Duties and Accountabilities
The Senior Energy Specialist will play a key role in the strategic, advisory, and operational work of the Energy practice in Burkina Faso. The Senior Energy Specialist’s primary responsibilities will be to prepare, appraise, negotiate and supervise complex energy projects in selected countries in West and Central Africa. S/he will actively participate in overseeing implementation of energy operations with the aim to enhance quality and accelerate implementation. The focus of the position will include utility focused projects for generation, transmission, and distribution investments, energy access, and sector policy dialogue.
The Senior Energy Specialist should lead an active Bank policy dialogue with clients and other stakeholders on strategic energy issues and implementation of the region’s ongoing energy sector reforms. This includes the promotion of regional power trade and advancing prospect for development of cross-border interconnections. The Senior Energy Specialist will also maintain sufficient knowledge of individual operations and activities (including those not managed by him/her) to be able to identify and help resolve project-specific or systemic issues.
The candidate will be required to lead and contribute to analytical and advisory work. This includes supporting the development of national and regional analytical activities and advising governments. In doing this, the senior energy specialist will be expected to forge partnerships with organizations and individuals which can both better inform the Bank’s energy strategies, and also result in higher quality implementation and impact of Bank-supported programs. This will require effective communication and outreach to key stakeholders including client governments, academia, civil society organizations, media, other development partners and other Bank units.
Candidates must meet the generic criteria for international level GG: Sustained record of achieving high-quality substantive results over an extended period (typically at least 8 years).
Selection Criteria:
- Master’s degree in finance, energy planning, engineering, economics, or related field
- At least 8 years of combined experience in the World Bank, other international institutions/companies and/or government in energy with demonstrated track record in the management of large complex projects
- Experience and/or substantive exposure with recent developments in the energy sector such as utility reform and public-private partnerships
- Experience in hydropower development would be an advantage
- A track record of team work and ability to produce high-quality results and outputs with minimal supervision
- A track record of good external client relations skills at all levels of seniority
- High level of energy, initiative and flexibility in quickly adjusting to changing work program requirements
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, in particular ability to effectively dialogue with and relate to clients and stakeholders
- Proficiency in French and English is essential.
