Job Description
Senior Specialist – Energy Sector Resilience Expert
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Organization
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Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
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Location
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New Delhi, India
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Grade and No. of position
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Senior Specialist (1)
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Salary and Benefits
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Competitive
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Contract
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Fixed Term Contract (3 years), extendable for up to another 3 years, Full-Time, National /International Hire.
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Applications Closing date
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Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to early submissions during the shortlisting and selection process. The position will remain open until it is filled.
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About CDRI
The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programs, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and knowledge institutions that aims to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks in support of sustainable development.
Mission
“To support countries to upgrade their systems to ensure disaster and climate resilience of existing and future infrastructure.”
Impact (that CDRI aims to achieve)
By 2050, over US$10 trillion of new and existing infrastructure investments and services are resilient to natural hazards and climate change through enhanced capacity, informed policy, planning, and management, leading to improved quality of environment, livelihood, and life of over 3 billion people.
CDRI Mandate & Value Proposition
CDRI has been envisioned and established as a global network to advance the agenda, support coordinated action among stakeholders, and focus on bringing voices from vulnerable geographies and populations to international policy forums. Internationally agreed-upon goals in the SFDRR, the SDGs, and the Paris Climate Agreement provide the foundational framework that guides the Coalition’s vision and mission.
As a global partnership, the Coalition aims to ensure that the investments of its members and partners are aligned and well-coordinated in support of the shared ambition of disaster and climate resilience of new and existing infrastructure. The two unique yet interconnected roles that CDRI shoulders in this direction are:
- A Strong Coalition Driving Collaborative DRI Action: In 2026, CDRI stands as a partnership of 59 member countries and 13 partner organizations. The Coalition enjoys robust political support, which propels its efforts to advance the interests of its members and partners.
- A Solution-Focused Centre of Excellence for DRI: As a Centre of Excellence for DRI, the Coalition strengthens the individual and collective capacities of its members and partners by aggregating and sharing knowledge, brokering need- based partnerships, and strengthening capacities through collaborative learning and action.
Strategic Work Plan 2023-2026
CDRI’s Strategic Work Plan 2023-26 describes the broad contours of its priority actions and planned initiatives in the next four years. The Strategic Work Plan sets out a clear direction for the Coalition to pursue a transformational agenda for DRI in response to a changing risk landscape and evolving on-ground realities of its members. In the next four years, the Coalition will continue to leverage the expertise of its Member Countries and partners to develop context-specific, innovative solutions for resilient infrastructure towards the achievement of national priorities and global commitments of its members.
With the strategic work plan for 2023 – 2026, CDRI has set out the following strategic outcomes.
Strategic Outcome 1: A strong Coalition that has the membership, resources, and global leadership to drive global, national, regional, and local DRI action.
Strategic Outcome 2: Global DRI research, Coalition-led peer engagement, and CDRI-curated and generated knowledge promote risk-informed policy and practice.
Strategic Outcome 3: Enhanced capacities of government, private enterprises, and communities to implement post-disaster recovery and DRI action at scale.
CDRI Headquarters (Secretariat)
Position
All nationals demonstrating 8 years of international work experience in at least 5 countries across 2 UN geographic regions (from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, and Oceania) would be considered for international positions (international hire).
Objective of this position:
CDRI seeks a Senior Specialist, Energy sector to help set the pace: leading technical studies, grid modelling and contingency analysis that make power systems more resilient, wherever in the world they sit. This is a global mandate; the incumbent will work across country engagements, research initiatives and partnerships spanning Asia, Africa and Latin America, shaping how CDRI's Energy sector portfolio is delivered on the ground and scaled through knowledge products and partnerships.
Role and Responsibilities:
Technical Assistance, Modeling & Contingency Analysis (45%):
- Design, execute and manage technical studies across CDRI's country portfolio, from grid hardening to hybridization and interconnections, covering power system planning, grid resilience assessment, and modelling of transmission/distribution networks, microgrids, and hybrid (RE + storage) configurations.
