Open Roles at PowerGen Renewable Energy

Role Purpose

• The Senior Project Manager is responsible for the end-to-end delivery of a utility-scale solar PV and battery energy storage project, acting as the single point of accountability for project execution from financial close through commercial operation.
• Operating in a frontier market environment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the role requires strong leadership in managing EPC contractors, logistics, regulatory engagement, and on-site construction activities.
• The Senior Project Manager will coordinate the EPC contractor, Owner’s Engineer, suppliers, government authorities, and internal teams to ensure the project is delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and capable of achieving contractual performance guarantees, including firm hourly power delivery with ≥95% plant availability.
• The role requires a hands-on leader capable of managing technical, commercial, and operational challenges typical of large infrastructure projects in remote environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering Construction Management Project Management Renewable Energy Engineering
• Professional certification preferred: PMP (Project Management Professional) Chartered Engineer/Professional Engineer registration

Required Experience

• Minimum 10–15 years of experience managing large infrastructure or renewable energy projects.
• Strong experience delivering utility-scale solar PV and battery energy storage projects.
• Experience managing projects in emerging market environments is preferred.
• Utility-Scale Project Experience Requirements
• Candidates must demonstrate:
• Lead project managers in at least three (3) renewable energy projects exceeding 30 MW each
• At least one (1) project exceeding 100 MW solar PV capacity
• Experience delivering hybrid utility scale projects incorporating solar PV, battery energy storage, diesel generation and Energy Management Systems (EMS)
• Direct involvement in:
• EPC contract management
• Construction supervision
• FAT/SAT coordination
• Commissioning management
• Commercial operation handover

Technical Knowledge

• Strong understanding of:
• Utility-scale hybrid solar PV systems
• Client diesel generators integration
• Battery energy storage systems (BESS)
• SCADA and EMS systems
• Grid interconnection processes
• Substation and electrical balance of plant
• Renewable project commissioning and performance testing
• Understanding of engineering tools such as: PVsyst; ETAP / PSSE / PSCAD; is considered advantageous.
• Key Competencies
• Project Delivery: Ability to manage complex infrastructure projects from financial close to commercial operation.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong understanding of EPC contracts, cost control, and contractor claims management.
• Leadership & Coordination:  Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams across engineering, construction, procurement, and commissioning.
• Frontier Market Infrastructure Delivery;  Ability to deliver large infrastructure projects in environments characterized by: limited transport infrastructure, complex customs procedures, remote construction sites, constrained supply chains and security considerations
• Risk Management: Strong ability to anticipate project risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Stakeholder Engagement; Effective coordination with EPC contractors, Owner’s Engineers, Utilities, Regulators and Internal leadership teams

Benefits and Compensation:

• A competitive package including annual compensation, performance bonuses, health insurance, professional development and team building events. And you'll be working with a dynamic team of people passionate about electrifying East  and West Africa!

Why Join Us

• Lead landmark solar hybrid projects transforming Nigeria’s and West Africa’s energy landscape.
• Be part of a fast-growing regional team with projects across Africa.
• Take ownership of complex, high-impact projects from concept to operation.

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Purpose

• The Owner’s Engineer serves as the technical representative of the asset owner, providing independent engineering oversight and validation throughout the design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and performance verification of large-scale solar PV and battery energy storage projects.
• The role ensures that project designs are technically robust, bankable, and capable of delivering firm, dispatchable power, meeting contractual requirements for hourly baseload delivery with ≥95% availability.
• The Owner’s Engineer will validate technical studies, system design assumptions, plant performance modelling, and engineering deliverables prepared by EPC contractors and consultants to ensure long-term reliability, safety, and optimal asset performance.
• Projects typically range from 20 MW to 200 MW utility-scale solar PV integrated with battery energy storage systems (BESS) and grid interconnection infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

Project Feasibility & Technical Study Validation

Review and validate all technical studies supporting project bankability and design development, including:

• Site Selection & Resource Studies
• Solar resource assessment and satellite data validation
• Long-term irradiation datasets and uncertainty analysis
• Shading and horizon analysis
• Site screening and comparative site selection

Topographical & Land Studies

• Review detailed topographical surveys
• Validate plant layout optimization and earthworks assumptions
• Evaluate grading requirements and site constructability

Geotechnical Studies

• Review soil investigations, pile pull tests, and geotechnical reports
• Validate foundation design assumptions
• Assess risk of settlement, pile refusal, or soil instability

Hydrological & Drainage Studies

• Review flood risk modelling
• Evaluate site drainage design
• Validate stormwater management strategies

Grid Interconnection & Power System Studies

Review and validate:

• Grid interconnection studies
• Load flow studies
• Short circuit analysis
• Transient stability studies
• Harmonic studies
• Protection coordination studies
• Ensure compliance with utility grid codes and interconnection requirements.

