Energy Engineer at European Investment Bank (EIB)

PURPOSE

• The Energy Engineer will assist in EIB operations in Kenya as well as the other countries covered by the hub (notably East and Southern Africa). She/he will have the opportunity to make a substantial contribution to the development, assessment, and implementation of the wide range of EIB activities in the Region. The Energy Engineer will work on energy projects in the following sub-sectors: electricity transmission/distribution networks; renewable energy including wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and hydro; low carbon energy production and supply; energy storage; and energy efficiency.

OPERATING NETWORK

• The Energy Engineer will be based in the EIB’s Regional Hub in Nairobi. S/he will report directly to the Head of the ELNET Division of the Energy Department of the Projects Directorate Luxembourg and work closely with relevant internal stakeholders, other professional staff of the Department, as well as the Global Directorate and other colleagues in the Nairobi office. The duties will be performed in close cooperation with the EIB’s operational and technical departments concerned, including those based at the Headquarters in Luxembourg. S/he will report also to the Head of the Nairobi Hub for administrative and institutional matters.
• Under the supervision of the Luxembourg based “project team leaders”, the Energy Engineer will work across the whole project cycle, with a focus on implementation and monitoring, but also involvement in origination and structuring as well as project implementation advisory support.
• The successful candidate must be prepared to travel extensively within the region covered by the Regional Hub in Nairobi and possibly other countries in the wider region in cooperation to the corresponding EIB Regional Offices.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Support EIB operational staff responsible for upstream business development, in particular vetting the eligibility of projects for EIB financing (including compliance with the EIB’s procurement requirements).
• Represent the EIB at national and regional events in coordination with Headquarters and the Nairobi Head of Hub, for example regular sector meetings, conferences, or meetings with DFIs.
• Analyse the technical, social, and environmental aspects of projects, including compliance with EU and EIB environmental, social, gender and procurement policies.
• Interact with project promoters, in close cooperation and with full involvement of the operational departments concerned; attend project progress meetings as required and prepare meeting reports.
• Monitor procurement processes for the Bank; assist EIB project teams and project promoters with the preparation and review of procurement-related documents.
• Monitor project implementation, including, as appropriate, coordination with other co-financiers.
• Assist project promoters with the compliance of reporting obligations towards the EIB.
• Initiate, plan, and manage Technical Assistance operations involving the services of external consultants.
• Build and maintain relations as appropriate with key external parties (e.g. Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), government representatives, local authorities, other institutions, etc.).

QUALIFICATIONS

• University degree (minimum Bachelor’s degree) in a relevant technical discipline; a post-graduate degree would be an advantage and a multidisciplinary background, including cost benefit analysis skills, would be an asset.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience with planning and implementation of energy projects; multi-country working experience would be an advantage.
• Experience with evaluating proposals to finance energy projects is an advantage.
• Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English, with good command of French being an advantage.
• Good interpersonal, team-working and communication skills.
• Good analytical and reasoning skills, with capacity to provide sound judgement concerning the issues in her/his areas of responsibility.
• Clear and concise oral and written expression.
• Ability to operate in international environments; experience with other International Financing Institutions will be an advantage.
• Capacity to plan and organise his/her work and to coordinate with other team members.
• Results-oriented and capacity to work under pressure.