Local Hydropower Engineer - full-time 12 months

Project: P515976 - Zletovica Productivity through Irrigation and Renewable Energy Reference: PIREP-IC-08 Procurement method: Individual Consultant Selection Financing: World Bank REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES - INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT - LOCAL) Republic of North Macedonia Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Zletovica Productivity through Irrigation and Renewable Energy Project (PIREP) Grant No.: TF0D2152 Assignment Title: Local Hydropower Engineer (full-time, 12 months) Reference No.: PIREP-IC-08 The Republic of North Macedonia has received financing from the World Bank, acting as trustee of the Grant Facility for Project Preparation (GFPP), for the preparation of the Zletovica Productivity through Irrigation and Renewable Energy Project (PIREP), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy (MAFWE), through its Project Implementation Unit (PIU), is responsible for implementation of the grant. The preparation grant supports the updating of technical and hydraulic studies, dam safety documentation, transboundary-water analyses, and environmental and social instruments for Phases II and III of the Zletovica Hydrosystem, comprising irrigation development and hydropower generation. The PIU implements the grant in close coordination with the Public Enterprise for Water Management Activities HS “Zletovica”-Probištip (PE HS Zletovica), which provides technical leadership, data, access to facilities and institutional support. The objective of this assignment is to provide PE HS Zletovica and the PIU with senior technical advice and engineering oversight for the preparation and early implementation of the Phase III hydropower investments, while ensuring their integration with Phase II irrigation investments and the existing multipurpose system. The Engineer will help ensure that the investments are technically sound, economically and financially justified, safe, climate-resilient, construction-ready, operable and maintainable, compliant with applicable national requirements, and aligned with World Bank requirements. The consulting services ("the Services") include supporting hydropower-related procurement and, when formally appointed, providing technical input as a member of evaluation committees; reviewing feasibility studies, hydrological and energy-yield analyses, detailed designs, technical specifications, bills of quantities, cost estimates and bidding documents; optimizing hydropower schemes; reviewing electro-mechanical and electrical systems, SCADA, grid interconnection and commissioning arrangements; coordinating hydropower development with irrigation, drinking-water supply, reservoir operations and dam safety; integrating environmental and social requirements; supporting approvals and permits; reviewing consultant and contractor outputs; conducting site inspections; supporting construction, testing, commissioning and handover; and providing appraisal inputs, reports and capacity building. The Engineer will report technically to the Director of PE HS Zletovica. The PIU Coordinator/Project Director will serve as the contract-management focal point and provide administrative oversight and coordination on procurement, fiduciary, environmental and social matters. The assignment will be full-time for twelve (12) months during the GFPP-funded preparation period. The duty station will be the offices of PE HS Zletovica in Probištip, with regular travel to project sites and, as needed, to Skopje or other locations for coordination meetings, inspections, testing and commissioning activities. Any continuation into project implementation will be subject to satisfactory performance, project approval, financing availability, and a contract extension or new contract, as applicable. The complete Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment are included in Annex 1 to this Request for Expressions of Interest and form an integral part of it. MAFWE now invites eligible individuals ("Consultants") to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information (curriculum vitae and references in English language only) demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are: • Advanced university degree in hydropower, hydraulic, civil, mechanical, or electrical engineering, or another directly relevant engineering discipline. A bachelor’s degree in one of these fields combined with substantial additional relevant experience may be accepted. • At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in the planning, design, construction, rehabilitation, commissioning, and/or operation of hydropower facilities. • Demonstrated experience with small or medium hydropower schemes, including hydraulic optimization, energy-yield assessment, waterways and hydraulic structures, turbine-generator equipment, ele