The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Project Management Specialist (Energy) serves as the Mission’s Senior Energy Advisor providing professional advice on policies and priorities across Southern Africa to leadership of the USAID/Southern Africa Regional Environment, Education and Democracy (REED) office, senior Mission management, Embassy and United States Government (USG) interagency specialists, and USAID’s Washington-based advisors and ensure close coordination with USAID’s Power Africa program and activities. They lead the design, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of agency-funded energy programs and activities across 10 countries in Southern Africa.

 

The Specialist is responsible for the overall strategic direction and management of USAID’s investments in the clean energy sector and in support of just energy transitions within relevant countries in Southern Africa. They coordinate funding, reporting, and administration with the Regional Office of Acquisition and Assistance and the Financial Management Office to ensure projects are conducted effectively and USG funds are used appropriately. They interact frequently with the Power Africa Coordinator’s office and interagency partners and play a leadership role in representing USAID to key stakeholders across the region, including government entities, regional institutions, other international donors, and private and public sector organizations, and facilitate effective thought leadership, supervision, resource management, and relationship management. The total estimated budget under the Specialist’s oversight is approximately $140 million.

The Specialist is based in the USAID/Southern Africa REED office in Pretoria, South Africa.

 

Serves as the lead for USAID’s energy programming and as a professional for the Agency’s support of the clean energy transition in Southern Africa within the USAID Mission, U.S. Embassy, Power Africa, USG interagency community, and among regional, governmental, non-governmental and private sector partners. The Specialist:

Designs and manages the implementation of contracts and/or grants in the Southern Africa regional energy portfolio, as follows:

Leads the Mission’s coordination with relevant stakeholders on energy and climate mitigation to prevent the duplication of efforts and maximize the Agency’s allocation of USG resources to enhance energy security and advance the energy transition in Southern Africa.

Given the regional nature of the position, the Specialist will be expected to travel within Southern Africa up to 50% of the time.

CCN PSCs may participate in temporary duty (TDY) travel to USAID/Washington and other Missions in order to participate in the Foreign Service National Fellowship Program described in ADS 495maa.

POSITION ELEMENTS

Job Knowledge: Demonstrated knowledge of relevant technical, financial, and policy problems and strategies in clean energy in Southern Africa is required. A thorough understanding of the technical and administrative elements of the program design, implementation, and monitoring processes is required. A strong grasp of computer applications is required. Broad knowledge of financial management and internal control processes is desirable. Knowledge of USAID development assistance program processes and practices is desirable.

 

Skills and Abilities: The Specialist must be capable of working independently on a number of tasks simultaneously with minimal supervision. Project implementation work involves the analysis of financial, administrative, economic, social, and technical factors, as well as management of complex obligation, contracting, and implementation actions and procedures. Monitoring and coordination responsibilities involve the creation of, application of, and training on reporting and management control systems, as well as analysis/interpretation of problems and advice to high level Mission management, including the Mission Director or their designate. All of these responsibilities require the Specialist to plan ahead and develop, check, analyze, interpret, and evaluate facts before work can progress. The Specialist must be able to analyze complex and technical information to make independent recommendations for USG programming and management. The Specialist will also encourage innovation in the management and use of Mission programs and resources. 

 

The Specialist must be able to identify, mobilize, and draw upon effectively the expertise of technical and managerial personnel in the Mission. They must be able to work in teams and lead teams set up for both broad and specific events and projects. In addition, the Specialist will be expected to participate actively in meetings as appropriate with the Embassy, USAID/Washington representatives, other donors, counterpart government officials, partners and technical experts, across numerous countries in the Southern Africa region. Demonstrated capability for perceptive analysis and the ability to write and speak effectively in these contexts are required skills. Ability to develop and maintain a network of technical experts and partners in energy is also necessary.

 

Post Entry Training: Training to the Specialist on USAID policies and procedures, including COR/AOR certification will be provided.

Supervision Received: The Specialist will report directly to the REED Environment and Energy Team Lead or his/her designee. 

Supervision Exercised: The Specialist supervises two CCNPSC specialists: the FSN-11 Community Development Specialist and the Energy Specialist based in Pretoria.

Available Guidelines: USAID’s specific policies and procedures which govern project design, activity management, and administrative operating policies and procedures, the Agency’s Automated Directives System (ADS), USAID Mandatory and Standard Provisions, the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and Agency International Development Acquisition Regulations (AIDAR), General Notices/Mission Orders/Mission Notices, and other federal regulations, host-government technical guidelines and policies, and USAID strategic plans, the Regional Development Cooperation Strategy (RDCS) provide guidelines for this position.

