Low Carbon Officer – Commonwealth of Dominica, Roseau, Dominica 227 views

Job ID: 27339

Practice Area – Job Family: Environment and Energy

Vacancy End Date: (Midnight New York, USA) 06/12/2019

Duty Station: Roseau, Dominica

Education & Work Experience: G-Bachelor’s Level Degree – 2 year(s) experience

Languages: English

Grade: SB4

Vacancy Type: Service Contract (SC)

Posting Type: External

Bureau: Latin America & the Caribbean

Contract Duration: Ten (10) months ending September 2020

Nationals of the Commonwealth of Dominica and nationals of the OECS countries, who have legal status to work in Dominica and/or persons who hold the CARICOM Skills certificate are eligible to apply. If you are the holder of the CARICOM Skills certificate, it is mandatory that you upload a copy of this document following the instructions under ‘Adhoc Questions’.

Background

The Commonwealth of Dominica has some of the world’s highest electricity costs due to its dependence on imported fossil fuels for power generation.

Under the country’s Low Carbon Climate Resilience Strategy (LCCRS) of 2012, the Draft National Sustainable Energy Plan (NSEP), the National Resilience Development Strategy (NRDS) and the recent Sustainable and Renewable Energy Policy (S-REP), the Government of Dominica has outlined some of its plans to assure a more sustainable Energy Sector.

The Low Carbon Development Project (LCDP) complements these on-going efforts, with the main objective being the removal of the policy, technical and financial barriers to energy-efficient applications and solar photovoltaic technologies in Dominica’s streets, outdoor areas and public buildings nationwide for further scale up.

The LCDP hopes to achieve this object through three (3) Main Components:

Component 1: Institutional and technical knowledge, awareness and capacity for EE applications and renewable energy technologies (RETs)

Component 2: Policy measures and enforcement of EE applications and RETs

Component 3: Financing options and mechanisms for EE applications and RET diffusion

To ensure effective and efficient implementation of the project, a Low Carbon Officer (LCO) for the LCDP Project is being recruited to provide on-going technical advice as stipulated in the specific duties and responsibilities and key functions outlined below. The LCO will be responsible for providing overall technical backstopping to the Project. The LCO will render technical support to the National Project Coordinator (NPC), the Chief Technical Adviser, staff, the Project Board and other government counterparts.

The LCO will report directly to the NPC, under the overall guidance of the National Project Director and in collaboration with the programme team in the UNDP Barbados and Dominica offices.

Duties and Responsibilities

1) Provide technical oversight in the full-cycle of Renewable Energy (RE) Development and Renewable Energy Technology (RET) quality

inspection of equipment (from port to site) and inspection of installation to ensure standards and best practices are met

provide construction and installation oversight for civil, mechanical and electrical equipment for pilot on-grid RE plants

prepare tender documents for procurement of solar PV equipment

provide support with developing Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) arrangements

liaise with key personnel to provide technical inputs to the project implementation plan including contractor, government organizations, Utility etc.

identify risks that would impact the timeliness and or quality of deliverables during the consultancies that have been issued

review standards used for solar PV equipment and installation and make recommendations

2) Setup and implementation of a MRV system (measurement, reporting and verifying) to monitor energy savings and GHG reductions from EE applications and RE technologies installed

analyze data and collecting information

maintain accurate records of the photovoltaic installations

undertake regular field visits and interact with different stakeholders, especially primary stakeholders.

3) Assist in preparing and delivering appropriate training materials and workshops on RE planning, design, implementation, operation and maintenance as well as financing of RE projects

prepare and conduct technical presentations to beneficiaries with respect to PV installations

coordinate information dissemination, workshops and seminars for low carbon pilots

promote energy conservation awareness through presentations

4) Support Project Implementation

Through specific engagement with the UNDP Sustainable Solutions and Energy team and the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst

Provide technical input to Terms of Reference (TORs) for consultancies under the different sub-components of the project;

Provide technical support for the development of Minimum Energy Performing Standards (MEPS)

Conduct technical review and assessment of outputs of consultancies issued under the project

Prepare the monthly, quarterly and annual monitoring plan for consultancy activities

Provide technical inputs for monthly, quarterly, annual and ad hoc corporate reporting

Monitor and evaluate the compliance of actual progress and performance against the planned work plan and expected quality

Conduct regular analysis of the effect of current actual performance to the project timetable and budgets in close collaboration with the NPC

Prepare reports for NPC including identification of problems, causes of potential bottlenecks (if any) in project implementations

Prepare recommendations on how to reduce the impact of deviations vs. work plans

5) Other tasks that may be required

Coordinate activities for action plans for low carbon development

Provide technical assistance to project consultants

Assist in public awareness and education activities

Competencies

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 2: Analyzes complex technical materials (including data) and makes concise, relevant recommendations

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 1: Takes responsibility for and ensures high quality of own work

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 3: Appropriately involves team in different stages of work and decision-making

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 2: Understands, explains and shares information on assigned tasks with accuracy and clarity

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 2: Meets goals and timelines for delivery of products or services

Climate change

Knowledge of climate change concepts, frameworks, risk management and principles and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Gender Issues and Analysis

Knowledge of gender issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations, including analysis of projects from a gender perspective

Level 2: Execute and Learn: Performs defined tasks efficiently and deepens knowledge of area of work

Change Management

Ability to apply a systematic approach to adapt, control and effect change

Level 3: Implement and Manage: Exercises skills and knowlege independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities in area of work.

Stakeholders Management

Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and balance often contradictory expectations, building and maintaining relationships

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstratted ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise.

Mentoring and capacity building

Ability to coach/mentor technical staff to enhance sustain capacity development

Level 4: Apply & Adapt:Contributes skills knowlege with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise.

Team Building

Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of professionals towards common goals

Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities in area of work.

Communication

Ability to effectively communicate intensions and requirements to internal and external stakeholders

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Required Skills and Experience

Education

University degree in engineering, energy, environment or applied physics from a recognized institution or a closely related discipline

Post graduate certification in renewable energy or a related field would be an asset

Certification in the design and installation of photovoltaic systems would be an asset

Certification in wiring and electrical design would be an asset

Experience:

At least 5 years’ experience with the inspection and design of solar photovoltaic systems.

Knowledge of the process of conducting general building audits with respect to solar photovoltaic installations.

Knowledge of solar photovoltaic and other RE technologies appropriate for the local environment in Barbados.

Familiarity with DOMLEC, IRC and Electrical Division requirements for photovoltaic installations

Excellent Information Technology skills

Efficient organization skills

Excellent communication skills

Experience working on similar projects, particularly in the local context in Barbados, is a distinct asset.

Prior experience working with UNDP is an asset

Strong interpersonal skills are required.

Ability to work alone and as part of a team

Computer proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and Outlook) is a prerequisite.

Familiarity energy systems analysis programmes such as Homer, PVWatts, etc. would be an asset

Experience in planning, designing and implementing effective Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems, the logical framework approach and other strategic planning approaches, training in M&E development and implementation and/or facilitating learning-oriented analysis sessions of M&E data with multiple stakeholders, data and information analysis and analytical report writing.

Computer proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and other common software is a prerequisite.

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in written and spoken English.

Working knowledge of other regional languages and dialects (e.g. Kweyol) or UN languages is an asset

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