Smart City Hub Coordinator at GIZ Rwanda: (Deadline 30 April 2024)

Vacancy Announcement

Smart City Coordinator For The Smart City Hub Rwanda Project (Cluster for Digital Transformation and Digital Economy)

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. The GIZ Office in Kigali covers GIZ’s portfolio in Rwanda and Burundi. GIZ Rwanda/Burundi implements projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union and other commissioning authorities in the following priority areas: Sustainable Economic Development; Good Governance; Climate, Energy and Sustainable Urban Development; Digital Transformation and Digital Economy; and regional projects in the Great Lakes Region.

Rwanda champions the Smart Cities concept under the Smart Africa Alliance, a goal also aligned with the country’s national digital transformation agenda that aims to transform the nation into a knowledge-based society. Rwanda, like most countries across the world, is experiencing rapid urbanization, the capital city Kigali currently has a population of 1.7 million, projected to increase to 3.8 million by 2050. The city infrastructures and functions are already strained at the current capacity, hence the urgency to create smart and resilient cities nationwide that can cope with this upward trend.

The Smart City Hub is a consortium between the Ministry of ICT & Innovation, the ICT Chamber, and Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA). The Hub is a one-stop-shop where actors in the smart city ecosystem (public, private and development) can collaborate to empower the digitalization of SMEs, co-design solutions that aim to address urbanization challenges, create impact and improve the lives of citizens in Rwandan cities and communities through technology and innovation.

The overall aim of the Smart City Hub is to provide value-adding services to ecosystem actors (SMEs, cities, the private sector, etc) through;

• Creating a demand-driven agenda where ecosystem actors are engaged through various initiatives to inform on the top priority activities.
• Becoming the source of research, knowledge and connections through sharing information, leveraging networks and opportunities.
• Supporting solutions that address the smart city initiatives from the above mentioned demand-driven agenda.
• by leveraging;
• Existing and potential synergies, for example with Kigali Innovation City or Volkswagen for sector expertise, sourcing training for beneficiaries, access to research and data, among others.
• Existing innovation hubs such as Norrsken or Westerwelle to source high-potential entrepreneurs,
• Available funding lines through innovation funds or development partners.

In this regard, the Smart City Hub is seeking applications from competent, dynamic, and self-motivated individuals to fill the following position in Rwanda;

Position: Smart City Hub coordinator

Job Location: Smart City Hub Office, Rwanda

Number of positions: 1

Contract nature: One Year renewable depending on performance and availability of budget.

A. Job summary

The Smart City Hub coordinator will be responsible for planning and coordinating the implementation of Smart city initiatives in the country, for effective operationalization of the Smart City Hub that was launched in September 2023.

They will be responsible for the rapidly growing Smart Cities practice across Rwanda. They will be supporting Cities’ visions and journeys to becoming smarter, more liveable, and sustainable communities. The key focus will be to manage and lead the day-to-day activities of the Smart City Hub engagements, assist in building the Smart City Practices and the team.
The Smart City Hub project advisor coordinates with youth, local leaders, private entities, local government, line Ministries.

B. Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of smart city projects across the country.
• Conduct research and analysis to support smart city initiatives
• Provide technical and expert support in the design and preparation of actions and inclusive urban development/future city processes.
• Stakeholder engagement and coordination to ensure high-quality work products and project success
• Aligning activities and priorities with other projects in the ecosystem
• Work alongside the hub’s thematic areas to identify a portfolio of smart city solutions with potential to improve the quality of life of city residents
• Establish relationships with client personnel at appropriate levels to cultivate and manage business development opportunities and to be able to develop the appropriate Business Case and next steps to Project realization.

C. Required qualifications, competences and experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in one of these fields; Technology engineering, Business or Project Management, Urban management, Smart Cities Management, or a related field.
• An advanced degree (Master’s degree) is a plus
• At least 3 years of experience in a Smart City Advisory/Consulting role, or Urban management or a relevant position with transferable skills.
• Solid understanding of smart city and digital transformation concepts
• At least 2 years of experience on similar projects in the region of East Africa or Africa (Rwanda is a plus).
• Experience delivering projects through all phases of the lifecycle.
• Strong appreciation of the ‘Smart Cities Landscape’ in Rwanda and have networks within the smart city or innovation ecosystem.
• Strong analytical skills, creativity, and communication skills to encourage cities to execute their smart city roadmap.
• Strong Presentation skills.
• Strong understanding & experience in Sustainability and specifically the relationship between Smart and Sustainable Cities.
• Understanding in relevant technologies (4G/5G communications, IoT, big data and analytics) and their impact on society, business, and economy is of added advantage.

Professional experience

• At least 3 years of professional experience in the area of smart cities, urbanization or digitalization field.
• Demonstrated experience in project management;
• Demonstrated experience in workshop and event planning and facilitation;
• In depth understanding of global and regional innovation trends and methodologies;

Other knowledge, additional competences

• Strong analytical and research skills. Excellent business writing, presentation skills and verbal communication skills (in English);
• Strong project management skills;
• Effective inter-personal and leadership skills. Team player with an ability to develop and foster relationships with diverse stakeholders;
• Excellent networking skills;
• Drive, motivation and ability to consistently achieve results in a fast-paced environment;
• Proficient in oral and written English; knowledge of French and Kinyarwanda would be an asset;
• Proven ability to mentor, coach, and build capacity, across different capacities.

Interested candidates should submit their application (motivation letter, updated CV, certificates and references), via our electronic job portal by using the button “apply”; until 30^th April 2024 at 4:00 PM. All attachments should be put together in one PDF file not larger than 2 MB.

GIZ is a signatory of the Diversity Charter. Recognition, appreciation and inclusion of diversity in the company are important to us. All employees shall be valued – regardless of gender and gender identity, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, social background, age or sexual orientation. We support equal opportunities and welcome applications from people with disabilities.

This includes the provision of reasonable accommodation, if needed, in order to participate in the job application and interview process and to perform essential job functions. Please let us know, if you have any particular requirements should you be invited for assessment/interview or that you wish us to consider, when considering your application.

Persons with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for test and interview.

GIZ Office Rwanda

KN 41 St. / Nr.17, Kiyovu

P.O. Box 59, Kigali,

Rwanda

GIZ office Rwanda reserves all rights!!