UNV Renewable Energy (RE) Engineer

UN Entity: UNICEF

Assignment Context:
This UNV assignment requires a technical knowledge of renewable energy engineering especially solar system engineering, and electrical and mechanical engineering.

The UN Volunteer will support the country’s programs and operations in the assessment and implementation of sustainable energy activities/projects. The UN Volunteer will liaise with the relevant stakeholders engaged in the RE sector and including with national/international suppliers, installers, and field technical operations, in identifying and managing systems needing site visits.

The UN Volunteer will join the Construction Unit under Supply and Logistics. The Construction Unit is providing cross-sectorial support to country office programs and operations in all issues related to works and engineering services.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions, or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need a reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process and afterward in your assignment.

Description of Tasks: 
Under the supervision of the Construction Manager, the UN Volunteer’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

- Support UNICEF Lebanon to incorporate renewable energy systems and to implement sustainable and energy-efficient projects. 
- Coordinate with the relevant stakeholders engaged in the renewable energy sector in the country including different ministries and government agencies, NGOs, and national/international suppliers, installers.
- Coordinate with UNICEF Global Teams: Supply Division, PG Health, and Regional Office to align the country's efforts on RE projects with global strategy.
- Assist in the drafting of RE proposals, the definition of RE activities, budgets, and timelines. 
- Conduct desk reviews to identify facilities for assessment according to the programme objectives of the UNICEF CO and Government. The study should identify the sites with the most need of solar energy intervention with the possibility of having the highest impact on health/education service delivery.
- Conduct site assessments for solar feasibility and estimate energy and power demand resulting in solar PV system sizing.
- Develop Investment Cases based on the energy assessments and country situation analysis. The investment cases highlight RE project impact benefits and should provide evidence-driven cases for investment.
- Assist the Supply team during the solicitation processes of RE projects.
- Assist in the development and management of RE data gathering systems and remote monitoring tools exploring the last online and offline applications and software available and operational in the country.
- Assist in the revision of plans and specifications to determine technological or environmental implications. 
- Develop/review cost estimates of PV plants, cost-benefit analyses, electrical design of PV plants, and mechanical system layouts.
- Perform/review PV system modelling, simulation, and analysis.
- Develop SOP (standard operation procedures), including quality/safety standards for solar installations. Determine operational methods.
- Create checklists for review or inspection of completed solar installation projects. 
- Assist suppliers ‘during installation, start-up, testing, system commissioning, and performance monitoring. Inspect finished products to locate flaws.
- Assist with the preparation/revision of operation and maintenance manuals and training modules.
- Support identification of Operation and Maintenance model best suited for Lebanon’s context, accepted by stakeholders.
- Assist the organization and coordination of technical project meetings.
- Test or evaluate photovoltaic (PV) cells or module installation; provide technical direction and correcting activity of key test sites.
- Assist with contract management.
- Provide support with the organization and implementation of capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders to promote sustainable results on health-related programmes/projects.
- Assess feasible and sustainable solutions to ensure maintenance services.
- Ensure regular project reporting.

Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their contracts.