UNDP Jobs - 55609- International Senior Power Engineer/Planner

International Senior Power Engineer/Planner

Location :

Erbil, IRAQ

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-May-2015

Application Deadline :

25-Apr-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

45 days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

45 days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Please do not send your application through this website and send the complete application to ic1.undp.iq@undp.org (only

Application with complete supporting documents received in ic1.undp.iq@undp.org before or at the closing date will be processed).

In order to sustain the significant gains that the Kurdistan Region has registered in promoting investment and in expanding the supply of basic services and to ensure the continuity of its development strategy, the KRG launched the Regional Development Vision for 2020, which provides a framework for policy development, defines priorities, and outlines a strategy to improve opportunities for the people.

To identify institutional and human capacity gaps and remove barriers hampering private investment and public-private partnerships for development, the Ministry of Planning commissioned the Socio-Economic Infrastructure Needs Assessment (SEINA) that was produced jointly with UNDP Iraq and released in 2012. Since then, progress has been registered in certain sectors whereas public investment in other areas has not attracted private capital as expected, the uneven impact prompting the need for a new assessment of development infrastructure gaps. Consequently, the Ministry of Planning decided to undertake three studies in 2014. These three studies together make-up the KR Sustainable Development Initiative (KR-SDI). They are:

A revised SEINA II designed to update the gap/solutions analysis conducted in SEINA I, to add some sectors not studied in 2012 (ICT, financial services), and additional analysis of some strategic sectors, also in the light of RDV2020 goals;
The Skills Needs Assessment (SNA); and
The Kurdistan Region Enterprise Census (KREC).

UNDP has launched a Strategy and Global Initiative to guide its work on Extractive Industries for Sustainable Development. The UNDP Global Initiative will provide programme management for both SEINA II and SNA. The consultant will report to the Senior Economist/Team Coordinator with primary responsibility for the carrying-out of SEINA 2014, including the preparation of the task and leadership of the main field mission.

The SEINA 2014 will be a follow-up and update to the SEINA 2012 and include a number of sectors, such as:

Hard infrastructure: Electricity, Water and Wastewater, Natural resources (water, hydrocarbons), Transportation, Telecommunications); and support to the three leading growth sectors of Agriculture, Industry, and Tourism;
Hard infrastructure of the social sectors Health and Education; and
Institutional infrastructure (Financial services, Industrial zones, Environment, and Skills).

To ensure consistency in the socio-economic infrastructure needs assessment exercise, SEINA 2014 will employ the same methodology used for the 2012 version (and use largely the same team of experts) while widening the scope of the study to include a series of sectors that are critical to a modern economy, such as ICT and financial services. Data analyses, interviews, scouting missions, and studies done by/for others will be used for this study. Innovative financing solutions for the infrastructure investment needs will be sought.

For the conduct of this task, especially to conduct in-depth analysis of the energy sector, which the KRG considers strategic, UNDP has decided to acquire the services of a Senior Electric Power Engineer/Planner to analyze sector issues and options.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will take note of the past work on the energy sector conducted by other agencies/ institutions, including SEINA I. He will also travel to Erbil and the Kurdistan Region, visiting institutions, persons, and infrastructural facilities as necessary to update knowledge of the state of the electricity generation, transmission, and distribution system. The mission is expected to require about 45 days of which about 25 days of field work.

The KRG electric power system consists of gas turbines, diesels, steam thermal plant, and hydroelectric plants. The KRG authorities commissioned an Electricity Master Plan which was completed in 2009 (and modified several times since) and the Federal Government of Iraq has recently completed a National Energy Strategy. Initial task of consultant will be to conduct a critical review of these Plans and their main recommendations, considering that some of them may already have been implemented and that Plans may have been overtaken by events.

