About the job

Energy and Security Group (ESG) is searching for qualified Policy and Regulatory Lead for an anticipated USAID agriculture finance and productive use of energy project in Uganda (Project) captioned Strategic Investment Activity (SIA). The purpose of the 5 year Project is to facilitate development-related transactions and engagements to catalyze varying forms of investment capital to improve the performance of a wide breadth of agricultural value chain actors. We are looking for a candidate to lead the delivery of Objective 2--improved policies, laws, and regulations regarding commercial investments. The ideal candidate would be an individual who has had a demonstrated impact in reforming the business and regulatory enabling environments in African countries, has successfully worked with relevant government ministries and agencies in Africa, and preferably has experience in one or more U.S. government agencies now engaged in the Power Africa Initiative. This role will enable an individual who wants to build upon this experience to strategically design and carry out policy and regulatory interventions to tackle potential and existing private sector commercial investment policy and regulatory constraints to enable successful investments in the agriculture and energy sectors. The ideal candidate will bring collaborative and creative approaches to engage closely and effectively with host country government representatives to advance targeted policy and regulatory reforms. The ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of experience as a Team Leader or similar role leading a significant USAID agriculture or energy sector policy reform and regulatory project. The candidate must be comfortable coordinating with various stakeholders at various levels of government, agriculture, and energy sector entities, and legal and regulatory agencies.

Responsibilities:

• Lead delivery of Objective 2--improved policies, laws, and regulations regarding commercial investments, including related technical, administrative, financial, and operational activities of that workstream.
• Provide technical and managerial guidance, oversight, and quality control to subcontractors and short-term technical experts responsible for aspects of technical implementation within the Objective in order to achieve targeted results.
• Experience in policy and regulatory reform efforts to catalyze varying forms of private sector investment capital including local and international equity investors, entrepreneurs, pension funds, banks, impact funds, endowments, insurance firms, high net worth individuals, the diaspora, and development finance institutions.
• Provide technical expertise in global best practices in investment policies and regulations, including key policy and regulatory areas such as investment restrictions, local content requirements, government procurement policy, intellectual property rights, and other restrictions, and adapt them to regional and country contexts.
• Identify major policy and regulatory enabling environment constraints and collaborate with key private and public sector stakeholders to design reforms that are locally owned, widely vetted, and strongly supported.
• Lead efforts to design and institutionalize reforms to improve investment policy and the regulatory environment, translate them into specific recommendations, assess their impact, and advocate to the relevant government bodies for implementation or enactment.
• Manage Kampala based technical staff responsible for implementing the Objective to ensure the quality and timely completion of all programmatic deliverables, the achievement of results, and compliance with contract  requirements.
• Responsible for preparation and delivery of the Objective’s reporting deliverables, such as annual and quarterly reports, annual workplans, budgets, and other deliverables required per the contract with USAID as to the Objective.

Desirable Qualifications

• Extensive experience in agriculture and energy sector policy and regulatory reform projects as Team Leader, Project Manager, etc. of large-scale USAID and other donor funded programs.
• Familiarity with global best practices on laws, regulations, and policies related to commercial investment and reducing impacts on marginalized communities.
• Master’s degree in finance, economics, business, engineering, law, international relations, or other related area from an accredited college or university and 10 plus years of experience and expertise in agriculture and energy sector activities including assistance in reforming policies and regulations governing agriculture and energy sector finance projects regarding private sector commercial investments in those projects.
• Experience in international project workstream management involving the direct coordination of project activities with high-level governmental officials, including experience managing projects funded by international donor organizations implemented in complex developing country environments.
• Practical experience working with a range of program partners, including government agencies (USG and host country), donors, regulatory bodies, utilities, the private sector, NGOs, civil society, and consumers.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent oral and written communications skills and interpersonal skills, including fluency in written and spoken English.
• Experience working in sub-Saharan Africa is required; experience living or working in Uganda is strongly preferred.
• Willingness to relocate to Uganda (Kampala) during the period of Project implementation.

ESG is an Equal Opportunity Employer and celebrates diversity in our work force. ESG does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, genetic information, gender identity, or any other protected status under applicable law.