This assignment is to be confirmed pending funding availability , Hiring of the selected candidate will be through the commercial entity currently in course of incorporation =

 Preamble

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now and for the future. Mercy Corps Ethiopia exists to alleviate suffering and poverty by helping people build secure, productive, and sustainable livelihoods. Since 2004, we have worked in rural, peri-urban and urban areas in five regional states - Somali, Oromia, Afar, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples, Amahara, and the capital city, Addis Ababa. Our mission is to foster populations that are financially stable, healthy and nourished, and educated and informed, within a context where natural resources are accessed, shared and utilized sustainably, so people can lead productive livelihoods. Driven by local needs, our programs provide individuals, agencies and businesses with the tools and support they need to transform their lives, businesses, and communities. Our partners include government, academic institutions, development and private sector actors, civil societies, and participating public. We strive to strengthen all of these institutions in the hopes that one day they become self-reliant

Powering infrastructure in relief settings, where clinics, offices, communications towers, water pumping stations and other necessary services are commonly fuelled by diesel generators, represents a substantial economic burden for humanitarian agencies & for the businesses and households located in refugee settlements and host communities. In 2019-2021, Mercy Corps, in partnership with Shell under Shell’s Enter Energy – Ethiopia (EE-E) initiative has been exploring the feasibility of deploying and operating clean and commercially viable energy infrastructures in displacement settings and for humanitarian operations. The strategic objective was to assess the potential to develop a replicable, market-based model to provide clean, sustainable, reliable and affordable energy services for the humanitarian sector. To this end, Mercy Corps has conducted a baseline study on energy access in Jijiga, Somali Region, which has resulted in the potential for the development of a scalable, replicable model for integrated renewable electrification that would improve operational sustainability for humanitarian organizations while enabling better service delivery for people living in refugee settlements and host communities.

Mercy Corps will undertake this effort through the incorporation of an Ethiopian commercial entity and in collaboration with private sector actors to ensure sustainability of the business model proposed and with the aim to reach scale for access to energy in displacement settings for all segments of the population. For its first phase, Mercy Corps has chosen to pilot its model in the host and refugee communities of Sheder, Aw Barre District, Somali Region, as well as in various WFP and Mercy Corps facilities across the Region. The project aims at designing, funding, deploying and operating, in collaboration with the private sector under a market-based model, a 300 kWp PV-powered mini-grid in the Sheder camp, up to 4 WFP and 2 Mercy Corps facilities for captive use.

Objective of the vacancy

Within the framework of its activities, Mercy Corps is facilitating the identification of a solar PV and mini-grid engineer based in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, to be hired by and seconded to the newly created commercial entity. The expert will support the development and deployment of a 300 kWp PV-powered mini-grid in the Sheder camp, up to 4 WFP and 2 Mercy Corps facilities for captive use, all located in the Somali Region. In particular, (s)he will work closely with the international contractor selected by this initiative, while representing the interests of its employer in terms of quality assurance, facilitation of procurement, logistics, and deployment of the infrastructures.

Key tasks

The Solar PV and Mini-grid Engineer will work during the following areas:

Phase 1: Technical and financial engineering

• Facilitate the logistics of the international contractors charged of the technical and financial engineering during their field trips
• Provide insights and support regarding opportunities for national procurement of items and services, including costings and specifications
• Support the international contractors all along the engineering efforts by providing on-demand support to smoothen and accelerate the process
• Critically assess and review the quality of the engineering work, and provide alternative proposal for evaluation and discussion that best fit the context of intervention
• Validate the bills of quantities and calendars of execution
• Ensure full compliance of the proposed solutions with the applicable national standards and regulatory requirements

Phase 2: Licensing and clients’ engagement

• Support the efforts of the commercial company to file the request of licensing through regular inputs on the technical parts of the proposal
• Ensure a constant and constructive relationship with the regulatory body in charge of the issuance of the license with regards to technical discussions
• Participate actively in all technical working groups
• Engage regularly with the prospective clients, both the community of the mini-grid and WFP and Mercy Corps for stand-alone systems, in terms of capacity building and awareness raising
• Lead technical discussions with regional players and the utility whenever clarifications are requested on technical matters

Phase 3: Procurement, construction, and commissioning

• Facilitate and negotiate procurement of items and services, especially for those procured nationally
• Lead the inspection of items packed for shipping and shipping documents when needed;
• Support the processes required for export clearance of imported items and services, as well as customs clearance on arrival; follow and supervise logistics until the consignment of items to the sites; receive the items to the sites;
• Supervise constructions by the contract and ensure time and quality compliance as per contracts and legal terms; report regularly to the client about the state of advancement of works, criticalities, and propose alternative courses of actions in concertation with the EPC contractor, if necessary
• Ensure compliance with all Environmental Health & Safety and Quality Assurance requirements
• Develop commissioning checklist procedures and test methodologies in collaboration with the contractor.

Phase 4: Operations

• Work closely with the prospective operator of the infrastructures towards smooth operations and high effectiveness
• Facilitate uptake of power use by the target international agencies, the communities and the productive uses of energy by providing recommendations on technical matter
• Support operation and maintenance of the infrastructures, by improving processes and best-practices
• Carry-out inhouse technical surveys, field and site visits and monitor activities
• Organize and deliver technical development trainings to stakeholders and technicians
• Manage, monitor and develop periodic report on power system performance during the defects liability period and beyond.

Cross-cutting phase: Reporting and communication

• Ensure regular and quality reporting and communication among all parties involved
• Report regularly and constructively to the managing director of the commercial entity
• Ensure the reaching of agreed milestones and delivery of completion certificates, to allows disbursement of payments at the agreed milestones
• Support the drafting of contractual agreement among the parties

Period of execution

The assignment is expected to start on February 21^st, 2022 for the duration of 12 months

Type of contract and location of execution

This is a national contract, based in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. The selected candidate will be hired through the newly commercial entity, and Mercy Corps is only facilitating the process. Along the execution of the contract, the expert is expected to increase her/his presence at the target locations in the Somali Region, for periods going from few days to few weeks. 

Job Requirements

The ideal candidate for this position will meet the following criteria:

• Proven track record in a similar position, in Ethiopia and elsewhere in the Region
• Experience as leading engineer in at least one solar PV project in the scale of two hundred kWp with battery storage and coupling with diesel generators
• Fluency in English and Amharic; fluency in Somali is a plus
• Familiarity with the Ethiopian energy sector; experience in Somali region is a plus
• Experience in low voltage distribution network design and protection an added advantage
• Strong reporting, communication and project management skills
• Availability to be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Willingness to spend increasing periods of time in rural and remote areas of Somali region
• Ability to work with minimum supervision
• Passionate about sustainable energy and humanitarian sector
• Strong computer skills, specifically in CAD and Microsoft Office
• Analytical skills, efficient designing and implementing of processes

How to Apply

• Interested candidates should submit a complete CV highlighting the minimum qualifications and skills as per section 6 and a cover letter confirming the interest for this position, and why she/he is well fit for it via email: et-recruitment@mercycorps.org

Note: Make sure that you mention the position title in the subject line of your email application.

The deadline for the submission of offers is February 13^th, 2022