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Job Description

Renewable Energy Planning and Policy Specialist

(Full-time Staff Position)

USAID Clean Power Asia Program, Bangkok-based

Abt Associates’ International Development Division focuses on improving the lives and economic well-being of people in lower and middle-income countries. We command technical expertise in health, agriculture, climate change, food security and governance—as well as in international evaluation. Our multi-layered health portfolio includes policy, health promotion and disease prevention, health finance, and health systems management. In partnership with government clients and local experts, our high-quality programs in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East are known for impact and innovation.

Opportunity

Abt Associates, a global leader in technical assistance, program implementation, and international development, seeks qualified individuals to fulfill the position of Renewable Energy (RE) Planning and Policy Specialist for the USAID Clean Power Asia program, reporting to the Chief of Party (COP). The purpose of USAID Clean Power Asia is to accelerate the regional transition to high performing, low carbon power sector. The program assists the governments of the Lower Mekong and other developing countries in Asia in energy planning and helps establish an effective policy, regulatory, and technical environment for low emissions growth in the power sector, while simultaneously mobilizing public- and private-sector investment in renewable energy (RE) development. USAID Clean Power Asia is focused on solar, wind, small hydro (

Key Roles and Responsibilities

The RE Planning and Policy Specialist will work under the direct supervision and guidance of the Task 1 or Task 2 lead. Working closely with the entire project team, the Specialist will support Task 1, focused on high RE scenario planning, and Task 2, focused on RE policies, incentives, and technical frameworks, on the following tasks:

• Ensuring the sustainability and usefulness of data, implementing intervention activities to promote RE through planning, policy adoption, and building capacity for stakeholders in Lao PDR, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and potentially Cambodia and Indonesia.
• Supporting development or updating of national level RE targets and their incorporation into national power development plans.
• Developing or reviewing agendas, participant lists, and draft invitation letters for workshops focused on RE policy and planning.
• Assisting Task 1 and 2 colleagues in developing and nurturing relationships with other donors, government counterparts, private sector actors, and others in the region whose work is complimentary to USAID Clean Power Asia.
• Supporting Task 1 and 2 teams in monitoring progress indicators and reviewing and commenting on sub-task deliverables.
• Conducting analysis and further scoping of Task 1 and 2 interventions in annual work plan, as well as proposing new interventions for future work. Existing and planned activities targeting planning and policy should contribute to power sector actors being catalysts for investment in grid-connected renewable energy in the region.
• Policies may include incentives, procurement processes, standards, regulations, as well as the technical framework for integrating renewable energy into the grid.
• Drafting scopes of work for consultants to provide specific expert analysis in support of work plan sub-tasks under Tasks 1 and 2.
• Other duties as determined by the Chief of Party.

The RE Planning and Policy Specialist will support activities under Task 1 RE planning and 2 RE policy and regulations as described in the overall responsibilities above. Specific activities likely to be performed under Tasks 1 and 2 in the coming year include, but are not limited, to:

Task 1:

• Support the promotion of a regional knowledge-sharing/co-learning workshop with Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Myanmar by coordinating with the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), and the ADB through the Technical Program Officer.
• Support inclusion of RE zones in transmission plans in Lao PDR.
• Support developing guidelines for linking RE Data Explorer and capacity expansion models.
• Support capacity building efforts on Integrated Resource and Resilience Planning in Lao PDR and other LM countries, including improved RE target setting.

Task 2:

• Support the deployment of a solar pilot auction and improve enabling regulations for variable renewable energy integration, including RE grid connection regulations, RE technical standards, and standard terms of reference for an RE feasibility study in Lao PDR.
• Support activities promoting policy changes to catalyze investment in rooftop solar and/or other distributed photovoltaic (DPV) systems through impact analysis, policy recommendations, and other activities.
• Support analysis of innovative technologies such as energy storage systems and related policies
• Collaborate with experts, donors and implementing partners to design and execute a program to scale up RE auctions regionally.
• Develop, participate in, and/or organize RE policy-related knowledge sharing outreach initiatives through meetings, workshops, conferences, webinars, and other communication collateral.

Preferred Skills / Prerequisites

• Progressive experience working on donor-funded (preferably USAID) energy and/or economic growth projects in the ASEAN region.
• Proven ability to manage logistical aspects of donor-funded project activities with multiple actors including energy ministries, regulators, universities, and utility and planning agencies across the region.
• Demonstrated capacity in facilitating in-depth and effective dialogues internally in support of the team as well as with external actors.
• Outstanding interpersonal, engagement and consensus-building skills, ability to foster strong relationships with key agencies.
• A firm understanding of the interest of the banking and private sector as it relates to renewable energy;
• A creative, entrepreneurial and a proactive attitude, able to manage multiple activities across multidisciplinary teams, while meeting tight deadlines;
• Strong management and organization skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English and at least one language of the Lower Mekong.
• Highly self-motivated and adaptable to learning and understanding new things.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environments.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with development agencies, non-governmental organizations, and relevant private sector players.
• Ability to produce quality work products with attention to detail.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of a master’s degree in energy planning, policy, international development, or other relevant discipline is required.
• 6-8 years’ of experience in the policy aspects of energy issues in Asia, preferably in the Lower Mekong countries and/or ASEAN.
• Applicants must bring native-level proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Lao, Khmer, Vietnamese, Thai, or Burmese.
• Fluency in English is required; strong skills in oral and written English are essential.

Application Procedure

Interested candidates may express their interest by emailing recruitment@usaidcleanpowerasia.org referencing “RE Planning and Policy Specialist” in the subject line. The deadline for applications is Friday, November 9, 2018.

To be considered, your email MUST INCLUDE the following information; failure to provide this information will result in your application being discarded.

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.
4. Preference may be given to candidates with immediate availability.

If a candidate is selected for an interview, the following documents will be required (while not required in the 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.