Regional Energy Referent East & Southern Africa

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 60 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of origin, religion, creed or political affiliation. 

Regional Energy Referent East & Southern Africa (m/f/x) –Nairobi – MSF Belgium

CONTEXT 

Logistics at MSF aims at providing a safe, functional, and effective environment of care for our patients, the populations we assist and our teams through a pragmatic and solution-oriented approach. MSF operations are very diverse and constantly evolving, requiring Logs to continuously adapt to provide appropriate solutions. 

The Logistics Department’s mission is twofold. First, it provides the frame of action for Logs in our projects to ensure quality and continuity of Log action. Second, it provides access to support (both in technical and intervention families), knowledge, and learning and development opportunities for project’s Logs to carry out their assignment.

For these purposes, the Logistics department at MSF Operational Centre Brussels (OCB) is composed of 3 main units: 

• The Logistics Support Unit (LSU) provides direct support to Logs in Operations in intervention and technical families and identifies needs to be tackled by other Log entities 
• The Workforce Unit (WFU) ensures that the Log workforce is available and prepared to contribute to operational ambitions 
• The Knowledge Management Unit (KMU) aims at improving access to information, knowledge, and the variety of support means for Logs in the countries of operations. 

The LSU is composed of two main teams to ensure that technical support is adapted to operational needs. On the one hand, it includes polyvalent Logs working in operational cells in a matrix set-up with the Operations department. On the other hand, teams provide support in the following technical families: Construction & Shelter, Energy, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning), Cold Chain, Medical Equipment Management, Motorized Fleet, Telecommunications, Health Facility Management, Water & Sanitation Techniques. The dynamic created between the various technical teams and Logs in operations is key to ensure that the Log solutions are aligned with both Operations and Medical needs as well as Log qualitative standards. This support needs to be aligned with the strategic orientations[1] (MSF-OCB orientations, Operations Prospect, Log orientations), and thus adapt to ongoing changes, accompanying Log teams towards new setups and dynamics linked to projects Empowerment, Shared Leadership, and Networked OD (Operating Directorate).

As the Regional Energy Referent for East and Southern Africa, you help in the implementation of the energy mandate, ensuring people's safety, equipment protection, and electrical service continuity. You will implement or improve practices for effective and efficient design, installation, management, and energy settings in the East Africa region (Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya) and Southern Africa region (Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa).

[1] Available upon request or here if you have an MSF email address.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the primary point of contact for technical support requests and answers questions coming from the Logistics Coordinators and Log Cells in their geographic area, if needed, with support from the Energy, HVAC & Cold Chain Team Leader, and the Energy Specialist 
• Contribute to the Energy, HVAC & Cold Chain Team Leader, and the Log Cells by giving feedback on the functional status of the Energy conditions in projects
• Assist and advise on setting up energy settings for starting or running missions regarding technical needs, human resources, training, and external contractors according to the MSF framework
• Provide strategic and first-line technical support for missions/projects where local expertise is unavailable; s/he helps the projects design and maintain energy equipment installed in the supported countries in the East and Southern Africa regions
• Identify, define, and propose solutions and strategies to the missions and cells that reduce the environmental footprint of the electrical installations.
• Market Assessment of local/regional Distributors/Suppliers, including after-sales services
• Harmonization of Energy support in the region
• Analyse recurrent issues thoroughly

Provide specialized 2nd line support in the Energy domain in the region and contribute to the reflection on the impact of this 2nd line support on the 3rd line developments:

• Support the Log project Team in evaluating regional external suppliers, maintenance contracts, regional purchases, and outsourced Energy services and equipment
• Support the Log project Team in solving interdisciplinary technical problems affecting the optimal functionality of the Energy equipment regarding electrical or water supply, infrastructural concerns, and infection control matters, among others
• Contribute to ensuring that each/most of the 2nd-line support impacts the 3rd-line developments and has proper capitalization
• Ensure Energy Managers working in the region have the necessary technical support and guidance

Provide support to the Energy, HVAC, & Cold Chain Team Leader in 3rd line support tools development, such as: 

• Reinforce capacities by organizing Energy technical training adapted to the region where you define content and methodology
• Guidelines for designing and maintaining complex Energy settings (i.e., solar systems or synchronized generators)
• Follow-up and supervise outsourced projects and developments in the region, maintaining a database of external contractors and providers, giving advice on contracts between the missions under their responsibility and 3rd parties in energy matters.
• Job descriptions of Mission Energy Referents, Managers and Specialists, and Energy Technicians in the region
• Regional market assessment of Energy equipment
• Build a network to support the Log Community in the Energy domain in the Region

Exceptionally provide specialized 1st line support in the Energy domain, in particular cases when no other solution is possible: 

• Support the Log project Team on the design, installation, use, maintenance, and commissioning of the energy settings (hospitals and health centers, bases and residences)
• Support the Log project Team in designing, organizing, coordinating, and following up on implementing or rehabilitating complex and large Energy settings
• Support the Log project Team in the functional evaluation of energy setups and propose new solutions
• Support the projects in increasing the abilities and capacities of the project team in the energy domain
• Improve and implement in the projects the MSF basics, protocols, tools, and techniques related to Energy solutions (design, installation, and maintenance)
• Analyze the needs for maintenance in the different projects and recommend the ideal HR setup.
• Follow up and ensure the reporting on the progress of the Energy activities following adequate lines of communication
• Study local regulations that impact the use and safety of Energy equipment
• Facilitate clarifying roles and responsibilities between technical families and users for appropriate management of Energy equipment in the countries of intervention
• Evaluate in the projects the possibilities and advantages of collaboration with the other technical families: HVAC, Construction, Motorized Fleet, Telecom, Environmental Health (WatSan), Biomed, Health Facilities Management

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• Engineering background or certified studies/training in energy
• Minimum 5 years of experience in energy technical roles
• Minimum 1 year of experience with MSF, or another INGO, in countries of intervention 
• Minimum 1 year experience as team manager
• Training experience in technical maintenance is an asset
• Relevant work experience in health structures is an asset
• Relevant work experience in the East & Southern Africa region is an asset

Competencies

• Coaching and training skills
• Good teamwork and cooperation capacity
• Good communication skills, active listener, communicates clearly and effectively, sense of diplomacy 
• Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and contexts
• Strong intercultural awareness and adaptability
• Result, quality & service oriented
• Good analytical skills
• Proactive and willing to propose innovative ideas and solutions rapidly
• Ability to set priorities and organize their work.
• Willing to take measured risks and responsibility about choices and decisions 
• Ability to work in a stressful environment

Languages

• Proficiency in both oral and written English is mandatory
• Good Knowledge of Portuguese, French, Arabic, or Swahili is an asset

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: March 2025
• Location: Nairobi (Kenya)
• Mobility: Up to 50% of visits in projects, visits in office in Brussels
• Contract type: Fixed-term contract – Full-time
• Contract duration: 12 months (extendable)
• The contractual terms, conditions and salary will be established according to the official residence of the selected candidate and in compliance with the standard MSF function and salary grids
• Not a family position
• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments

Deadline for applications: 12th of January 2025

How to apply?

➢ Submit your application via the 'Apply here' button  

➢ You will be directed to the online application form for this position  

➢ It should take 5-10 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for having your CV and motivation letter in English ready to upload (preferably in pdf format) 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

MSF values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

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