Senior Officer (Off-Grid Solar) at SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

Job Description

About the Project

To achieve Vision 2030 and the target of universal access by 2020, the Government of Kenya (GoK) seeks to close the access gap by providing electricity services to remote, underserved areas of the country. With US$150 million of financing from The World Bank, the GoK intends to deliver the Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project for Underserved Counties (K-OSAP), to support the use of solar technology to drive electrification of households, enterprises, community facilities, and water pumps.

SNV will be tendering for the Facilities Manager role for “Component 2: Stand-alone Solar Systems and Clean Cooking Solutions for Households”, anticipated to start in September, 2018 and to run for 4 years and 9 months. SNV Kenya is seeking qualified candidates for the position of “Senior Officer, Off-grid Solar solutions”.

Overview of the Position

You will provide technical assistance to the project, advice on solar electricity technologies and management of the solar RBF. You will ensure timely project implementation and value for money in achieving the project development objectives in fourteen (14) underserved counties namely Turkana, Samburu, West Pokot, Isiolo, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi, Kwale, Taita Taveta and Narok in six (6) phases.

Responsibilities

The Senior Officer, off-grid solar solutions will report to and support the Project Manager to implement the off-grid solutions sub component by:

• Provide support and advice on the deployment of solar home systems
• Ensuring the formulation of tendering procedures and drafting of all document requirements to ensure the conclusion of successful bidding and negotiations of the solar systems;
• Preparation of Terms of Reference for the solar stand-alone systems;
• Working with others to ensure that appropriate designs and size of solar systems.
• Ensuring that the outputs which are to arise from the project are of high quality and meet the stated objectives;
• Providing technical advice at the planning, management and implementation stages;
• Liaising with global scientific and technical community and feed the project with the latest information and data on relevant technologies and experience;
• Participating in project meetings and providing inputs on the quality, quantity and timeliness of progress against the work plan;
• Providing inputs for the preparation of Progress Reports, Annual Project Reports and Project Implementation Reviews;
• Ensuring capacity building of counterparts and other local staff to ensure effective skills and technology transfer;
• Ensuring proper and speedy implementation of the project by ensuring agreed and contracted technical designs, specifications and standards comply and are in accordance with sound engineering practice;
• Offering advice on suitability of the proposed business model for the solar systems ;
• Documenting the lessons learnt in the implementation of the project and making recommendations for future interventions;
• Any other duties as may be assigned by the Project ManagerQualifications

Candidate profile

Advanced degree in finance, economics, business administration, international development or related field

Experience:

• A minimum of three years’ experience in development, implementation and management of results-based financing (RBF) or other grant-oriented transactions
• A minimum of three years’ experience in the off-grid solar market in Sub Saharan Africa, ideally including PAYG solar
• Understanding of success factors of for-profit businesses
• Design and management of monitoring and evaluation processes

Additional Information

Desired start date:

September 2018

Duration of contract:

Two (2) years, with possibility of contract extension subject to satisfactory performance.