Organization: United States Energy Association
Position: Specialist for European Energy Markets
Location: Europe-based with convenient travel access to the Europe and Eurasia region

ABOUT US – The United States Energy Association (USEA) is a nonprofit, apolitical, nonlobbying organization founded in 1924. USEA’s mission has two pillars of equal importance. USEA serves as a resource, by convening energy stakeholders to share policy, scientific, and technological information to foster the advancement of the entire energy sector.  Internationally, USEA promotes energy development by expanding access to safe, affordable, sustainable, and environmentally acceptable energy in partnership with the U.S. Government.

For more than 30 years, USEA has worked in cooperation with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to improve energy security and accelerate the clean energy transition in the Europe and Eurasia (E&E) region – Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine. Our work has focused on integrating electric and natural gas networks and markets within the E&E region and between E&E and Europe.

Just and Secure Energy Transition (JSET) Program.

JSET is a USAID cooperative agreement that supports utilities, regulatory agencies, and energy sector stakeholders in E&E in progressing through the clean energy transition while also maintaining reliable, affordable, and secure energy supplies. JSET objectives include:

1. To operationalize and integrate regional energy markets (wholesale, retail, capacity, ancillary services, etc.)
2. To adopt best practices for energy system operations and to integrate cost-effective clean energy technologies into energy networks while maintaining or improving overall system reliability
3. To improve regional energy sector resilience and response capabilities to disasters and extreme events
4. To increase adoption of U.S.-developed or supplied grid-enhancing and other advanced technologies and best practices by E&E energy sector institutions
5. To improve understanding among local stakeholders and the public of the clean energy transition and the benefits to local communities and citizens

WE ARE SEEKING – A Specialist in European Energy Markets with enthusiasm to support our mission to establish energy markets in E&E and couple them with each other and with energy markets in the European Union. The selected candidate will be responsible for assisting the Deputy Program Director in developing and implementing USAID-funded technical assistance and capacity-building programs for all five JSET objectives.  The position will assume direct responsibility for JSET Objective #1 (operationalize and integrate regional energy markets) and work with the Deputy Director to coordinate activities of the other JSET objectives to support Objective #1. The selected candidate will be located in Europe, with convenient air travel to E&E, and be able to travel up to 50% of the year. Beginning of work: as soon as possible

Day-to-day tasks will involve working from a home office in Europe to identify, develop, and execute regional and bilateral programming in support of the JSET objectives:

• Identify critical challenges to organizing wholesale electricity markets in the Europe and Eurasia region and develop an annual workplan of regional short-term technical assistance and capacity-building activities on a regional and bilateral basis to address them
• Work with the Deputy Project Director to ensure continuity of programming across all five JSET objectives  
• Travel through E&E and represent JSET in meetings with transmission system operators, market operators, regulatory authorities, and energy ministries to collect information on the clean energy transition and energy market developments in their countries and identify project opportunities for JSET
• Provide technical assistance and training in support of JSET objectives
• Develop scope of works and project budgets with the JSET team of contractors and consultants (implementing partners) to support the JSET annual work plans
• Monitor the performance of JSET implementing partners by reviewing progress toward deliverables, provide quality control, and ensure fidelity to scopes and budgets
• Communicate about developments in the region and emerging project opportunities through written reports, phone calls, and virtual meetings with the USEA home office, USAID/Washington JSET sponsoring office, and USAID’s E&E missions
• Meet with bilateral donors, multilateral financial institutions, and European institutions, such as the Energy Community Secretariat, to ensure effective donor coordination across JSET programming objectives
• Contribute to the JSET monthly, quarterly, and annual progress reports
• Lead and participate in procurement committees to select consultants/contractors
• Work with JSET’s communication staff to communicate program accomplishments through presentations at USEA meetings and industry conferences, contributions to USEA and energy industry publications, media interviews, etc.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED – Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree in engineering, electrical engineering, economics, or international relations/development and have 3-5 years of experience working at either a European transmission system operator, energy trading company, market operator, or regulatory authority. The candidate will be intimately familiar with how the EU energy acquis (EU energy packages and network codes) informs the development of wholesale energy markets and the clean energy transition in Europe and will be familiar with the process used to couple markets within Europe.

Knowledge and first-hand experience in implementing the transmission system operator’s requirements arising from the Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1222, 2016/1719, and 2017/2195 is a strong advantage.

Ideal candidates will have previous experience working on USAID or other donor-funded energy sector projects.

The successful candidate will possess:

• A desire to work in a fast-paced, multicultural environment
• Knowledge of EU Energy Directives and the ability to interpret and adapt them to E&E
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to interact on a collegial level with senior U.S. government and E&E officials

HOW TO APPLY -- Please submit as a single PDF document to [email protected]:

• Subject: Specialist for European Energy Markets
• Cover letter explaining why your experience and skills make you the perfect candidate for this position;
• Resume
• Writing Sample

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, medical condition, veteran status, or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law.