POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Title: Renewable Energy (RE) Specialist
Position Classification: Long-Term, Full-Time
Location: Tunis, Tunisia
Background: The USAID Power Tunisia Program (Power Tunisia) seeks to advance Tunisia’s energy security and resilience by providing technical assistance and facilitating investment funding for the deployment of clean energy technologies resulting in the Program’s three core objectives:
- Increased clean energy generation capacity
- Reduced energy demand and consumption
- Lower CO2 emissions
Position Overview: Support the Renewable Energy (RE) team in the successful planning and implementation for all large and medium scale RE projects supported under the program. The RE Specialist supports Power Tunisia’s efforts to identify and source RE project opportunities with Tunisian businesses. He/she will engage potential private sector partners by articulating PT’s value proposition and provide advisory support to guide Tunisian businesses to co-develop RE projects that are eligible for Power Tunisia Activity Funds.
Detailed Responsibilities: The Employee shall perform the following general functions:
- Support in engaging Tunisian stakeholders in increasing awareness and understanding of Power Tunisia’s RE program, including supporting the development of promotional/awareness materials and playing a lead role in delivering virtual and in-person educational seminars, workshops, roundtables where businesses can learn the benefits of RE systems.
- Support in the identification of businesses in primary sectors and geographies where there is a high potential for adoption of RE projects.
- Leverage existing networks and knowledge of Tunisian industries and businesses, source and identify potential RE partners for self-consumption projects and pilots.
- Support in the design of incentives and solutions including rebates, co-investments, and in-kind contributions for RE projects, equipment, and retrofits for manufacturers and/or commercial buildings.
- Support the design of and facilitate support for potential BESS, floating solar, and agrisolar pilots.
- Provide targeted consulting advisory services to selected partners on business case development and modeling to determine optimal RE project approach and investment. • Support pipeline origination and market intel sourcing to identify suitable IPP and self consumption projects for Power Tunisia’s pipeline.
- Liaise closely with professional associations, banks, donor organizations, IFIs and other stakeholders to establish and maintain relationships; identify market barriers and needs; and build solutions for technical assistance and financing schemes.
- Work closely with private sector developers, financial institutions and private investors, donor organizations, and other stakeholders in the energy sector ecosystem to build capacity and provide independent advice on issues affecting pending and potential transactions.
- Support or facilitate project design documentation review, drafting scopes of work, and completing compliance checklists.
- Collaborate with Power Tunisia Regional Managers to engage and build relationships with Tunisian businesses on the ground in PT’s selected geographic regions.
- Monitor delivery of RE projects receiving support from Power Tunisia Activity Fund and support the development projects from inception to completion.
- Work with other project technical staff to develop and maintain investment project pipeline, highlighting barriers to project development and opportunities for advancement.
- Partner with internal and external resources to gather performance data necessary to track Power Tunisia’s progress related to financing mobilized and clean generation supported, among other indicators.
- Other duties as assigned.
Supervisor and Reporting Responsibilities: For all routine responsibilities and duties, either directly or indirectly related to the Position description, the Employee shall report directly to, and be supervised by the position of Sr. RE Self-Consumption Specialist. The Employee’s Supervisor may change from time to time on an ad hoc or temporary basis depending on the needs of the Project.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in engineering, or other relevant degree (Master’s preferred)
- Minimum 5-7 years of professional experience in RE development and implementation or solar PV installation
- Good existing knowledge of VRE integration’s best practices, technical standards as well as familiarity with STEG’s regulations
- Demonstrated proficiency in developing new financial and investment mechanisms for clean energy projects based on best international practice
- Previous experience in Tunisian solar PV market under self-consumption regime with a good understanding of the economics of PV projects
- Knowledge of simulation tools such as PVsyst, PVsol, HOMER, PROFIT PV / Equivalent software’s.
- Familiarity with Tunisian industries, businesses, and real estate developers and owners who can benefit from installed RE systems
- Experience working with the private sector, solar PV companies, and financial institutions to facilitate projects under self-consumption regime , and project developers
- Previous experience designing and delivering outreach and training programs preferred • Knowledge of Government of Tunisia laws, rules and procedures with respect to the development of projects by self-producers and/or IPPs
- Knowledge of project and balance sheet finance as well as risk mitigation tools and experience support of closing IPP transactions
- Comfort with developing business presentations, financial models, structuring deals (term sheets) and hands on end-to-end experience of leading the overall investment / partnership process is essential
- Strong individual initiative, including the ability to take ownership of work and work product, motivate others to produce strong work product and solve problems
- Experience in Tunisia required; experience in other MENA countries preferred
- Prior experience on a donor-funded energy sector project delivery. USAID-funded project preferred
- Fluent in French and Arabic required
- Fluent in English (both oral and written) preferred
Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV with the Cover Letter in English to powertunisiarecruitment@powertunisia.com by August 31, 2024. Please include three references at the bottom of your CV. Note: In the subject line please indicate the position title to which you are applying.