Senior Mini-Grid & GIS Technical Expert at Mercy Corps Nigeria

ByMuhuddin Samaila

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

Energy 4 Impact (E4I), the energy innovation platform of Mercy Corps, manages programs that increase access to energy and productive use of energy (PUE) for poor and vulnerable communities in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), Asia and other developing markets. We do a lot of work with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to help them grow their business, trial new business models and technologies, and raise capital.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Mini-Grid & GIS Technical Expert

Location: Nigeria
Employment Type: Contract
Project / Consultancy Title: Mini-Grid & GIS Technical Expert
Project: International Consultancy for the Development of Off Grid Renewable Energy Projects

Purpose / Project Description

  • Energy 4 Impact is seeking an internationally experienced Senior Mini-Grid & GIS Technical Expert to support the Nigerian Energy Support Programme(NESP III) in the development of off-grid renewable energy projects.

The Program / Department / Team

  • Energy 4 Impact is Mercy Corps’ platform for shaping market systems in clean energy access. We work at the intersection of policy and institutions, enterprise growth and finance, ecosystem coordination, and evidence and market intelligence.
  • Our comparative advantage lies in blending the advisory capabilities of a specialist firm with the geographic presence and community reach of an NGO. We translateprogrammeinvestment into strategic, market-credible solutions: building the conditions under which private investment flows into previously high-risk energy access markets.

Consultant Objective

  • The Senior Mini-Grid & GIS Technical Expertwill provide high level engineering, planning, and technical advisory services for mini-grid project development, including GIS-based site identification, system design, and preparation of technical documentation.

Consultant Activities
The Consultant will undertake the following responsibilities:

  • Lead GIS-based site identification, mapping, and spatial analysis for mini-grid development.
  • Conduct techno economic assessments, including demand estimation, load profiling, and PUE opportunity analysis.
  • Develop system designs, distribution network layouts, powerhouse siting, and technical specifications.
  • Prepare and review BoQs, engineering drawings, tender documents, and technical guidelines.
  • Conduct technical due diligence on mini-grid developer submissions and project proposals.
  • Support the development of technical guidelines, regulations, and manuals for the Nigeria off-grid sector.
  • Provide capacity building to local experts, government agencies, and developers.
  • Collaborate with NESP advisors and local consultants to ensure high-quality deliverables.
  • Contribute to progress reports, meeting summaries, and stakeholder engagement sessions.
  • Introduce advanced geospatial analytics (e.g., least cost electrification modelling, remote sensing) to enhance projectselection.
  • Develop standardized templates for mini-grid technical documentation to streamline future NESP processes.
  • Provide advisory support on climate resilient infrastructure design and innovations for grid reliability.
  • Support the creation of a mini-grid knowledge repository for NESP, consolidating tools, templates, and lessons learned.
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Consultant Deliverables
The Consultant will deliver the following:

  • A complete geospatial assessment report including mapped mini‑grid candidate sites, spatial datasets, analytical layers, and GIS files supporting site prioritization.
  • An enhanced geospatial modelling output integrating least‑cost electrification modelling, remote sensing, and advanced analytics to strengthen siteselectionand planning.
  • A techno‑economic analysis package containing demand estimates, load profiles, PUE opportunity assessments, and financial viability modelling for proposed mini‑grid sites.
  • A set of engineering design documents covering mini-grid system sizing,distributionnetwork layouts, powerhouse siting, and detailed technical specifications for each assessed site.
  • A technical documentation bundle comprising reviewed and validated Bills of Quantities, engineering drawings, tender documents, and technical guidelines aligned with GIZ/NESP standards.
  • A due diligence evaluation report assessing the technical soundness, feasibility, and compliance of mini‑grid developer submissions and project proposals.
  • A technical guidance package contributing to national guidelines, regulations, and manuals for Nigeria’s off‑grid sector, developed in collaboration with NESP and government partners.
  • A capacity building report documenting training sessions, materials, participant feedback, and competency improvements among local experts, government agencies, and developers.
  • A set ofreviewed and quality‑assured deliverables produced jointly with NESP advisors and local consultants, demonstrating coordinated technical input and consistency across work packages.
  • Contributions to periodic progress reports, meeting summaries, and stakeholder engagement notes reflecting technical inputs, decisions, and follow‑up actions.
  • Aclimate resilience advisory note outlining design recommendations, infrastructure adaptations, and innovations to improve mini‑grid reliability under climate stressors.
  • Aknowledge repository package consolidating tools, templates, datasets, case studies, and lessons learned for long‑term use by NESP and sector stakeholders.
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Required Experience & Skills
Education:

  • Master’s Degree (or equivalent) in Electrical Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, or related field.

Professional Experience:

  • General: Minimum 12 years of professional experience in the energy sector.
  • Specific: At least 10 years of experience developing renewable energy mini-grid projects totaling ≥5 MW combined capacity.
  • Demonstrated experience using GIS tools (ArcGIS, QGIS, etc.) for site identification and planning.
  • Minimum 5 years developing technical guidelines, regulations, or manuals for the energy sector.
  • International experience: At least 7 years in at least two countries with economies in transition outside West Africa.
  • Regional experience: At least 5 years of professional experience in West Africa, including a minimum of 1 year in Nigeria.
  • At least 5 years of experience working on development cooperation projects.

Languages:

  • Excellent command of English (C1 level, CEFR).

Additional Information:

  • Timeframe / Schedule: This assignment will take no longer than 35 days between May 2026 to December 2027, subject to performance and fund availability throughout this period.
  • The Consultant will report to: The consultant will report to the Senior Technical Analyst, Energy 4 Impact.
  • The Consultant will work closely with: TheTeam Leader, the MEL and Reporting Expertother technical and finance experts in the project, experts from implementing partner, the government counterparts, the finance and operations team.

Application Closing Date
5th March, 2026.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Go to Senior Mini-Grid & GIS Technical Expert at Mercy Corps Nigeria to apply

Note

  • Candidate should commit to availability from May 2026
  • Appointment is contingent on winning tender

Equal Employment Opportunity:

  • Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.
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Team Engagement and Effectiveness:

  • Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate.
  • By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation.
  • We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.
  • We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Safeguarding & Ethics:

  • Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity.
  • We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC.
  • We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times.
  • Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Sama’ila Muhuddin is a dedicated Registered Nurse and humanitarian professional with over seven years of frontline experience. Since May 2018, he has served with prominent international non-governmental organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Holland, Spain, France projects and ALIMA, responding to emergencies and providing critical care in some of the most challenging humanitarian settings.

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