Economist

• Department: Energy and Mines


• Directorate: ERERA


• Grade: D1


• Annual Salary: USD 60,372 - USD 75,005


• Supervisor: Chairman, ERERA


• Reference: ECW-ERERA/REC/PR-D/003/2015


• Duration: Five (5) years Fixed non-renewable term


• Duty Station: Accra, Ghana


• Closing Date: 09 March 2015

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) established the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) to realize the West African Electricity Sector Regulation Project within the framework of the West African Power Pool. 
For the effective functioning of ERERA’s activities, the Commission intends to recruit a competent and qualified person for the post of Economist to be a member of the ERERA Regulatory Council.
The Economist, a member of the Regulatory Council ensures, jointly with the other members, the regulation of cross-border electricity exchanges, in accordance with the provisions of Community texts. They serve on a full-time basis.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Economist is responsible, among other things, for:

• Providing expertise in the development of Council’s acts relating to the economic regulation of the regional electricity market, particularly in the area of structuring and monitoring market operation, long-term financial viability, economic prospects, pricing, competition and infrastructure development;
• Assisting the Chairman of the Regulatory Council in carrying out his responsibilities, particularly the organization, monitoring and supervision of all ERERA’s activities, preparation of the annual report as well as preparation and implementation of ERERA’s budget;

• Conducting an economic analysis of the energy sector;

• Making the Financial Planning and Modeling of the energy sector;

• Steering institutional reforms and energy policies;

• Steering economic issues related to cross-border electricity exchanges and interconnection agreements;

• Ensuring the management of electricity markets: planning, tariff/pricing, competition, funding;

• The practice of international relations and negotiations;

• Participating in the Council’s deliberations.

Qualifications/Experience/Skills

Candidates for the post of Economist of the ERERA Regulatory Council will be appointed on the basis of their moral integrity and competence. They should have successfully held a management position in their previous functions.
Degrees and Qualifications:

• Candidates must hold a Masters’ Degree in Economics, Finance or Management or in a related field.

Experience: Candidates for this position must have:

• No less than twelve (12) years professional experience in planning, financial modeling and economic analysis of the energy sector;

• Experience in a management position;

• No less than 5 years experience in team management, preferably in a supervisory capacity, within an international organization; 

• Good knowledge of energy policy issues, in particular electricity sector institutional reforms, as well as economic issues related to cross-border electricity exchanges and electricity market management (planning, tariff/pricing, competition, funding, etc.).

• Good knowledge of Community institutions and mechanisms within the ECOWAS region, as well as proven experience in the area of electricity sector regulation in Africa. Experience in international relations and negotiations will be an added advantage.

Requisite skills

•  Diplomacy

•  Good interpersonal skills

•  good listening skills and sense of initiative

•  Team spirit and strong analytical and summarizing skills

•  Availability, good organization and diligence

•  Good command of main office software packages (Pack office…)

• Knowledge of Community institutions and mechanisms within the ECOWAS region;

• Good knowledge of West African policy issues and the United Nations, African Union and European Union policy frameworks, etc.

• Have excellent writing and communication skills.

• With strong analytical and summarizing skills, the candidate must be able to identify problems and contribute to providing solutions. He must display a sense of independence while demonstrating great capacity for team work;

• Good knowledge of political matters in West Africa and of the political mechanisms of the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, etc.

• Must possess extremely good drafting communication skills.
• With strong analytical and summarizing skills, the candidate must be able to identify problems and contribute to providing solutions. He must display a sense of independence while demonstrating great capacity for team work.

Age

Candidate should not be 50 years old or over at the point of recruitment and must be a citizen of one of the ECOWAS member states.

Language

Must be fluent in one of the official languages of the Commission: English, French and Portuguese. A working knowledge of another would be an advantage.

Economist