Expert on Jordan's Digital Governance for Integrated and Smart Power Grid

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Economic Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is a regional arm of the United Nations established to foster economic integration and promote sustainable development among its member states. ESCWA provides policy guidance and technical expertise to support the development of inclusive and resilient economies. The organization operates in multiple countries across the Western Asia region, focusing on various sectors including energy, environment, and social development. ESCWA aims to enhance cooperation among member states and facilitate the sharing of best practices and knowledge.

Job Overview:
The consultancy position focuses on developing a comprehensive assessment of Jordan's power-sector digitalization landscape. The project, titled 'Policies for inclusive and digitalized power grids in countries with special needs in the ECE, ESCWA, and ESCAP regions,' aims to strengthen national capacities in digital governance for integrated and resilient power systems. The consultant will be responsible for preparing an inception report, conducting a national mapping and diagnostic assessment, and providing policy-oriented recommendations to support ESCWA and national stakeholders in enhancing the digital governance of power grids. This role requires a deep understanding of the current digital systems, institutional arrangements, and data governance practices in Jordan's electricity sector, as well as the ability to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Expert will undertake several key responsibilities under the supervision of the Cluster Lead and guidance from the Chief of the Energy Section and Project Coordinator. These include:

• Conducting desk research and stakeholder mapping to review national strategies, laws, and technical documents related to Jordan's electricity sector and digital governance.
• Preparing an inception report and workplan that outlines the methodology, stakeholder engagement approach, data needs, timeline, and expected inputs from national counterparts.
• Conducting a national mapping and diagnostic assessment of Jordan's power-sector digitalization landscape, identifying key digital systems and governance arrangements.
• Preparing materials for participation in project meetings and revising the national mapping report based on feedback from stakeholders.
• Coordinating with ESCWA on stakeholder outreach and validation, ensuring that findings are refined and recommendations are clear and evidence-based.
• Engaging with relevant Jordanian institutions to validate findings and support consultations.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a master's degree in energy policy, electrical engineering, power systems, economics, public policy, digital transformation, data governance, cybersecurity, or a related field. Additionally, at least 7 years of relevant professional experience in areas such as electricity-sector policy, power-system planning, smart grids, energy-sector digitalization, and data governance is required. Experience working within Jordan's electricity sector, including collaboration with government institutions and regulators, is essential. Candidates should also demonstrate experience in stakeholder engagement and the ability to deliver high-quality outputs under tight deadlines.

Educational Background:
A master's degree in a relevant field such as energy policy, electrical engineering, or public policy is required for this position. Candidates must submit a copy of their educational degree as part of their application, as incomplete applications will not be considered.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of professional experience in the electricity sector, particularly in areas related to power-system planning, digital governance, and cybersecurity. Candidates should have a proven track record of working with government institutions, regulators, and utilities, as well as experience in stakeholder engagement and consultation processes. Familiarity with digital tools and systems used in the energy sector is also necessary.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is required for this position, as these are the working languages of ESCWA. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in all four areas of language use: speaking, reading, writing, and understanding. Knowledge of French is considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for a duration of 2 months and is conducted remotely. There are no fees associated with the recruitment process, and the United Nations does not request any financial information from applicants.