Loss Reduction Expert - Ghana

Tetra Tech is Leading with Science® to implement clean energy projects and policies that advance global climate and decarbonization goals. We advise national energy transition initiatives and structure finance to deploy clean energy solutions. We help create sustainable utilities and modern power grids. We promote equality and inclusivity in the global energy sector. We improve lives and livelihoods in the biggest cities and smallest villages, and at the intersection of energy-health and energy-water-food.

Project Summary: 

Tetra Tech is implementing the recently awarded, five-year USAID Power Africa Empower West Africa (EWA) Activity. Building on a decade of Power Africa success, EWA aims to close the energy poverty gap in the region by increasing supply of and access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity. By 2029, EWA aims to establish six million new electricity connections; reach financial close for 2,500 megawatts of new generation capacity; construct 1,500 kilometers of new power lines; and achieve sales of 40,000 productive use of energy (PUE) devices.

Position Summary: 

Tetra Tech is recruiting a loss reduction expert, who will report to the utility performance lead and liaise with the country technical advisor, utility management specialist, distribution specialist, and targeted utilities. The loss reduction expert will support the utility performance lead to identify activities and develop work plans for selected countries/utilities, design interventions, mitigate potential conflicts of interest, support data collection and analysis, and deploy technical expertise. This position is full-time, and hiring is contingent upon USAID approval. Interested candidates must be eligible to work in Ghana/the target country. Regional travel will be required in targeted countries.   
 

Position Responsibilities:

• Supports achievement of project objectives related to loss reduction improvements. 
• Implement activities under guidance of the utility performance lead. Perform high-quality work,  properly complete field reports, collect evidence and photos of findings, and ensure that visited customers are properly connected to the distribution network.
• Support the design, supervise, and/or coordinate technical services and activities in the target country.
• Provide thought leadership and technical support as needed to achieve loss reduction targets.
• Effectively integrate gender and social inclusion, localization, climate change, activities to reach underserved markets, capacity building, and other guiding principles throughout all aspects of EWA implementation.
• Maintain strong relationships with relevant organizations, including government entities, utilities, and private sector companies.
•  Facilitate and design pilots to support electricity loss reduction and performance improvement.
• Contribute to regular reporting, including weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, as well as monitoring and evaluation tools.
• Develop policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Supports achievement of project objectives related to loss reduction improvements. 
• Implement activities under guidance of the utility performance lead. Perform high-quality work,  properly complete field reports, collect evidence and photos of findings, and ensure that visited customers are properly connected to the distribution network.
• Support the design, supervise, and/or coordinate technical services and activities in the target country.
• Provide thought leadership and technical support as needed to achieve loss reduction targets.
• Effectively integrate gender and social inclusion, localization, climate change, activities to reach underserved markets, capacity building, and other guiding principles throughout all aspects of EWA implementation.
• Maintain strong relationships with relevant organizations, including government entities, utilities, and private sector companies.
• Facilitate and design pilots to support electricity loss reduction and performance improvement.
• Contribute to regular reporting, including weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, as well as monitoring and evaluation tools.
• Develop policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Analyze electricity usage data and billing information to identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements.
• Negotiate contracts with electricity providers to secure the most favorable rates and terms.
•  Implement energy conservation and demand management strategies to reduce overall electricity consumption.
• Monitor electricity usage and costs, and report on performance metrics and trends.
• Prepare budgets, forecasts, and reports.
• Prepare monthly reports on inspected customers; report findings and illegal connections.
• Prepare analysis on feeder level regarding consumption, losses, billing, and collection.
• Prepare analyses on monthly performance (consumption/collection) and results of the targeted utility.
• Prepare daily work lists with respect to inspection.
• Process all data across utilities serviced accurately and in a timely manner.
• Study business activities and provide written summaries in the form of charts and tables.
• Design comprehensive data reports and presentations.
• Carry out statistical analysis of all business data from the targeted utility.
• Draft procedures and workflow processes as may be required.
• Organize customer inspections after regular working hours; perform evening and night inspections.
• Report cases of misconduct / corruption or any other irregularities among utility employees that may be related to energy theft or other criminal activities.
• Report any illegal activity detected during work (required by law).
• Develop training materials and conduct workshops to build the knowledge and skills of stakeholders.