Secretary General at the West African Power Pool (WAPP)

The West African Power Pool (WAPP) is a specialized institution of ECOWAS. It covers 14 of the 15 countries of the regional economic community (Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo).

International organization of public interest, the WAPP is to ensure Regional Power System integration and realization of a Regional Electricity Market.

WAPP is made up of Public and Private Generation, Transmission and Distribution companies involved in the operation of the electricity in West Africa. It has to date, 26 member companies.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Secretary General, West African Power Pool (WAPP)

Location: Nigeria

Organization Setting and Reporting Relationship

• Reporting Relationship: Reports to the WAPP Executive Board

Overall Mandate

• The Secretary General is the head of the WAPP Secretariat, provides strategic leadership and managerial direction to the WAPP Secretariat.
• Responsible for project planning and development of the electricity market, supports capacity building initiatives of WAPP's technical and financial partners to WAPP Members in readiness for the operation of the interconnected systems and the proper functioning of an electricity market.
• The WAPP intends to recruit a professionally qualified Ecowas citizen as Secretary General to replace the incumbent whose tenure of office expires in July 2015.
• The tenure of the new Secretary General begins in July 2015 and shall be for a period of three years and renewable subject to satisfactory performance.

Organization Context

• The West African Power Pool (WAPP) is one of the specialized institutions of ECOWAS and comprises public utilities and private companies working in the electricity sector in West Africa.
• WAPP was created by Decision A/DEC.5/12/99 of the Authority of Heads of State and
• Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The WAPP Secretariat is based in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.

Job Responsibilities

• Direct the day-to-day operation of the WAPP and coordinate the activities of the key departments of the organization to ensure effective work flow;
• Pursue the development of WAPP priority projects by seeking funding from the
• Technical and Financial Partners for prefeasibility studies and implementation, put in place the necessary institutional and commercial frameworks for the implementation of the Projects and monitor the construction of ongoing projects to ensure conformity with
• WAPP standards, completion of projects on schedule and ensure reliable synchronized operation of WAPP interconnected network and implement the regional electricity market road map.
• Conduct a periodic review of plans such as the company business plan, work targets, goals, work schedules and progress of work as well as direct necessary changes to ensure that the mission and objective of the company are achieved;
• Expand WAPP Membership base by engaging private operators in the electricity sector of West Africa and beyond to sign the WAPP Articles of Agreement.
• Establish plans (WAPP Business Plan, Financial Report, Annual Reports) and budgets with planning tools to facilitate the measurement of results, as well as ensure the effective allocation of resources;
• Conduct periodic reviews of operational progress, put in place project reporting system, and implement effective risk management strategies to ensure that the targets and objectives of the organization is achieved.
• Consolidate WAPP's organizational culture, values and reputation within the industry and with all staff, trading partners, suppliers, regulatory bodies and other stakeholders;
• Enhance the culture of high performance and efficiency within the WAPP by putting in place the relevant structures and policies and inspiring a sense of ownership among staff and other stakeholders.
• Constitute and ensure that WAPP Organizational Committees are representative of the membership, and that their members are competent professionals capable of contributing positively towards the development of the electricity market;
• Comply and ensure adherence to anti-corruption and ethical rules of conduct by all staff, contractors and other agents of the organization by enforcing ethical business practices;

Qualifications

Education:

• A first level University Degree in combination with qualifying experience.
• Advanced University Degree (Master's Degree or equivalent) is an asset.

Experience:

• A minimum of twenty (20) years of broad experience in the power or related industry with at least five (5) years in management position.
• Experience in Financial, Accounting and Human Resources Management acquired in management position within the sub-region could be an advantage.

Language:

• Fluency in one of the working languages of ECOWAS, English, French or Portuguese (both oral and written) is required.
• Knowledge of another ECOWAS official language is an asset.

Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds with respect to diversity.
• Proven effective written and oral presentation skills, particularly ability to effectively interact with the public, donor community, the media, diplomatic missions, government agencies, regulatory institutions, other national utilities, and financial and technical partners
• Provide strong visionary and exemplary leadership in the management of WAPP affairs, and be proactive in developing strategies to accomplish WAPP objectives to realize its vision.
• Provide excellent organizational and project management skills, and proven ability to work with others to manage and resolve organizational issues.
• Demonstrate analytical problem solving and decision making; has proven ability to plan, organize and work in an independent manner
• Keep abreast of available technology, understand and apply technology to work of the office.

Application Closing Date
28th February, 2015 - 6 pm Cotonou Time (GMT + 1).

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their application letter, a detailed Curriculum Vitae, along with certified copies of Diplomas and working Certificates and Copy of the National ID card or the passport in a sealed envelope to:

Recruitment of WAPP Secretary General,
WAPP Secretariat,
06 BP on 2907 Cotonou - Republic of Benin.

Or by e-mail to:
[email protected] and [email protected]

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