Vacancy Announcement

Secretariat of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Knowledge, Policy and Finance Centre (KPFC)

Publication/Transmission Date: 29 March 2024

Deadline for Application:            28 April 2024 (at midnight, Abu Dhabi Local Time)

Title and Grade:           Associate Programme Officer –Renewable Potential Assessment, P-1

Indicative Annual Salary:           a) Annual Net Salary: USD 39,401 to USD 46,493[1]

 b) Post Adjustment:   USD 28,920.33 to USD 34,125.86[2]

Duration of Appointment:                          One year, with possible extension

Background 

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an inter-governmental organisation mandated with the widespread and increased adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy. At present, IRENA has 169 Members (168 States and the European Union) that acceded to its Statute, and 15 additional States in the process of accession. IRENA supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource, and financial knowledge on renewable energy. The Agency implements its mandate with the view of sustainable development, increased energy security, and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.

Within this mandate, the focus of the Knowledge, Policy, and Finance Centre (KPFC) is on collecting data, developing knowledge platforms and conducting analysis to support the creation of enabling environments for investment and growth in renewables. This entails analytical work on policy and finance, building a gateway to knowledge, giving input to advisory services that the Agency provides to its member states and at regional levels, and targeted engagement with the private sector and civil society.

The Global Atlas for Renewable Energy (hereafter referred to as Global Atlas) is an international partnership coordinated by IRENA. It aims to provide the data and tools for countries and communities to prospect and harvest their renewable energy potential. Initiated in 2010, it has gathered a community of 300 000 users as of 2023, exploiting freely available renewable energy resource and ancillary datasets. The Global Atlas continues to evolve both in the scope of renewable energy resource datasets available on the platform and in the number and applications available, including SolarCity and Bioenergy simulators. 

The SolarCity simulator is aimed at helping cities in developing countries to assess the business cases for solar energy in urban development planning. This tool would enable the user to simulate the profitability at an individual home owner’s level, and the prospective positive impact at the policymakers’ level – of establishing solar rooftop markets in a specific city, to understand the parameters that could drive such positive impact. 

The Bioenergy simulator, which is web-based application developed to estimate potential bioenergy and plan bioenergy development considering numerous combinations of area, biomass resource, technology, and end-use. The simulator aims to raise awareness on modern bioenergy production options to help meet global climate goals, decarbonise the world’s energy system, and ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable energy for all.

The prospective recruit will support IRENA’s Resource Assessment unit in maintaining the Global Atlas platform and its applications and providing assistance to more member countries of the Agency.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Director of KPFC, and in close cooperation with the lead of the Renewable Energy Resource Assessment unit, the Associate Programme Officer, will perform the following duties:

• Support the development of the Global Atlas platform and Bioenergy simulator by maintaining its datasets. 
• Support the development of the SolarCity simulator for more cities and assessing its impacts.
• Support the activities of the Renewable Energy Resource Assessment unit with results interpretation and reporting and ensure coordination with other teams and divisions within IRENA on topics such as renewable energy resources, contributing to knowledge management within the Agency.
• Assist in the preparation of various workshops, forums and other high-level events related to the activity areas described above including research, compilation and background material, presentations, talking points, concept notes, agendas etc. 
• Participate and assist in implementing a database of stakeholders related to the platforms including contributors, users, and service requests, and conducting regular analytics of the user base of the platform and related tools.
• Perform other duties as required. 

Competencies

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates growing professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision.

Qualifications

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Science, Engineering, Environment, or Renewable Energy-related fields. A first-level university degree, in combination with qualifying experience, may be accepted instead of an advanced university degree. 

Experience: Relevant professional experience in the field of renewable energy resource assessment. Knowledge of finance could be an advantage. Demonstrated ability to implement projects with good analytical skills and to produce reports and papers on renewable energy resource assessment. 

Language: Excellent command of written and spoken English is essential. Fluency in other languages would be of additional benefit.

Skills: Strong quantitative and data analytical skills and Excel/IT skills are required. 

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Qualified candidates must apply for the abovementioned vacancy on-line through IRENA’s recruitment platform, ORC, by submitting a complete and comprehensive CV and a letter of interest, including details of three professional references who will be contacted if their application is shortlisted.

Applications from qualified women, especially from nationals of developing countries, are highly encouraged.

Please note that only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted for an interview and will receive notice of the outcome of the selection process.