Gas EU Regulation Advisor, STTA

Description

Project Summary

The Energy Security Project (ESP) is a seven-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the largest USAID project in Ukraine so far. The USAID ESP is implemented by a USAID Contractor, Tetra Tech ES, Inc., a California-based leading provider of services in the areas of water, environment, infrastructure, resource management, energy, and international development.

The USAID ESP mission is to enhance Ukraine’s energy security, improve the energy legal and regulatory environment in the country, and increase the resilience of Ukraine’s energy supply. This will help to support the country’s economic development and sustain its democracy. USAID ESP is working closely with the Government of Ukraine (GOU) to develop competitive energy markets. By doing so, USAID ESP will facilitate private sector-led energy investments to provide affordable, reliable, resilient, and secure energy for all Ukrainians. USAID ESP is currently in the fifth year of implementation and will run through June 2025.

Position Summary

USAID ESP is looking for a highly skilled and experienced international expert to fill in a Gas EU Regulation Advisor position. We are seeking an expert with a deep knowledge of EU gas market acquis – i.e., the regulations, directives, and network codes – to join our project. The successful candidate will be required to provide expert guidance and advice on the implementation of EU gas acquis, how it may be adapted and implemented within Ukraine’s gas sector. Leveraging the extensive knowledge of the European gas regulatory landscape, the Advisor will play a pivotal role in supporting the project’s efforts to enhance energy security, promote transparency, and facilitate a well-functioning gas sector as Ukraine seeks to rebuild its market and strengthen EU integration.

This is a short-term consultancy position for the period of 1 year with possible occasional travel to Kyiv, Ukraine or Bratislava, Slovakia to deliver specific outcomes (not more than twice in one year). The approximate commitment is 4 hours per day. The position will be reporting to ESP’s Gas Sector Lead.

Responsibilities

• Regulatory Expertise: Serve as the project’s key expert on EU gas market acquis – the regulations, directives and network codes, including balancing, capacity allocation, tariffs, security of supply, unbundling and governance. Provide insights into best practices and lessons learned from EU implementation of the ‘third package’ to inform the development of regulatory frameworks in Ukraine;
• Implementation Strategies: Develop tailored strategies for implementing specific aspects of the EU gas market acquis within Ukraine’s gas sector. Identify potential challenges and opportunities and offer solutions to address them effectively. This will be done in close cooperation with ESP’s Ukrainian experts and key stakeholders such as Ministry of Energy, the Energy Regulator, Naftogaz and the Gas TSO of Ukraine;
• Policy Alignment: Collaborate with the project team and relevant Ukrainian authorities to assess existing gas market reform policies and identify areas that require better alignment with EU standards. Propose recommendations for policy adjustments to promote convergence with the EU approach;
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with key stakeholders across a wide spectrum in Ukraine, including government agencies, regulatory bodies, energy operators, and industry associations. Foster collaborative relationships and provide technical advice to support the adoption of EU best practices;
• Capacity Building: Develop and support training programs for Ukrainian energy sector professionals to enhance their understanding of EU gas market acquis. Empower local stakeholders to implement and enforce the measures effectively;
• Market Analysis: Support gap analyses of Ukraine’s gas market to identify areas that would benefit from amendments to better align with EU practices. Provide insights to inform decision-making processes, including commentary on how the EU developed its own approach, why certain decisions were made and why certain outcomes and approaches may be adopted in Ukraine;
• Act as an expert advisor to ESP during bilateral and multilateral stakeholders, supporting ESP’s positions with beneficiaries and the donor community. Evaluate the quality of ESP’s deliverables related to EU policy and regulation alignment;
• Actively utilize your EU regulatory network to bring insights and contacts relevant to ESP’s work, and support engagement with expert consultants brought in to deliver specific projects related to the EU acquis implementation.

Link to the company careers page: https://energysecurityua.org/about-us/work-with-us/

Link to the full position description: https://energysecurityua.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Job-Description_Gas-EU-Regulation-Advisor_STTA.docx