Plant Design & Performance Optimization

Review and validate engineering designs prepared by EPC contractors and consultants. Key areas include:

Solar PV Plant Design

• Plant layout and DC architecture
• String sizing and DC/AC ratio optimization
• Tracker vs fixed tilt selection
• Cable routing and electrical balance of plant

Energy Yield Modelling

Validate production modelling performed in tools such as:

• PVsyst
• Helioscope
• HOMER
• Internal performance models

Verify:

• Loss assumptions
• Degradation models
• Curtailment assumptions
• Availability modelling
• P50 / P90 production estimates

BESS Integration & Firm Power Delivery

Review design and operation of Battery Energy Storage Systems integrated with solar plants. Key responsibilities:

• Validate battery sizing assumptions for firm power delivery
• Review charge/discharge strategies
• Evaluate state-of-charge management
• Review EMS and SCADA control logic
• Ensure system capability to deliver firm hourly baseload output
• Validate the ability of the integrated PV + BESS system to meet:
• Dispatch obligations
• 95% operational availability
• Contractual power delivery guarantees

Performance Guarantees & Contractual Validation

• Support the asset owner in validating EPC contractual guarantees, including:
• Plant capacity guarantees
• Performance ratio guarantees
• Energy yield guarantees
• System availability guarantees
• BESS performance guarantees (cycle life, round-trip efficiency)
• Ensure guarantees are realistic, measurable, and enforceable.

Engineering Design Review

Review detailed engineering designs prepared by EPC contractors, including:

• Electrical single line diagrams
• Substation and grid interconnection design
• Protection and control schemes
• SCADA and EMS architecture
• Plant layout drawings
• BESS container layout and safety systems
• Ensure compliance with:
• IEC standards
• IEEE standards
• Utility grid codes
• Local regulatory requirements

Construction Quality Oversight

• Conduct site inspections to verify installation quality and compliance with approved designs.
• Monitor EPC contractor QA/QC procedures and verify installation of key systems including:
• PV arrays and trackers
• Inverter stations
• Medium voltage networks
• Substations
• BESS containers and PCS systems

 FAT, SAT & Commissioning Oversight

• Review and approve commissioning and testing procedures.
• Witness testing and commissioning on site
• Witness Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) for critical equipment including:
• Solar inverters
• Power conversion systems
• Battery modules
• Energy management systems
• Participate in Site Acceptance Tests (SAT), including:
• Grid energization
• SCADA integration
• Performance verification tests
• BESS dispatch testing

 Operational Readiness & Performance Verification

• Ensure the plant is capable of meeting operational targets including:
• 95% guaranteed availability
• Firm hourly power delivery obligations
• Compliance with grid dispatch requirements

Validate:

• CoD and O&M readiness
• Monitoring systems
• Performance Ratio and Performance Guarantees 

Key Performance Indicators

• Quality and accuracy of engineering design reviews
• Technical risk mitigation during design and construction
• Successful validation of technical studies
• Compliance with engineering standards and project specifications
• Successful completion of FAT, SAT, and commissioning
• Verified plant performance aligned with contractual guarantees
• Guaranteed Performance Ratios 
• Operational reliability and availability ≥95%

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering, or related discipline.
• Experience acting as Owner’s Engineer, Independent Engineer, Lender’s Engineer, or Technical Advisor on large infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of grid interconnection and power system integration.
• Professional engineering registration preferred.

Required Experience

• Minimum 10–15 years experience in renewable energy engineering, including solar PV and battery storage systems.
• Demonstrated experience in hybrid utility-scale solar PV and battery energy storage systems. Experience acting as: Owner’s Engineer; Independent Engineer; or Lender’s Engineer
• Candidates must demonstrate:
• Participation in at least three (3) utility-scale solar PV projects exceeding 30 MW each
• At least one (1) project exceeding 100 MW solar PV
• Experience with PV + BESS hybrid systems is strongly preferred
• Strong experience in reviewing or performing: 
• Solar resource assessment; 
• PV yield modelling (PVsyst);
• Grid interconnection studies; 
• Power system modelling (ETAP, PSSE, PSCAD);
• Geotechnical and topographical study interpretation; 
• BESS sizing and dispatch modelling
• Multiple power  generation sources integration via EMS including solar PV, diesel generators, and BESS
• Direct involvement in engineering design review, construction supervision, FAT/SAT verification, commissioning, and technical acceptance for utility-scale projects
• Experience in cross-border or emerging market projects.
• Demonstrated experience delivering projects in remote or logistically challenging environments, with willingness and ability to work on-site during construction, testing, and commissioning phases.

