Senior Technical Advisor Energy to National Treasury

Programme: South African – German Energy Programme (SAGEN)

Reports to: Programme Manager - SAGEN

Duration: Until 31 December 2024

BACKGROUND

Change is accelerating within power systems across the world. The main factors driving this transformation include the economic and political drive towards low-cost clean energy solutions, the acceleration of decentralised power generation technologies, increased digitalisation, and energy efficiency reaching across entire power systems. These changes are resulting in a structural shift in the way power systems and markets are set up and operated.

The South African-German Energy Programme (SAGEN) collaborates with South African partners to manage this energy transition with a focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency. SAGEN is funded by the German government and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in cooperation with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), Eskom and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) under the government-to-government coordination of National Treasury (NT).

SAGEN’s support includes the following fields of activity towards the transformation of the South African energy sector:

  • Electricity Sector Policy and Regulation and Power Sector Reform.
  • Capacity Building and Technology Innovation.
  • Power System Planning and Operation.
  • Embedded Generation in Distribution Networks.
  • Municipal Energy Management.

ABOUT THE POSITION

SAGEN is looking to fill a Senior Technical Advisor: Energy position to be seconded to the National Treasury Cities Support Programme (NT CSP) to inter alia manage and implement energy related projects and activities in particular related to sustainable municipal energy businesses.

The successful candidate will combine excellent interpersonal skills and technical (including regulatory) know-how with a strong track record of project management in a fast-paced and results-orientated environment. Joining the NT CSP team as secondee of GIZ SAGEN in the National Treasury’s Pretoria office, you will:

  • assist National Treasury to support the transition to sustainability within the metro and broader electricity distribution sector;
  • be responsible for providing technical assistance and for implementation of the projects in the energy workstream under the NT CSP’s Climate and Sustainability Component;
  • ensure the successful completion and project management of existing NT CSP projects, the conceptual design and implementation of new projects and a broad range of strategic support to NT CSP related to the energy sector; and
  • manage and maintain the relationship and partnership between NT CSP and GIZ SAGEN and actively linking the SAGEN programme to the needs of the relevant units in National Treasury.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

The Senior Technical Advisor: Energy is required to undertake and be responsible for inter alia the following tasks:

  • Lead and manage the sustainable municipal energy projects in the National Treasury Cities Support Programme.
  • Support intergovernmental coordination to address policy issues, including electricity sector regulatory reform and affecting sustainable energy at an electricity distribution level (metros). This includes supporting coordination, engagement and input, within National Treasury, with other government departments and key stakeholders, with external programmes and initiatives in support of power sector reform and a sustainable energy transition.
  • Facilitate and assist in the coordination and where necessary strengthening of metro input in national policy processes, convening meetings and building on/complementing existing platforms and fora in the municipal energy sector.
  • Provide and manage the delivery of technical assistance at city level, in response to metro requests, including on new industry business models in the metro energy sector, on city renewable energy capital projects, and other city initiatives in support of a managed transition to diversified energy sources within a transitioning energy sector.
  • Coordinate and facilitate alignment and collaboration on revenue management towards enabling more resilient metros including by providing and managing the delivery of technical assistance on the application of cost of supply studies to inform cost-reflective tariffs, with quality assurance, direction and oversight from relevant units within National Treasury.
  • Conceptualising and drafting papers, notes, memos, presentations and other relevant documentation and information regarding the sustainability of municipalities.
  • Proactively and independently identify strategic support and interventions required by National Treasury and facilitating the implementation of such support and interventions.
  • Play an active link and balance the different objectives and outputs of both the GIZ SAGEN programme and National Treasury whilst cooperating with each organisation and successfully implementing various energy projects.
  • Plan, implement and coordinate activities with other projects and diverse institutions and actively identify interfaces and synergies.
  • Coordinate, align with and manage other potential partner initiatives to enhance alignment e.g. IFC, ICLEI, DBSA.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Suitable candidates should apply by submitting:

A motivation letter (max. 2 pages) detailing why they should be the preferred candidate and the value they will bring to the work of SAGEN and the NT CSP.

A detailed CV indicating their nationality.

Applications should be submitted to:  recruit-pretoria@giz.de with subject line

“Application for Senior Technical Advisor Energy to National Treasury under the South African – German Energy Programme (SAGEN)” for the attention of Head of HR.

Closing date for applications: 14 October 2022.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Applications without a motivation letter will not be considered!