Energy Advisor

Jerusalem Office – UNOPS Project Management and Infrastructure Centre of Excellence

Since the opening of the Jerusalem Office in 2006, UNOPS has significantly strengthened its operations in Palestine. Our expert knowledge, skills and management systems contribute to the sustainable development of public infrastructure in Gaza and the West Bank, including Area C and East Jerusalem.

In recognition of its ability to affect and lead positive change, the Jerusalem Office  has been named the UNOPS Project Management and Infrastructure Centre of Excellence.

The Jerusalem Office is the first UN office to receive the Level 4 P3M3 Maturity Model certification in project management by APMG. This certification demonstrates the well-structured, standardized and defined project management processes and methodologies applied to projects, generating the best results desired by our partners.

This achievement is part of a broader agenda to increase the Office’s impact on development projects, by improving our services and adding value to the outcomes of our partners’ works. The office has benchmarked its capabilities against international industry level standards and through this has achieved several prestigious certifications, including ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety), ISO 14001 (Environment Management) and Level 4 P3M3.

The Office of the Quartet (OQ or Office) focuses on increasing Palestinian economic and institutional development and empowerment as a support towards achieving a two-state solution. It plays a catalytic role in advancing work that is of a potentially transformative nature. 

The Office works with a range of actors, including the Palestinian and Israeli parties, the international community and the private sector to help realize progress in five key sectors: energy, water, telecommunications, rule of law and movement and trade.  Progress in each of these sectors benefits Palestinians and provides the foundation for economic growth. 

This is accomplished in the following five ways: 

1. Advocating for sector-wide strategies and solutions along with key partners (as reflected in the OQ’s biannual reports to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee); 

2. Playing a catalytic role in furthering key projects which have a multiplier effect and which are essential to support private sector growth;

3. Acting as a neutral broker between the parties;

4. Identifying solutions to major challenges in each sector that are technically, financially and legally feasible; 

5. Facilitating meaningful progress by convening, informing, supporting and mobilizing key stakeholders to achieve progress on the ground. This is accomplished with other bodies that also play a convening role, such as UNSCO, the Netherlands, Norway, the World Bank and the Local Aid Coordination Secretariat.

Under the overall supervision and direction from the Director of Energy, the Advisor will be responsible for the following areas:

1. Supporting the Director of Energy with team management

2. Supporting the implementation of current OQ-led projects by advising the Director of Energy on project management strategies, developing economic evaluations, advising on engineering reviews, risk identification and management, among other activities.

3. Supporting  the Director of Energy on strategies for developing and implementing new energy sector initiatives by providing technical, engineering, commercial, and economic analyses.

4. Supporting coordinated efforts between the Palestinian Energy Authority (PENRA), donors and the international community to ensure they make an effective contribution to the development of the electricity sector

5. Preparing briefing notes, key messages, and analytic products to support the Director of Energy’s engagements at the ministerial and senior international stakeholder level.

6. Developing and maintaining relations with junior and intermediate level stakeholders in the energy sector in the public, private, and international development sectors.

7. Advising the Director of Energy on project finances, including drafting the energy team annual budget, anticipating financial issues, and proposing strategies to manage unexpected financial challenges

8. Drafting project proposals to contribute to fundraising efforts 

9. Managing the Energy Team’s project managers and interns

10. Providing general office support 

11. Serving as the Officer in Charge for the Energy Team in the absence of the Director of Energy

12. Lead on internal cross-sectoral engagements for the energy team within the OQ

The work is of a highly confidential nature and the selected candidate must maintain the highest standards of confidentiality.

The Advisor will be responsible for delivering the following:

Project Management and Delivery:

1. Work closely with Energy Team project managers to support timely delivery of project workstreams and ensure quality of work streams before delivering to the Director of Energy.

2. Support Director of Energy’s efforts on the adaptation of project strategy in response to changing information.

3. Help ensure that the project managers and energy team members deliver expected results.

4. Provide engineering and economic inputs to help advance the energy team projects.

5. Advise the Director of Energy on issues that may impact the achievement of project outcomes.

Advisory Role

1. Produce engineering and economic analyses to advise the Director of Energy on setting the overall energy team project portfolio.

2. Convert technical information, analyses, and recommendations into briefs/summaries to advise the Director of Energy on project implementation and team strategy.

3. Propose stakeholder engagement strategies to the Director of Energy to support the energy team objectives

Stakeholder Management:

1. Support the Director of Energy with overall stakeholder management.

2. Work on expanding our existing network of stakeholders to support efficient coordination with key players in the energy sector. 

Communication and Outreach:

1.   Meet with internal and external stakeholders regularly to discuss OQ work and support the Director of Energy’s work to agree and coordinate outputs or areas of cooperation, in line with the agreed project strategy.

2.   Ensure preparation of a range of written communication documents (such as reports, letters, emails, and presentations) for internal and external project stakeholders as needed.

Management:

1. Support the Director of Energy with overall team management and development (e.g. drafting individual team member feedback, hold development discussions, etc.)

2. Manage the day-to-day work of the Energy Team’s project managers and energy team members (e.g. one-to-one engagements, providing direction on project development and implementation, etc.).

3. Provide feedback to project managers and escalate issues which require action or decision from the Director of Energy.

4. 1. Support project managers in day-to-day delivery of project and office outputs.

   2. Support the Director of Energy’s efforts on the development of Energy Team strategy and other cross-cutting work streams. 

   Fund raising and donor liaison: 

   1. Ensure timely reporting to Energy Team donors.

   2. Support all aspects of project financing.

   3. Draft project proposals and fundraising strategies and ensure timely delivery to the standard required by the Director of Energy.

   
   

   All these deliverables are to be reached in close coordination and cooperation with the wider OQ team and under the leadership of the Director of Energy.

   
   

At least 5 years’ experience working for international organizations, government or the private sector.

At least 5 years of experience in the energy sector

At least 5 years of demonstrated ability to both write & present high-quality documents/presentations

• Highly skilled in stakeholder management: Customer-orientation and sound judgment; ability to consistently demonstrate a professional manner in dealing with individuals at all levels, both internal and external to the organisation is highly desired. 

• Strong sectoral knowledge: Deep understanding of international energy markets and energy project experience and international relations; experience in working for international organizations or private sector with a focus on energy is required.    

• Highly skilled in research and analysis: Very strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills; keen attention to detail and data accuracy is highly desired.

• Excellent communication skills: Strong research and writing ability; skilled in creating knowledge products such as policy briefs, papers, guidance notes and other pieces directed at multiple audiences is required.

• Strong team player: Ability to work independently and in teams; ability to interact with high-level individuals across a range of organisations; flexible as tasks and priorities shift; respect and proven ability to work and strive in a multicultural environment is highly desired.

• Project management: Strong project management skills across the whole spectrum of skills required to effectively manage a project (from timely execution through to identifying red flags, strong coordination skills etc) is highly desired

• Other: Demonstrated competence with using standard office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.). Knowledge in financial projects and managing project finances is an asset. 

• Excellent command of written and spoken English.

• Knowledge of Arabic and/or Hebrew is an asset.

Contract type: International ICA 2

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.