- Lead contingency analysis (e.g., N-1/N-2 studies) and hazard stress testing of power infrastructure, translating findings into risk-informed planning and design-standard reform.
- Bring this modelling expertise to initiatives such as the Probabilistic Planning Toolkit and grid-code
- stress-testing against climate projections, and to technical assistance.
- Facilitate resilience assessments related to the design of energy infrastructure, including identification of physical risks from natural hazards and climate change.
Partnerships, Capacity Building & Business Development (30%):
- Build and sustain relationships with global energy agencies, regulators and financing institutions (IEA, World Bank, ADB, ESMAP, AfDB) and, given the Energy sector’s fast-moving investment pipeline, and identify new technical-assistance entry points.
- Represent CDRI in international dialogues, working groups and conferences on resilient Energy infrastructure, carrying the Programme's work to the rooms where standards and financing decisions get made.
- Develop training materials and deliver capacity-building activities for energy sector professionals across member countries.
- Build partnerships with knowledge institutions and global standard-setting bodies to strengthen the technical credibility of CDRI's outputs.
Programme & Team Management (25%):
- Contribute to reporting to funding agencies and to presentations before CDRI governing bodies.
- Convene and lead technical consultations with government agencies, development partners and the private sector, including insurance companies, on disaster-resilient energy infrastructure.
Skills:
Essential
- Demonstrated expertise in power system planning and grid resilience, including transmission and distribution networks, microgrids, and smart grid/hybrid (RE + storage) integration.
- Proven experience in power system modeling and contingency analysis (e.g., N-1/N-2 studies, load flow, hazard/climate stress testing), using relevant software/tools (e.g., PSS/E, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, PLEXOS, PyPSA, or equivalent).
- Experience in disaster preparedness and post-disaster recovery planning for power infrastructure.
- Strong track record collaborating with global energy agencies (IRENA, IEA, ESMAP/WB) and national regulatory bodies across multiple regions.
- Proven ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural teams, with an entrepreneurial approach to identifying and shaping new business opportunities.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to represent an organization in high-level international dialogues.
- Familiarity with international frameworks such as the SDGs, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Paris Agreement.
Desirable:
- Demonstrated programme or project delivery experience in Africa, with a national utility, regional power pool, the African Union, or an Africa-focused development partner.
- Working knowledge of AfSEM and the regional power pools (WAPP, EAPP, SAPP).
- Experience with hydropower/basin-scale contingency planning and Reservoir management, Rule-curves.
- Track record of mobilizing donor or co-financing interest for technical-assistance programmes.
Educational Criteria:
- Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Energy Science, Energy Systems, Power Systems, Energy Policy, or a closely related engineering field.[SD1] [KS2]
- Candidates who do not meet the minimum academic qualification requirements, such as a master's degree or equivalent, may be considered eligible (with bachelor's degree) if they possess at least two (02) additional years of relevant professional experience beyond the required years of experience for the position.
- Required project management certification.
Experience Criteria:
- Minimum 8 years of professional experience in power and energy infrastructure, including demonstrated expertise in power system modelling and/or contingency analysis, and demonstrated experience delivering programmes or projects in Africa.
ReportingLine:
- The incumbent shall report to the Lead Specialist, Energy Sector.
LanguageProficiency:
- Fluency in English, both oral and written.
- Proficiency in French or Spanish will be an asset.
How to Apply:
If you have experience working in a similar capacity and want to make an active and lasting contributiontoaglobalinitiativespearheadedbyIndia,pleaseapplythroughtheonlineapplication form only on or before the last Date.
CDRI is committed to achieving workforce diversity in gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with strict confidence.
CDRI has ZERO Tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and gender / racial discrimination. Any selection, therefore, will be subject to satisfactory reference and background checks.
The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
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[KS2]I agree. This is standard for all CDRI JDs. Removed