Transaction Advisor at Tetra Tech

Job description

Transaction Advisors report to the Senior Transaction Advisor. Transaction Advisors advance Power Africa priority transactions by tracking key actions, engaging with transaction stakeholders, and recommending specific technical assistance to either remove obstacles or to expedite the transactions to financial close. Transaction Advisors accelerate project development, provide independent advice on key transaction issues to host governments as requested, and build the capacity of key ministries.

• Work with USAID to implement priority project assistance.
• Pipeline development for consideration by investors / lenders and the Power Africa Working Group (PAWG).
• Work with host country governments to fast track project approval / implementation and reforms.
• Coordinate closely with other U.S. Government (USG) agencies and entities such as OPIC, US Ex-Im Bank, USTDA, and the US-African Clean Energy
• Development & Finance Center.
• Review all key existing and proposed host government power sector policies, regulations, laws, and investments framework to become familiar with the existing regulatory framework governing private and public power sector investments.
• Documents to be reviewed should include any national power policy documents that will allow the Transaction Advisor to develop an in-depth understanding of the key issues faced by project developers and banks developing and financing projects in the power sector in the host country.
• He/she should also review previous work completed by various international agencies (USAID, USTDA, OPIC, U.S. Ex-Im Bank, AfDB, IFC, World Bank, and others), including financial institutions and host country and international credit agencies, to develop an understanding of what changes should be made to key laws, regulations, policies, etc. that might prevent a project from reaching financial close.

Key Functions Of The Position

• Transaction Selection and Development
  • Assist Power Africa to analyze the universe of potential transactions to select those that may be assisted in achieving financial closure, and present recommendations to USAID for prioritization among the selected transactions. Recommend which projects should be on boarded to and off boarded from the Priority Projects list (“Slide Deck”) in accordance with agreed methodologies. Work only on transactions on the Slide Deck, except to the extent a potential transaction could be on boarded to the Slide Deck.
  • Review and prepare an analysis of promising private sector driven, high‐impact energy projects and carry out preliminary due diligence (e.g., project merit, competence of project developers, risk factors, etc.). This will include identifying available funding sources and potential for USG assistance.
  • Maintain close relationships with important private sector and government actors, including project developers, regulatory bodies, commercial banks, investment funds, pension funds, and other donors.
• Transaction Advisory Services & Capacity Building
  • Assist in the implementation of new IPP frameworks, and develop strategies that address capacity shortcomings and thus contribute to accelerated implementation of the IPP framework and adoption of policy reforms and project implementation.
  • Assist in accelerating closing on priority transactions by providing independent advice to host government decision makers as needed to achieve project milestones.
  • Provide technical assistance on prioritizing projects and preparing standardized transaction documents for energy projects.
  • Provide guidance, expertise, and direction to host ministry and/or applicable ministries on adoption of reforms necessary to increase private sector investment.
• Monitoring & Progress Reporting
  • Develop accountability and monitoring mechanisms for tracking progress of Power Africa goals/objectives.
  • Identify and track key milestones required to complete transactions, and recommend courses of action for expediting transactions.
  • Prepare and maintain the country / region budget, and track actual revenues and expenses vs budgeted revenues and expenses
  • Prepare all reports required by USAID , including Annual Work Plans, Bi Weekly, Monthly, and Quarterly Progress Reports, Quarterly Financial Reports,
  • Institutional Strengthening Reports, environmental compliance reporting, and compliance with the agreed Performance Management Plan (PMP), in formats required by USAID.

Requirements

• Must have valid right to work and live in Kenya to apply for this position.
• University Degree (required), Master’s Degree (preferred)
• At least 5 years or more years of experience working in the power sector or a related energy field
• Solid Energy Experience
• Understanding of the Kenyan Energy Regulatory Environment
• Good verbal and written communications skills in English
• Topics in engineering, finance, economics, business, management, commercial law, and/or other related fields
• Experience with project management tools e.g. MS Project

Please note: Salaries will be capped based on the United States Government (USG) local compensation plan for the relevant country, and no USG allowances are foreseen.