Task 2 lead to support analysis, design and implementation of future energy policy development in the region to promote investment in grid-connected renewable energy, including, incentives, procurement processes, standards, regulations, as well as the technical framework for integrating renewable into the grid.
• Assist Task 2 Lead in developing and nurturing relationships related to each task with other donors, government counterparts, private sector actors and others in the region who share the program’s goals.

Position Specific Responsibilities

The Energy Policy Specialist will assist overall activities under Task 2, Smart Incentives and Policy Support, under the direct supervision of Task 2 Lead.  Overall, the Task 2 Lead will review and analyze best practices in Smart Incentives and other enabling environment issues related to power sector policy, laws and regulations that impact the scaling of RE investment in the Mekong countries and the broader ASEAN, suggest incentive and policy support options to be undertaken with program support in each target country, and lead efforts with partners, subcontractors, and others to institute such mechanisms in support of a stronger enabling environment for RE.  The Task 2 Energy Policy specialist is expected to help with background research on renewable energy policy, markets, and incentives of the LM countries, conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses related to the design of incentive schemes, and coordinate all Task 2 related activities.

Potential activities in which the Task 2 Energy Policy Specialist will be expected to participate in implementing the following tasks including, but not limited to, the following:

• Task 2.1 Support government entities in designing and implementing smart incentives and removing disincentives to promote investment in RE, and bring lessons learned to workshops planned under the program:
  • Establish regionally scalable RE FIT, competitive procurement or other policy incentive options to promote investment in grid-connected RE
  • Improve regulatory framework for RE including streamlined permitting
  • Studies, followed by workshops, on existing smart incentives outside ASEAN (including the US and Europe), among ASEAN countries and for individual select LM countries
  • Conduct research and implement pilots on distributed PV in selected LM countries, including net metering and addressing other barriers to achieving goals for Distributed PV. The pilot programs could address setting goals and developing approaches; tariff design; quantifying economic impacts; codes, standards and interconnection processes; modeling and mitigating impacts on the electric distribution system; and (re) aligning utility interests with distributed PV. Share lessons learned in such a manner that all countries receiving Clean Power Asia assistance benefit.
  • Assist Clean Power Asia efforts to support or develop an ASEAN Regional Workshop on Competitive procurement in coordination with the Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF) in June, 2017. Thailand would likely have a key role in this workshop to share its experiences with the current biomass “FIT bidding” process and other experiences with competitive procurement.

Task 2.2 Promote the integration of Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) into the grid:

• Improve capacity of policymakers to understand VRE integration challenges and solutions including system limits
• Support development of grid codes that facilitate VRE integration and other grid and interconnect requirements for VRE connection in LM Mekong countries
• Improve capacity of system operators to integrate VRE into the power grid

• Participate in developing and monitoring implementation of the annual work plan
• Other duties to be determined in conjunction with the Chief of Party of USAID Clean Power Asia Program and Task 2 Lead.

Qualifications

• Required: A bachelor’s degree and five to seven (5-7) years experience in work directly realted to the position is requried. A Master’s degree in engineering, economics, public policy, or related disciplines is desired.
• Fluency in English and Thai is required; Working efficiency in other regional languages is desired.
• Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in the policy aspects of the grid-connected renewable energy in one or more of the Lower Mekong countries in which USAID Clean Power Asia is focused (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao PDR) and/or in ASEAN is reqruied.
• Proven ability to manage logistical aspects of donor-funded project activities with multiple actors including energy ministries, regulators, universities, domestic banks, equity firms, and utility and planning agencies across the ASEAN region is desired.
• Commitment and passion for renewable energy.
• Ability to work under pressure and independently as well as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Application Procedure

Interested candidates may express their interest by emailing cparecruitment@abtassoc.com

referencing “Policy Specialist” in the subject line.

Candidates will be evaluated on a rolling basis. To be considered, your email MUST INCLUDE the following information:

1. A written expression of interest summarizing your qualifications for the scope of work.
2. CV clearly indicating work/consulting history and either daily consulting rate or annual compensation for each consultancy/position, stated in currency of payment.
3. Preference will be given to Thai nationals. If you are not a Thai national, your application may be discarded.

Additional Documentation

If a candidate is selected for an interview, the following documents will be required (while not required in application, you may choose to submit these with your application package:

1. US Federal Form 1420 (EBD) https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-1420-17
2. Proof of Education/Degree attained (transcript or diploma)
3. Proof of annual salary or daily consulting rate as stated in the EBD (acceptable forms include employment agreement, pay stubs, employer verification letter).

Due to the volume of anticipated applicants, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Interviews will be scheduled as warranted and may be conducted in person or via electronic means.

Abt Associates is doing business as Abt Associates Thailand, registered with the Thailand Department of Commerce.  Abt Associates is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce.