Enterprise System Engineer

Terms of Reference and Scope of Services

A_BACKGROUND:

The West African Power Pool (WAPP) or Système d’Echanges d’Energie Electrique Ouest Africain (EEEOA) was created by the highest decision-making authority of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Member States held in Lomé, in December 1999. The Headquarters of the WAPP Secretariat is in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.

The ECOWAS strategic objective being implemented by the West African Power Pool (WAPP) is based on a dynamic vision of integrating national power grids into a unified regional electricity market, so that such a mechanism would, over the medium and long term, ensure to the ECOWAS citizens access to adequate power quality at an affordable price, and enhance the economic development of the Member States including industrialization growth, Health and Education improvement, Poverty Reduction, various Employment Opportunities Creation, etc…

To achieve its vision of operationalizing a unified regional electricity market, the WAPP Information and Coordination Centre (WAPP ICC), a Department within the WAPP Secretariat has been designated to perform the functions of a System Market Operator (SMO) responsible for coordinating the reliability of the WAPP Interconnected Transmission System (WAPPITS) made up of the power systems of fourteen (14) ECOWAS Member Countries and administration of the regional electricity market.

To this end, the WAPP Secretariat with the support of World bank within the Project “WAPP Côte d’Ivoire Interconnection and operationalization of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Market” intends to reinforce staffing of the ICC Department by filling key various vacant positions including that of an ENTERPRISE SYSTEM ENGINEER. The successful candidate will be joining the current team in the Information and Coordination Centre (ICC) as it prepares to operationalize the ECOWAS regional electricity market.

B_PROFILE AND SCOPE OF SERVICES OF THE EXPERT:

The minimum qualifications and the functions of the position are defined hereafter:

Brief Description:

The Enterprise Systems Engineer’s role is to ensure the stability, integrity, and efficient operation of the in-house information systems that support core ICC functions. This is to be achieved by monitoring, maintaining, supporting, and optimizing all networked applications and associated systems. The Systems Engineer will apply proven communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills to help identify, communicate, and resolve issues to maximize the benefit of systems investments.

Job Summary:

The Enterprise System Engineer is responsible for:

1.  Evaluate, design, and implement tools to improve the life cycle management of the server environment.
2. Perform production system changes, remote software installations/setup.
3. Monitoring network performance (availability, utilization, throughput, goodput, and latency) and test for weaknesses
4. Perform a wide range of enterprise network administration duties including installations, debugging, maintenance, upgrades, and general support for Cisco, Windows, HP, FortiGate, and Extreme network equipment.
5. Assist in developing, implementing, testing, and maintaining disaster recovery plans.
6. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of emerging tools and technologies.
7. Develop and support processes necessary to enterprise operations.
8. Other missions as assigned.

Essential Duties:

1.  Collaborate with network staff to ensure smooth and reliable operation of software and systems for fulfilling business objectives and processes.
2. Work with executive team members, decision makers, and stakeholders to define business requirements and systems goals, and to identify and resolve business systems issues.
3. Continuously identify opportunities to automate tasks and maintain operational tools.
4. Continuously take proactive measure to prevent incidents.
5. Perform cost-benefit and return on investment analyses for proposed systems to aid management in making implementation decisions.
6. Conduct research on software and systems products to justify recommendations and to support purchasing efforts.
7. Gauge the effectiveness and efficiency of existing systems; develop and implement strategies for improving or further leveraging these systems.
8. Propose and create system design models, specifications, diagrams, and charts to provide direction to system programmer and development teams.
9. Design and perform server and security audits, system backup procedures, and other recovery processes in accordance with the WAPP’s disaster recovery and business continuity strategies.
10. Monitor and test system performance; prepare and deliver system performance statistics and reports.
11. Provide orientation and training to end users for all modified and new systems.
12. Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications / Skills and Knowledge Required:

Education: Bachelor of Science Degree Computer Science Information Technology, Information management (master’s degree in these fields is an added advantage) or related field;

Years’ Experience:

1.  5 years of experience in the related field and computer science.
2. 5 years of experience in all areas of IT applications development including design, analysis, systems data modelling, routing, network monitoring and quality control functions.
3. Five (5) years of programming, software debugging and/or system analysis experience.

Experience & main skills:

1.  Proven experience in overseeing the design, development, and implementation of software systems, applications, and related products.
2. Proven experience with systems planning, security principles, and general software management best practices.
3. Complete understanding and ability to anticipate system information and telecommunication behaviors, analyses result and provide system enhancements based on experience feedback outcomes and systems evolution.
4. Significant experience working with Linux, unix and Windows servers and network monitoring tools.
5. Strong knowledge of networking including TCP/IP, VLANs, DMZ, Ethernet, routing and routing protocols (BGP/OSPF), SONET, switching, 802.1Q, and DNS.
6. Experience with firewalls, Internet VPN’s remote implementation, troubleshooting, and problem resolution.
7. Strong technical aptitude and ability to research & solve complex issues independently.
8. Willingness and ability to learn new skills and apply them as needed.
9. Ability to effectively communicate issues and resolutions to all levels of the organization.
10. Ability to maintain confidentiality with sensitive internal and external information.
11. Highly self-motivated and directed, with keen attention to detail.
12. Proven analytical and creative problem-solving abilities.
13. Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.
14. Knowledge of computer security procedures and protocol.
15. Ability to understand and support new development of hardware, software and operating systems and processes.

Language:

Sound oral and written communication skills in English or French with a good working knowledge of the other language.

C_REPORTING OBLIGATIONS

The ENTERPRISE SYSTEM ENGINEER 's services includes the preparation and timely submission of quality reports and documents, written in English and/or French as required by the supervisor. He/she will also contribute to the preparation of quarterly and annual reports of the Information and Telecommunication Division as well as the ICC Department activities.

D_COMMITMENT PERIOD

The duration of the initial Contract extends from the date of signature for a period of two years. On an annual basis, the WAPP Secretariat shall conduct a review of the Consultant’s performance to monitor the continuation of the good and efficient execution of the Contract. At the end of the initial Contract, an extension will be awarded to cover the outstanding execution period of the funding project subjected to the validity timeframe/extension of the funding project with West African Power Pool (WAPP), the availability of funds and the satisfactory appraisal of the Officer’s performance.

The Consultant's services will be carried out at the WAPP Secretariat in Cotonou.

E_LINE MANAGEMENT

The ENTERPRISE SYSTEM ENGINEER will be placed under the functional authority of the Department of Information and Coordination Centre (ICC) of the WAPP Secretariat, during the execution of the assigned mission as presented in the following Structure:

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