More specifically, the consultant is expected to:

Present/evaluate the possible options for reform of the energy sector of KR, keeping in minds its size and geographical distribution (plant evenly distributed among three Governorates; vertically integrated monopoly, with generation plant mostly owned by private sector, but under direct state control via fuel supply), the characteristics of the transmission system, and its links (500 KV) to the Iraq system (including also international interconnections). Review sector-relevant legislation together with National Expert;
Identify major issues/bottlenecks in any part of supply system that might affect the capacity of current system to cover peak demand (in terms of both power and energy) and suggest immediate remedial measures, if any and as needed, especially as there may be need to supply electric power to displaced populations;
Evaluate existing electric power generation and transmission expansion plans in terms of realism and feasibility with respect to projected demand from households and other users (industry, agriculture, tourism, health, education, in concert with other team members covering said sectors);
Perform a supply-demand balance of the system, (insofar as data can be acquired to do this);
Collaborate with Team’s economists to evaluate whether investments selected take into account correct economic costs of fuels and evaluate expected natural gas supplies in terms of their long-term capacity to sustain growing generation;
Discuss possibility of adding generation based on renewable energy to existing conventional power generation (mainly gas-fired gas turbines, some with CC, and some hydro capacity), and the possibility/feasibility of establishing stand alone small/isolated systems or hybrid minigrids including generation from renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro).
Evaluate in general terms, if so requested by KR authorities, any electric power investments predicated on export markets.

At the end of the field mission, the consultant will draft a brief preliminary report for the Team Coordinator containing main preliminary findings, conclusions, and recommendations. The consultant will also prepare a final report summarizing his/her main findings and conclusions and recommendations, and also establish/suggest an investment program in physical and financial terms to meet expected (regional) power demand from all users in 2025. Consultant will also discuss main points with the Team and KR-I electric power experts.

The candidate should have higher degree in power engineering and power planning and more than 15 years’ experience in analysis/management of mixed generation (hydro, thermal/gas turbines) electric power systems in developing countries. Senior management experience in a large utility considered necessary. Experience with international financial institutions considered most useful. Knowledge of institutional aspects of electric power systems (esp. sub-sector organization, vertical integration, unbundling, incentive regulation) would be an advantage. Fluency in spoken and written English is a must, knowledge of other UN languages, a plus. Willing and able to travel to Iraqi Kurdistan.

Competencies

Ethics & Values:

Demonstrating / Safeguarding Ethics and Integrity;
Demonstrates and promotes the highest standard of integrity, impartiality, fairness and incorruptibility in all matters affecting his/her work and status.

Developing & Empowering People/Coaching and Mentoring:

Self-development, initiative-taking;
Takes appropriate risk in developing new or adapting existing methods and approaches to more effectively perform tasks or to solve problems in new and unique ways;
Excellent negotiation and advocacy skills.

Working in Teams:

Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
Works collaboratively with colleagues inside UN/UNDP as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals.

Communicating Information and Ideas:

Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
Delivers verbal/written information in a timely, clear, organized and easily understood manner;
Excellent oral and written skills to develop knowledge products in relevant areas.

Self-Management & Emotional Intelligence:

Creating synergies through self-control tolerates conditions of stress, uncertainty or ambiguity and continues to maintain a positive outlook and to work productively.

Knowledge Sharing & Continuous Learning:

Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others;
Demonstrates commitment to ongoing professional development and keeps abreast of new developments in his/her professional field.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: (max. points 20 points)

Master and/or equivalent degree in power engineering and power planning: 15 points;
For any additional above Master degree in information and communications technology = 5 degree up to max.. 20 points.

Experience and Skills: (max. points 40 points)

A minimum of15 years’ experience in analysis/management of mixed generation (hydro, thermal/gas turbines) electric power systems in developing countries and progressively responsible experience in managing development-related projects including direct work experience in country-specific settings, particularly those in crisis-affected, post-crisis and/or fragile situations;15 points;
For each additional year = 1 point , up to max. 20 Points;
Senior management experience in a large utility considered necessary. Experience with international financial institutions considered most useful. Knowledge of institutional aspects of electric power systems (esp. sub-sector organization, vertical integration, unbundling, incentive regulation) would be an advantage;
Extensive technical knowledge relevant to the thematic area;
Proven and recent experience with technical assistance for project development, implementation, management and/or evaluation;
Excellent drafting and formulation skills; proven record of drafting official reports or papers/studies in the selected area;
UN experience an asset;
Experience with training and facilitation is an asset: 20 points.

Language Requirements: (max. points 10 points)

Fluency in spoken and written English is a must, knowledge of other UN languages, a plus: 10 points.

Brief Methodology : (max. points 30 points)

A brief methodology stipulating how the work will be implemented: 30 points.

Please do not send your application through this website and send the complete application to ic1.undp.iq@undp.org (only

Application with complete supporting documents received in ic1.undp.iq@undp.org before or at the closing date will be processed).