Senior Project Officer

Senior Project Officer (Energy)

Reference Number: 240489
Position Level: NS 4
Department: Sectors Group
Division: Energy Sector Office
Location: Nepal Resident Mission
Closing Date: Friday, August 9, 2024 11:59 p.m. (2359 Manila Time, 0800 GMT)

Join Our Mission to Foster Prosperity in Asia

Are you ready to make a lasting impact on the future of Asia and be a catalyst for positive change? We are thrilled to offer a unique opportunity to become an important part of the prestigious Asian Development Bank (ADB). At ADB, our mission is simple yet powerful: to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationship

The position of Senior Project Officer is assigned to the Energy Sector Office (SG-ENE) within the Sectors Group (SG). SG aims to deliver impactful sector strategy, initiatives, and integrated solutions that advance ADB’s strategic agenda in the region and with ADB’s clients. The SG, which is comprised of seven sector offices, supports the delivery of sovereign, nonsovereign, and advisory operations; delivers knowledge services; supports regional departments (RD) and resident missions (RM) in engaging with developing member countries (DMCs); and ensures ADB’s technical leadership externally and internally.

SG-ENE leads ADB’s energy sector operations. The office manages policy development, oversight of strategy implementation, knowledge management, budget management, project quality assurance, sector analytic work, and loan and technical assistance (TA) processing and administration in the energy sector. SG-ENE is also responsible for implementing an ADB corporate initiative: the Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM) and partnering with the G7 countries on the G7-led Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) programs, in select countries.

You will be based at our Nepal Resident Mission in Kathmandu.

You will have a primary reporting to the designated International Staff or Director, SG-ENE and a matrixed reporting to Country Director, NRM . You may oversee administrative staff.

Your Role

As a Senior Project Officer (Energy), you will actively contribute to the Resident Mission (RM) by supporting or leading loan/Technical Assistance (TA) processing and administration, portfolio management, sector work, and other general sector activities, with focus on energy and related sectors, including public and private sector operations. Undertake assigned responsibilities professionally using substantial and diverse experience, undertake a variety of assignments, deliver knowledge product, and generally work with limited supervision. Contribute independently to NRM by covering all or a combination of the following functions in energy and related sectors, taking the lead role in the processing and administration of assigned loans & TAs, under guidance of Country Director/Sector Director and international sector specialists in NRM and/or ADB headquarters.

You will:

• Actively participate in processing and fact-finding missions as mission member or co-team leader, including review of technical designs and cost estimates, liaison with government officials, data and project costing, procurement packaging and related technical issues.
• Where assigned to assume the lead role in the processing and administration of specific loans and TAs, actively take initiative and responsibility to engage with RM, HQ and field offices of ADB, Government agencies, development partners (DPs), private sector partners, and other stakeholders to facilitate the successful formulation, processing, administration and monitoring of ADB-financed loan and TA projects.
• Provide team leadership (where assigned as lead) by facilitating work planning, delivery and review with the team.
• Monitor the progress of assigned projects and prepare project performance reports.
• Prepare and update forecasts of contract awards & disbursements, identifying factors responsible for shortfalls and expediting achievement of target levels where possible. Identify issues and take actions to address them through interactions with executing agencies (EAs), contractors, consultants, and project beneficiaries;
• prepare measures to address the issues and implement the measures.
• Prepare internal procurement papers, review of procurement documents including draft technical designs and cost estimates and papers for extension of loan closing dates, reallocation of loan proceeds, changes in scope and implementation arrangements, and other project administration tasks.
• Provide advice to government ministries, executing agencies (EAs) and sector entities on ADB guidelines on procurement, recruitment of consultants,
• preparation of tender documents, etc. to ensure effective implementation. Resolve complex discussions between EA/IA, government agencies, consultants, and contractors, especially during project administration.
• Use consultative approaches and strong communication tools to fully understand and respond respectfully to client needs.
• Conduct analyses using relevant best practices to support innovative design or implementation of solutions and evaluation of risks. Try innovative approaches to face new situations or challenges, and provide support for new policies, systems and processes.
• Identify, implement, and disseminate solutions to solve recurrent implementation and project administration challenges.
• Assist EAs in the areas listed above for project administered by various sector divisions in the HQ.
• Prepare Project Completion Reports and TA completion Reports as assigned.
• Support or participate in Project Review or Country Portfolio Review missions as a mission member when required.
• Provide support for policy dialogues with government on policy matters and institutional issues.
• Maintain close cooperation with other DPs and undertake consultations with them, especially in areas relating to donor coordination and harmonization in sector work.
• Contribute to sector work in the field by assisting in conducting research, updating information on the assigned sector, analyzing financial, institutional or economics uses, and preparing reports on the subjects. Capture and utilize diverse knowledge sources to contribute to advanced knowledge and experience.
• Assist in the preparation of sector assessments within the context of development aid effectiveness and national sector strategy to be utilized for programming purposes.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge base of future Government investment plans and approval processes, institutional structure and policies relevant to the assigned sectors.
• Prepare inputs for sector database for portfolio management.
• Support the preparation or updating of sector knowledge management plan for NRM, and preparation and dissemination knowledge products as per the plan.
• Help to organize, contribute to, support, and participate in meetings, conferences, seminars, and workshops.
• Organize and conduct training workshops for EAs in areas relating to procurement and project administration/management.
• Mentor junior staff to improve their individual performance and development.
• Perform other duties that may be assigned as reflected in the incumbent’s workplan.

Qualifications

You will need:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, preferably in electrical engineering; master’s degree or equivalent would be preferred.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in project management and implementation of energy and related sectors, and at least 5 years of supervisory experience in the energy sector.
• Experience & knowledge of various stages of the project cycle (project planning / feasibility analysis / detailed design / project implementation / construction supervision / contract management) is desirable.
• Sound knowledge of government administrative systems and procedures.
• Good knowledge on private sector operations in the energy infrastructure, including public private partnership, and associated financial structuring of investment projects and procedures for identification, planning, implementation, and operations.
• Familiarity with accepted best practices of procurement and disbursement processes.
• Effective report-writing and communication skills in English.
• Ability to mentor junior National Staff (NS) and Administrative Staff (AS) to facilitate work planning, delivery and quality review.
• Ability to liaise and work effectively with government officials within own work location.
• Ability to work collaboratively with teams as a constructive team member.
• Strong oral and written communications skills.
• Please refer to the link for ADB Competency Framework for NS4.

Benefits

ADB offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. The salary will be based on ADB’s standards and comparator markets, taking into account your qualifications and experience.

•  Paid leave (including parental)
• Medical and health benefits
• Life and other insurance plans
•  Staff development
• Retirement plan
• Housing and education allowance (if applicable)

Additional Information

This is a fixed term appointment with option to renew for an initial period of three (3) years following Section 3.1 (b) of Administrative Order No. 2.01 (“Recruitment and Appointment’). This appointment is not convertible to a regular appointment. It may be extended on an exceptional basis for a further fixed period at the option of ADB. This appointment is open to internal and external applicants.

This vacancy is a local staff position. It is open only to nationals and residents of Nepal.

About Us

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 68 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

ADB only hires nationals of its 68 members.

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