Utility Electrification Strengthening Advisor

Job Title:Utility Electrification Strengthening Advisor

Location:South Africa Home Office

Job Summary and Description:

Conducts research in complex, high impact technical or scientific fields.

Key Responsibilities and Requirements:

-Works independently on technical activities without direct supervision.

-Demonstrates responsibility for highly specialized technical objectives or problems where the relationships between cause and effect are difficult to establish and little or no precedence exists, and the use of creative and imaginative thinking is required.

-Assumes responsibility for highly specialized technical objectives or problems where the relationships between cause and effect are difficult to establish and little or no precedence exists, and the use of creative and imaginative thinking is required.

-Maintains familiarity with the progress and problems in assigned technical areas and support identification of gaps.

-Provides high-level engineering efforts to support requirements in development and design and provides guidance to junior staff.

-Provides input into configuration management and documentation for engineer related projects.

-Acts as technical specialist for projects or project tasks.

Additional Requirements:

-Has established relationships with primary advisors to a research area.

-Works alongside EPRI sales staff in Member Services and EPRI International to support member/client needs.

-Effectively communicates complex strategies and results, expressing thoughts clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing, to subject matter experts, program members and advisors.

-Adjusts communication content and format to capture attention and meet the needs of the intended audience through guidelines, reports, meetings, webcasts, workshops and conferences.

-Regularly communicates and coordinates work activities across programs and sectors.

-May provide oversight of a project team to assure technical and financial milestones are met.

-Organizes the external and interdepartmental activities ensuring completion of the project/product on schedule and within budget.

-Leads the planning and execution of complex project work within the technical department to meet member/client objectives; prepares and presents research reports.

-Significant customer interface component with ability to lead research programs.

-Manages medium level projects.

-Influences project teams in the engineering aspects of the technical work.

-Regularly interfacing and coordinating with national and international technical networks (e.g, manufacturers, consultants, academia and research organizations).

-Leads proposal efforts and new promotional work.

-Develops research or services opportunities of value to EPRI members that fit EPRI’s mission and capabilities. This will include solving customer problems, producing insights and information vital to the members, and delivering information in a manner that members and customers can and will apply.

-Continues to provide guidance and mentorship to junior staff.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in a technical field or equivalent experience required.

Additional Job Information:

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) International seeks a Utility Strengthening Advisor for the USAID Empower Southern Africa (ESA) Program funded by Power Africa. The primary purpose of ESA is to increase the availability of, access to, and use of affordable, reliable, sustainable and clean energy in Southern Africa in order to reach measurable development outcomes. Measurable development outcomes include economic growth, reducing poverty, improving livelihoods, and increasing inclusive access to electricity-enabled services in such areas as health, education, sanitation and food security.

This position will be based in Pretoria, South Africa. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people and communities in Southern Africa. This position will support ESA’s first objective (Ending Energy Poverty) which aims to increase access to affordable, reliable energy to enhance economic activity and living standards in Southern Africa through technical assistance and support to utilities across the region.

Responsibilities include:

• Scan global developments in technology approaches to on grid and off grid utility strengthening and expansion for new customers.

• Work with technology organizations to develop solutions needed to improve affordable, clean energy access in Southern Africa. Bring best practice into ESA.

• Stay abreast of Environment, Social and Governance trends, regulatory shifts, and industry best practices, particularly those relevant to renewable power generation.

• Develop, implement, and oversee Utility Strengthening strategies aligned with international standards, local regulations, and ESA objectives.

• Develop and execute risk management plans to mitigate any adverse environmental or social impacts, integrating measures to safeguard biodiversity, water resources, and community well-being.

• Provide technical support to energy utilities to improve their ability to deliver sustainable energy solutions to communities. This will include planning, design, procurement support, project management and subsequent maintenance, tariff, repair and operational support.

• Provide training and guidance to project teams and relevant utility stakeholders, fostering a culture of responsibility and awareness.

• Supervise short-term consultants working on ESA activities.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Objective 1, Ending Energy Poverty, Technical Lead including travel to ESA countries if required in the fulfillment of these responsibilities.

The position will ideally be based in Pretoria.

EPRI is committed to complying with the regulatory framework governing export control, consisting of international treaties, U.S. laws, regulations and trade sanctions, and where applicable, foreign laws governing export control. These include the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Part 810 nuclear export regulations, and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). It is a critical requirement of this role that the successful candidate will have to work with export-controlled technology / information. As a result, prior to applying for this role, please ensure you satisfy yourself as to your ability to access such export-controlled technology / information without further authorization from government.

REQ-3357

Remote/Remotely/Tele/Telecommute/From home