 

Exercise of Judgment: In instances not clearly covered by written guidelines, the Specialist will use her/his own well-informed judgment and understanding of the Mission’s priorities to devise suitable approaches to resolve technical, administrative, managerial and/or policy problems. Considerable judgment is required as s/he works with procurement-sensitive information and must be discrete in handling this information. Substantial judgment is used daily to provide technical opinions and guidance to USG, USAID, and host-government colleagues, to implementing partners, and while representing USAID in stakeholder forums. The Specialist will work with minimum supervision and must exercise wide and independent judgment to develop, implement, and manage assigned programs/projects/activities, in accordance with appropriate guidance and regulations. S/he must be able to analyze complex, sensitive issues and make recommendations to senior management and convey this understanding to their direct supervisees. The Specialist will also be required to follow and adhere to the Agency's Code of Ethics and Conduct.

 

Authority to Make Commitments: The Specialist provides, on behalf of USAID/Southern Africa, energy program-related information to the host country governments, other donor agencies, the private sector, academia, non-governmental organizations, the U.S. Embassy / Consulate General, and other U.S. Government agencies, located across 10 countries in Southern Africa. S/he is not authorized any independent authority to make any financial commitments or commit U.S. Government funds on behalf of the USG/USAID. S/he exercises the authority given to activity managers and AORs/CORs and may make administrative arrangements consistent with ADS guidance and Mission and REED policy. The Specialist takes actions and establishes priorities based on available guidelines and professional judgment. They seek guidance when necessary and ensure that supervisors are informed of activity and project status. Within the scope of the authority delegated, s/he may indicate to ranking counterpart and implementing partner officials that they will make a recommendation to USAID on a specific activity, issue, or problem. The Specialist oversees a portfolio valued up to $141 million.

 

Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: Contacts will be at high and working levels with senior government officials, with USAID Mission (USDH, FSN, and contract staff), with USAID-funded Personal Service Contract (PSC) and institutional contractor staff, with highest and working levels of private voluntary and non-governmental organizations, with the private sector, with other bilateral, regional and multilateral donor organizations, and with the general public. The Specialist must be able to develop and maintain these contacts. Contacts will be of a continuous nature through day-to-day meetings and periodic review sessions. Many of these contacts will be for the purpose of obtaining or providing information on program/project implementation issues. Specialist will represent REED at meetings within the Mission and with implementing partners and other stakeholders.

 

Time Expected to Reach Full Performance Level: One year.

In order to be considered for the position, an applicant must have the following minimum qualifications:

Education: Master’s degree in Energy, Environmental Science, Economics, International Law, or related field is required.

 

Prior Work Experience: Minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience in the energy and/or environment sector, at least two (2) years of which should have been working with or for a foreign government, international NGO, donor agency, regional institution, private sector institution, or bilateral or multilateral development agencies on energy sector development is required.

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

The following factors, and points for each, will be the basis for the evaluation of applications meeting the required minimum qualifications. All applications will be evaluated based on the documentation submitted with the application.

 

 

Selection Process:

 

 

●    Carol Masemola, Telephone:              (012) 452-2058

●    Heather Franklin, Telephone:             (012) 452-2028

●    Lavinia Denation, Telephone:             (012) 452-2054

●    Thabang Mothupi, Telephone:           (012) 452-2198

●    Engeline Sebego, Telephone:             (012) 452-2188

●    Odessa Sifora, Telephone:                   (012) 452-2112

●    Alicia Veldman, Telephone:                 (012) 452-2088

●    Kim Sias, Telephone:                              (012) 452-2206

●    Mary-Jane Telephone:                           (012) 452-2358

 

This position is open to South African citizens and South African permanent resident permit holders. USAID Southern Africa management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, need for continuity, and residency status in determining successful applications. Current USG employees on probationary status (i.e., within their first year of employment) are not eligible to apply.

References:

 

Three (3) references, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and e-mail contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about the applicant’s past performance and abilities. USAID reserves the right to contact an applicant’s previous employers for relevant information concerning applicant’s performance and may consider such information in its evaluation of the application.

  LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

1.      The CO will provide instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award:

a. Conditional Selection Letter.

b. Security Eligibility Requirements.

c. Medical Clearances or Statements.

Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors - Please be advised that, upon award, the contractor will be required to follow the Mission policies and/or directives from the U.S. Department of State regarding COVID-19 requirements.

 

 BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

BENEFITS - the plan includes basic salary, miscellaneous allowance, pension fund and medical aid subsidy in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan.

Every CCNPSC staff member in the Mission regardless of agency affiliation is required as a  condition of employment, to pay their taxes to the South African Government.

 

USAID regulations and policies governing CCNPSC awards are available at these sources:

 

1.      USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf

2.      Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms will be used for this contract.

 

Education: Master’s degree in Energy, Environmental Science, Economics, International Law, or related field is required.

Prior Work Experience: Minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience in the energy and/or environment sector, at least two (2) years of which should have been working with or for a foreign government, international NGO, donor agency, regional institution, private sector institution, or bilateral or multilateral development agencies on energy sector development is required.

 

Language Proficiency: Excellent written and oral communication skills in English required, level four (4). Must be able to obtain, analyze, and evaluate complex data and to prepare precise and accurate reports to various audiences. The Specialist must be able to communicate complex technical issues to diverse audiences.