Technical Assistant: Project Co-Manager

In view of the further development of its activities BTC is currently looking for a (m/f):

International Technical Assistant: Project Co-Manager – RWANDA

For the project: “Improving access to reliable on-grid electricity services for households and priority public institutions” - Belgian contribution to EARP

Ref.: RWA/12/081-1

Location: Kigali, Rwanda. He/she will work in the offices of the Energy Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA) in central Kigali, with daily visits to the offices of EWSA in the selected pilot district. Duration of the contract: 48 months Probable starting date: April 2014 Monthly salary package: between 5.214,56 euro and 7.528,21 euro (this includes the gross monthly salary and the expat benefits: hardship allowance and expat allowance). The salary is calculated, depending on the composition of the family and the number of years of relevant experience.

Project: The Indicative Cooperation Program between Belgium and Rwanda allocates a total grant envelope of 55 million euro to the energy sector in Rwanda, split over four interventions: (i) geothermal energy development-, (ii) access to energy-, (iii) feed-in-tariff- and (iv) capacity building component. This vacancy is for the access to energy component that has a total Belgian contribution of 17 million EUR and a duration of 4 years.

The general objective of the project is the provision of sufficient, reliable and affordable energy for all Rwandans. The specific objective is to improve the access to reliable on-grid electricity services for households and priority public institutions in rural Rwanda. It should be regarded as the Belgian contribution to the nationwide Electricity Access Roll-out Program (EARP), the focus remaining on the electricity grid extension with the construction of new transmission and distribution lines connected to the national electricity network. In addition, the intervention will be involved in targeted strengthening of the existing network and in several other activities aiming at increasing the sustainability of the electrification program. With the support of technical assistance, the intervention will give a special attention to the respect of harmonized quality standards to increase the sustainability, quality and security of the new installations. Resources will also be allocated for adapted development and implementation of Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and Resettlement Allocation Plan (RAP). In order to improve operation and maintenance of the network infrastructure, several specific capacity building activities will be developed and supported. Last but not least solutions to support low-income beneficiaries to afford the electricity connection will be tested in the intervention area. The intervention will be executed in joint responsibility between the Rwandan Energy Agency (previously EWSA) and the Belgian Development Agency (BTC). For the project, the key members of the management unit are: • An EWSA appointed Director of Intervention (DI), acting as a sponsor and as an authorizing officer for the Rwandan side for all scope and technical matters, executed in joint responsibility. • An EWSA appointed Project Manager (PM), acting as a day-to-day project manager and project focal person. Given the DI regular tasks and responsibilities, it is anticipated that this intervention will need a full time manager accountable for EWSA, acting as a deputy Director of Intervention. • A BTC appointed Project Co-Manager, acting as contract manager and authorizing officer for the Belgian side for all administrative, procurement and financial matters executed in joint responsibility. • A BTC appointed Power network International Technical Assistant (ITA) in charge of assuring coherence with activities. This person will be acting as authorizing officer for the Belgian side for technical, content and quality matters. • A BTC appointed Responsible for Administration and Finance and Procurement (RAF), delegate for all administrative, procurement and financial matters executed in joint responsibility.

Function: The joint responsibilities of the project co-manager will include (but not necessarily be limited to) the following areas: • Manage, organise, coordinate and supervise the implementation of project activities in accordance with the approved work plans; • Support EARP relevant staff through coaching and mentoring; • Coordinate the project staff in joint responsibility with the EARP project manager; • Ensure that procurement plans are prepared, implemented and updated from time to time as required; • Coordinate the preparation, implementation and revision of work plans and budget of the project; • Ensuring that the baseline is performed at the beginning of the project; • Ensuring that project activities are related to the agreed performance indicators to measure results; • Ensuring that all contracting, procurement, disbursements and financial management functions at all level of the project are carried out in accordance with established rules and regulations; • Carrying out of periodic checks of financial Records and physical evidence of expenditures; • Submission of appropriate justification (financial reports, bank reconciliation statements and other reasonable documentation); • Ensure that project reports are prepared including the Financial, physical progress, safeguards and environmental, mid-term review reports and any other report that may be required; • Ensure that construction works under the project are executed as planned; • Contribute to the preparation of financial and procurement planning and budgeted work plans; • Establish and maintain good working relationships with project participants, counterpart agencies, BTC Capacity Building intervention, donors and other relevant organizations and government agencies; • Share information about the project with other organizations and agencies as needed; • Liaises and co-ordinates project activities with other relevant technical assistance projects; • Attend and prepare the Project Steering Committee (PSC) meetings on a regular basis.

Profile: • University degree in Engineering, Finance, Economics, or other related field; • At least 10 years of experience in program or project management (8 of which he/she has managed programs or projects in the field of infrastructure) is an advantage; • Proven experience in project management in international environment (planning, administration, budget management,…); • Experience with Government procedures, an experience in Rwanda is an added advantage; • Experience in rural electrification projects is an added value; • Strong managerial and supervisory skills, tact and negotiating skills; • Sound computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office products; • Proven ability to write in a clear and concise manner and effective oral communication skills; • Strong interpersonal skills, ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with sensitive people and with respect for diversity; • Sensitivity to socio-environmental issues; • Fluent in English, knowledge in French is an added value.

How to apply:

Interested?

Please apply no later than January 12th 2014, through our website www.btcctb.org. Use our Standard CV and a letter of motivation to apply. You can find the model of our Standard CV on the Jobs page of our website. If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at +32 (0)2/505 18 65.