Utility Operations Specialists at RTI International (3 Openings)

RTI International is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to conducting innovative, multidisciplinary research that improves the human condition. With a worldwide staff of more than 5,000 people, RTI offers innovative research and development and multidisciplinary services.

RTI International hereby invites applications from highly resourceful, motivated and experienced professionals to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Utility Operations Specialist (Baseline Survey Consultant)

Locations: Abia, Delta and Taraba

Description
RTI International in collaboration with Plan International and other partners is implementing a 4-year USAID funded Effective Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (E-WASH) project. E-WASH will provide technical assistance to state governments to improve urban water service delivery by strengthening the governance, financial, and technical viability of six (6) State Water Boards (SWBs) in Nigeria.

This is part of the United States Government’s (USG) efforts working with the Federal Government to address the heart of the challenges faced by the urban water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. The overall goal is improvement of urban water and sanitation service delivery.

The Effective Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (E-WASH) project, is seeking to identify 9 dynamic and technically strong Consultants to support the undertaking of baseline studies to identify the gaps for water service delivery in the urban areas of Abia, Delta and Taraba States. The Consultants must be willing to spend up to 3 weeks (15 working days) during the first part of November i.e. from Monday November 5, 2018. Women candidates that meet the criteria below are strongly encouraged to apply.

Objectives of the Baseline Survey
The overall objective of the baseline study is to establish a benchmark against which the E-WASH will design interventions to bring the urban water service providers to the level of being professionally managed and commercially viable. The baselines will for a start be conducted in 3 states of Abia, Delta and Taraba States.

Further baselines will be conducted in 3 additional states early in 2019. There will be three baseline study teams with each team comprising of about 5 professionals. E-WASH is now looking for Consultants with experience in the field of Utility Operations.

The main objective of this position is to undertake baseline studies in utility operations which will include financial, commercial and HR activities of the SWB, identify gaps and develop action plans for filling the gaps in line with the objectives of the E-WASH program. In this respect the consultant will be part of a team that will finally develop a baseline report and Service Improvement Plan based on the of an organizational capacity assessment tool (OCAT) and also working on financial KPIs.

The baseline information to be collected will be used to design the transformation agenda for the urban water service delivery in the respective state to move the SWB to a commercially viable entity. The information to be collected will include but not limited to the current financing arrangements (budgeting process, allocations and releases) from the state Government, financial management including reporting by the SWB, billing, collection and other revenue generation ventures.

Qualifications and Experience

• At least a Master's Degree in Human Resources, Finance, Commercialization, Economics or any of the financing qualifications or such related fields.
• At least 12 years of experience
• Experience in utility finance, design of billing systems and such other commercial activities of the utility.
• Experience in designing and undertaking financial management systems, evidence-based budgeting.
• Knowledge and understanding of utility finance from electricity or water i.e. cost structure of utility operations, major cost centers,
• Knowledge of the key components of a utility tariff and tariff setting and what to take into account when designing such a one.

Application Closing Date
21st October, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's (not more than 5 pages) to: STTA@ewash.rti.org using the Job Title and Location as the subject of the mail. 

Note: Women are strongly encouraged to apply.