Senior Technical Manager at CrossBoundary

Primary Responsibilities

• Project evaluation
  • Responsible for evaluating potential solar mini-grid investments from a technical perspective and advising the investment team on opportunities and risks
  • Carry out techno-economic analysis on mini-grid assets, assess the commercial implications of different technical approaches and investigate opportunities for improving the commercial outcome from the perspective of the long-term asset owner.
  • Develop technical standards required for the successful completion and operation of mini-grid projects and continually seek to improve and update these standards based on the evolution of solutions and ongoing learnings
  • Collaborate with project developers and provide strategic guidance and input into the selection process for mini-grid assets components, including solar panels, mounting structures, inverters, batteries, control systems, distribution systems, etc.
• Project supervision
• Remotely oversee mini-grid projects during engineering, procurement, and construction phases, ensuring compliance with requisite standards
• Remotely manage partners through project development process, including target-setting and milestone payment approvals
• Manage enforcement of technical standards agreed upon in development services contracts
• Portfolio management
• Optimise asset performance through oversite of operations partners and use of remote monitoring systems
• Ensure operating partner compliance with standards agreed upon in operating services contracts
• Provide guidance on proposals presented by operating partners and oversee implementation of site expansions and upgrades

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have the following skills and qualifications:

• Demonstrated technical skills, preferably in fast moving and complex environments
• Exceptional understanding of technical aspects of off grid power projects and the spectrum of renewable energy technologies
• Project management skills: candidate takes personal accountability for tracking numerous activities across workstreams and driving them all to a successful conclusion
• Strong quantitative skills; familiar with valuation, project finance, and financial models for renewable energy projects
• Understanding of key technical aspects in legal contracts
• Excellent analytical ability and discipline; ability to think clearly, structure problems logically, and then design and implement solutions that focus on the core issues
• Ability to build strong relationships with partners and colleagues in challenging environments
• Strong presentation skills: ability to communicate clearly and effectively with diverse audiences
• Comfort with ambiguity; ability to operate effectively in a changing context

Required skills and qualifications:

• 6+ years of experience in assessing, implementing, and managing energy projects
• Experience in renewable energy and/or off-grid generation projects (particularly solar) and developing countries (particularly Africa) will be regarded extremely favourably
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field required; other advanced degrees and project management courses will be regarded favorably
• Work experience or demonstrated familiarity with renewable energy systems, particularly solar PV installations or operating assets
• Demonstrated ability to independently supervise multi-stakeholder projects