Senior Hydropower Specialist

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

The Infrastructure Practice Group

Globally, one billion people live more than 2 kilometers from all-weather roads, 685 million people lack electricity, and nearly 4 billion people lack internet access.  Access to basic infrastructure services is critical for creating economic opportunities for the poor.  The Infrastructure (INF) Vice Presidency within the World Bank is charged with developing sustainable solutions to help close infrastructure gaps in developing and emerging economies.  It currently consists of four global departments: Energy & Extractives (EEX); Transport (TRA); Urban, Resilience and Land (URL), and Global Infrastructure Finance Department.  It oversees the Bank’s work across energy and transport sectors, urban development, as well as efforts to promote energy transition, low-carbon transportation, livable cities, disaster risk resilience, land management, and quality infrastructure services through public-private partnerships.  Infrastructure represents around $110 billion of the Bank’s portfolio.  For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/infrastructure

Energy and Extractives Global Practice (EEX)

Energy is at the heart of development.  Energy makes possible the investments, innovations and new industries that are the engines of jobs, inclusive growth and shared prosperity for entire economies. Universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable and modern energy – Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 — is essential to reach other SDGs and is at the center of efforts to tackle climate change. For more information:  https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/energy

There are around 300 staff professionally mapped to the Energy and Extractives Global Practice, of which about 90 mapped to EEX global units. Remaining staff is within regional energy units. EEX has an annual lending program in the order of US$5-7 billion a year, an active portfolio of some $40 billion, and a rich program of Advisory and Analytical Work. Regional energy units oversee and develop lending and non-lending energy operations in different subsectors including renewable energy, energy efficiency, utility performance, grid and off-grid access, regulatory and policy reforms.

There are three global units for EEX: (a) the Infrastructure Energy Extractives Industry Unit (IEEXI) oversees and contributes to lending and non-lending activities in mining and hydrocarbon development with particular emphasis on transparency, governance, capacity building, and gender opportunities together with the regional units; and takes the leadership on global extractives initiatives; (b) the Infrastructure Energy Global Programs (IEEES) oversees mobilization and deployment of trust funds (Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) and the climate funds); and (c) the Infrastructure Energy Global Knowledge & Expertise (IEEGK).

The Infrastructure Energy Global Knowledge & Expertise (IEEGK)

IEEGK staff are responsible for delivering on global analytical tasks and for supporting country and regional operational and analytical engagements, with cross support accounting for a large share of their work programs. At the global level, the IEEGK staff contribute to global analytical activities, aimed at expanding knowledge in strategic areas and helping operations’ design and implementation. At the country and regional levels, staff in IEEGK take the lead on embedding frontier global knowledge and expertise in infrastructure country engagements, including joining teams in lending and analytical operations, providing peer review services and supporting the INF’s efforts to shape the Bank’s narrative on energy transition and energy access.

Duties and accountabilities:

1. Cross support to regional energy teams on hydropower project preparation & implementation: The World Bank’s role in hydropower development is to facilitate the preparation and implementation of projects while in the process contributing to institutional development within the host country. The hydropower engineer’s role will usually include the following as part of hydropower project preparation and implementation:
• Lead the review of technical documents including pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, design and specifications, environmental and social impact assessments, power system plans, transmission lines etc.
• During preparation,  guide the technical appraisal to ensure that the hydropower project is technically feasible and economically viable taking all aspects of the environment in which the project is being constructed and the system to which it supplies power and energy.  Understanding of hydropower’s changing role in the clean energy transition, integrating variable renewable energy and thus evolving role will be important. Technical appraisal will also include an assessment of the competence of the technical project manager, the design engineer, and specialist consultants, investigation firms and laboratories.
• During construction, lead the Bank’s supervision of the project ensuring that the panel of experts are continuously engaged; reviewing reports by the Engineer, participating in the technical discussions with the owner-engineer-contractor at the site; contributing to the World Bank’s supervision report documents.

2.Analytical and Advisory Work and Knowledge Management:  Lead analytical and knowledge generation/dissemination activities which build client and Bank awareness and systems in key technical aspects of hydropower development.  Lead the discussions around developing and implementing sector strategy and lead country-specific policy work in hydropower; keep abreast with latest procurement, social and environmental practices for hydropower projects, and ensure adequate consideration of these issues in project planning, design and implementation. The candidate should be familiar with evolving technologies in digital delivery (BIM), climate change resilience etc.  

3.Coordination within and outside the Bank: Lead the discussions on the technical aspects while working closely with staff from other units and disciplines, such as environment and social safeguards, social development, procurement, financial management, and the Energy Global Unit. In the area of hydropower development, lead organization of workshops/conferences/seminars; interact with government and research institutions, donors, non-governmental organizations, resource groups, international agencies, individuals and groups for exchange of information and ideas in order to stay abreast of current technologies and practices. Represent the Bank in important fora and international meetings on hydropower.

4.Corporate tasks:  as a member of IEEGK the hydropower engineer will contribute to various corporate tasks and corporate reviews carried out by the unit.

Selection Criteria

• At least a Master’s degree in one of the core competencies of hydropower related civil engineering: water engineering (hydrology and hydraulics), geotechnical engineering (soil and rock mechanics) hydraulic structures, project management.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience related to hydropower or other water resource development, ideally in developed and developing country contexts.
• Experience in the following areas would be highly desirable:
    o Environmental and social aspects of large infrastructure development
    o Generation planning in an all hydro or mixed hydro-thermal system
    o Construction of hydropower or other similar water resource development projects; tunneling and underground experience would be particularly advantageous
    o Basic knowledge of the mechanical and electrical components of a hydropower project and its connection to the grid
    o Mathematical modelling in hydraulic, hydrodynamic or structural complex
    o Other disciplines associated with hydropower or water resource planning or development
    o Knowledge and understanding of the issues related to energy sector reform in developing countries
    o Interacting with government, international agencies’ and/or private sector representatives
• Strong organizational, research, and oral presentation skills
• Proven ability to work in a team and intercultural environment, with minimal supervision
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Enthusiasm for, and commitment to development work
• Willing to travel to project sites and head offices of clients, and also to represent the Bank in relevant international meetings and conferences
• Field experience in developing countries a plus.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.