Key Competencies

• Technical Expertise: Utility-scale solar PV, BESS integration, power system design, grid interconnection.
• Engineering Governance: Design validation, engineering compliance, and technical risk management.
• Analytical Skills: Strong ability to assess engineering assumptions and validate performance models.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to interface with EPC contractors, consultants, lenders, and utilities.
• Attention to Detail: Commitment to engineering accuracy, reliability, and safety.

Benefits and Compensation:

• A competitive package including annual compensation, performance bonuses, health insurance, professional development and team building events. And you'll be working with a dynamic team of people passionate about electrifying East  and West Africa!

Why Join Us

• Lead landmark solar hybrid projects transforming Nigeria’s and West Africa’s energy landscape.
• Be part of a fast-growing regional team with projects across Africa.
• Take ownership of complex, high-impact projects from concept to operation.

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Purpose / Overview

• The Senior Project Developer will lead the end-to-end development of utility-scale solar PV and storage projects (50MW+MWh+) , ensuring projects are identified, de-risked, permitted, and prepared for a successful transition to construction and operations while meeting PowerGen’s quality, timeline, and budget objectives.

KPIs:

• Project Pipeline Advancement: Measured by MW + MWh progressed from origination to NTP (Notice to Proceed) and financial close.
• Permitting & Approvals: Percentage of projects securing key permits within planned timelines.
• Grid Connection Readiness: Securing interconnection agreements and grid studies on schedule.
• Stakeholder Engagement Effectiveness: Quality of relationships with communities, utilities, regulators, and partners; measured by project progress without major disputes.
• Project Financial Viability: Projects meeting IRR and cost-per-Watt targets for investment readiness
• Development Budget Management: Adherence to approved development budgets.
• Risk Management: Identification and mitigation of project development risks.
• Handover Readiness: Quality and completeness of documentation and project package handed over to Implementation.

Activities:

• Lead site identification, feasibility studies, and land acquisition strategies for utility-scale solar and BESS projects.
• Manage the permitting process, securing environmental, land use, and regulatory approvals.
• Drive PPA/offtake processes, including structuring and negotiating Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and offtake arrangements to secure long-term revenue streams.
• Lead grid interconnection processes, including applications, studies, and utility negotiations.
• Engage with local communities and stakeholders to build trust, manage expectations, and resolve issues proactively.
• Oversee financial modeling to assess project viability, working closely with the Investments team.
• Prepare and manage development budgets, ensuring efficient use of resources.
• Work with Engineering and Implementation teams to align technical design with development requirements.
• Support EPC tender preparation by ensuring development data and permitting conditions are captured accurately.
• Drive risk identification and mitigation strategies throughout the development lifecycle.
• Maintain up-to-date reporting on project status and development pipeline health.
• Cultivate relationships with government agencies, utilities, and other strategic partners to facilitate project progress.
• Manage consultants and service providers supporting technical studies, environmental and social assessments, and permitting.

Competencies:

• Proven track record in developing 50MW+MWh solar PV and BESS projects to financial close
• Proven experience with PPA structuring and negotiation
• Deep knowledge of land acquisition, permitting, environmental and social impact assessments, and grid interconnection processes in Africa.
• Strong project management skills, able to coordinate multi-stakeholder activities across different stages of development.
• Excellent negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and relationship management skills with utilities, regulators, communities, and investors.
• Financial acumen with the ability to interpret and develop project financial models for viability assessments.
• Understanding of technical aspects of solar PV and BESS systems to guide project design and feasibility.
• Strong risk management mindset with the ability to foresee and mitigate development bottlenecks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for reporting and stakeholder interactions.
• Comfort with working in dynamic, ambiguous environments requiring proactive problem-solving.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Renewable Energy, Environmental Management, Business, or a related field.
• 7–12 years of experience in large-scale renewable energy project development, with at least 3–5 projects above 50MW+MWh advanced to financial close
• Experience working in African or emerging markets on utility-scale solar PV and BESS projects.
• Familiarity with project financial modeling and investment readiness processes.
• Experience in managing community and government stakeholder relationships