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Summary

• My client possesses extensive expertise in renewable energy power engineering, construction and investment, particularly within developing markets. They operate as a developer, investor, and provider of renewable power assets in these regions.
• This role is to be based preferably in Nairobi (South Africa and other locations in Middle East and Africa may be considered), with frequent travel across the region.

Responsibilities

Pre-Construction

• Collaborate with Business Development Teams across various markets to create and deliver innovative solutions for clients’ decarbonisation needs.
• Regularly update and refine standard technical contract documentation based on lessons learned to ensure contracts are technologically appropriate.
• Evaluate tender proposals and technical specifications.
• Work with the Business Development Team to identify and engage key vendors for each project.
• Draft scopes of work for third-party consultants, manage their technical contributions, and oversee their involvement (e.g., Owners Engineers).
• Liaise with construction partners to ensure they understand and adhere to technical specifications and standards.
• Provide technical training to construction partners as needed.
• Conduct site visits to evaluate project technical risks.
• Collaborate with clients’ technical teams to manage project delivery.
• Train site engineers as required.
• Review detailed engineering drawings and specifications from vendors to ensure compliance with client requirements, including site visits to vendors’ manufacturing facilities.
• Lead HSE and design safety reviews before final design acceptance.

Construction and Commissioning

• Alongside the Project Manager, oversee the technical delivery of projects, including designs by vendors, contractors, and third-party consultants.
• Manage technical interfaces where design responsibilities are divided.
• Oversee relationships with and contributions from third-party technical consultants.
• Lead the Technical Team on each project, which may include Owners Engineers and Site Engineers.
• Delegate certain responsibilities to Site Engineers as necessary.
• Ensure compliance with all PPA and technical requirements.
• Contribute to the implementation of the project QA/QC plan.
• Align all technical teams to ensure compliance and plant performance, including factory and site acceptance tests.
• Conduct regular site visits to verify technical compliance.
• Manage construction partners’ technical teams to ensure contract and supply agreement adherence, providing regular feedback to management.
• Ensure commissioning processes meet standards.
• Verify all technical documentation meets requirements.

Post-Commissioning

• Support the operational team by
• Managing contractor/vendor technical liabilities post-commissioning.
• Evaluating plant performance to ensure it meets PPA and contractor/vendor obligations.
• Overseeing O&M technical obligations of construction partners and third-party contractors.
• Provide feedback to the technical team with lessons learned, improvement suggestions, and information from each project during formal debrief meetings.

Reporting

• Fulfil internal reporting and management requirements using appropriate in-house systems.
• Provide regular briefings and project updates as needed.

Key Skills

• Engineering degree (preferably with Honours in Mechanical or Thermodynamic Engineering) from a reputable university.
• Knowledge of the renewable thermal industry in Africa.
• In-depth understanding of the technical aspects of thermal markets.
• Excellent written English; proficiency in other African languages is a plus.
• Proficiency in MS Office and relevant design software.
• Proven design experience and technical delivery of thermal projects in emerging markets, specifically for solid-fired power plants/CHP plants (minimum 1MW capacity) and solid-fired steam boiler projects (minimum 6t/h capacity).
• At least 7 years of experience as a design engineer for thermal power plants.