Construction Director – ENGIE Southern Africa at ENGIE

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Construction Director will be responsible for:

• Implementing HSSE program and supervision in the Project Company and Owner’s team and leading the HSSE culture at the site in conformity with Project Company and Stakeholder targets
• Delivering the asset on time, on budget and to the required standards of health, safety, environment and quality by fulfilling contractual requirements and design specs and to deliver 20 years of reliable and sustainable operation.
• Monitoring, coordinating and reporting multiple Contractors’ activities at site and during the design review phase, as well as challenging and negotiating with the EPC contractor when deviations arise, with a view to defend the best interest of the Project Company and ENGIE.
• Directing the Owner’s Engineer team at site.
• Ensuring a smooth and timely completion of all interface activities/information exchanges between all stakeholders (including but not limited to project partners, local communities, external parties).

Reporting

• The Construction Director will be seconded to the Project Company and will report directly to the CEO of the Project Company. This person will also have Developer group construction reporting requirements to fulfil applicable reporting functions within the group.

Key  Accountabilities

• Will follow up on plant construction together with the assistance of the Owner’s Engineer to ensure that it is performed properly in terms of quality, schedule, and budget, in line with respective Agreements of each Contractor and PPA.
• Has responsibility for HSSE implementation in the Project Company and Owner’s team and in leading Developer’s strict HSSE culture at the site, with the support of HSSE Manager.
• Monitors the work at site and liaises and coordinates the efforts of the Owner’s Engineer, local contractors, local authorities, interface partners and the Contractors, as Owner’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) on site.
• Manages the technical and schedule interfaces between the different contractors are aligned in conformity with the contracts and the needs of the project.
• Organizes and chairs the construction and progress management meetings with all the contractors to handle progress and all outstanding issues.
• Respect governance rules and delegation of authority as decided in the Shareholder agreements.
• Timely reports technical variances to the CEO of the Project Company and proposes jointly with the Owners Engineer mitigation and alternative solutions.
• Report and present issues related to construction and commissioning during Project Company Board meetings and any other similar forums.
• Ensure that any agreed corrective actions to mitigate the impacts of any variances are planned and implemented.
• Will monitor and keep updated the overall construction schedule of the Project by integrating the Contractors’ schedules with the schedule of permits, authorizations to be obtained, and other contractual obligations to be fulfilled.
• Will lead technical and contractual meetings with the Contractors, Off taker, utility suppliers, environmental authorities, and any other key stakeholders.
• Will timely review the organization & logistics implemented during construction phase to avoid delays.
• Will direct the work of the Owner Engineer during design review and construction supervision and assess/manage their performance. Will chair selected design review meetings with Contractors and Owner’s Engineer and take technical decisions with the support of the Owner’s Engineer.
• Will review the commissioning procedures received from the Contractors.
• Will issue the commissioning procedures on behalf of the Project Company based on the Contractors’ procedures.
• Will understand all contractual test procedures, particularly Performance Test procedures/reports and coordinate/issue reports to the Off taker with the support of Owner’s Engineer based on Contractors’ reports.
• Works in partnership with the Project Company’s HSSE Officer(s) to ensure the Contractors implements HSSE measures onsite and offsite in accordance with the contract and local legislation.
• Will assist the Project Company CEO in contractual/commercial issues under the PPA.
• Will analyze request for any change/variation orders received from the Contractors and Service Providers and provide recommendations to the Project Company CEO.
• Will handle technical issues onsite and offsite during the construction period with support from the Owner’s Engineer and advise.
• Will interact with the Lender’s Engineer, Insurance Advisers, and Operation & Maintenance teams, or their representatives.
• Will issue weekly and monthly progress reports to the Project Company as well as comply with Developer Group reporting requirements.
• Will write technical memorandum summarizing issues as and when occurred during design review and construction phases.
• Will supervise the issuance of the milestone completion certificates, invoices, mechanical completion certificates and punch list of the different contractors.
• Will formally handover the Project to the Operation and Maintenance Team and ensure smooth mobilization of and transition to the O&M Company.
• Will host various internal and external visitors at site (developer, partners, lenders, authorities, etc.) and write formal communications or technical letters to the stakeholders (off-takers, contractors, suppliers etc.)
• Is responsible for the management of the site office of the Project Company including use thereof by the Owner’s Engineer.
• Shall work in close collaboration with Project Company CEO and Developer teams.
• Will manage the relationship with the local communities.
• Will ensure that all economic development commitments made at bid submission are achieved

Contractual/Commercial

• Will be very familiar with IPP project structures, project finance documents, utility-scale EPC contracts and PPAs
• Timely reports all contractual/commercial variances to the CEO of the Project Company and proposes mitigation or alternative solution.
• Will assist CEO in writing contractual letters to EPC Contractor, Off taker and other interested and involved stakeholders.
• Will identify/anticipate deliverables to be given to the Off taker, authorities, sponsors and lenders in due course.
• Will issue the letters to the Off taker concerning contractual obligations under the Offtake agreements.
• Will coordinate smooth progress of commissioning and testing with the Off taker and Dispatch Control Centre.
• Will assist the Project Company in claims management to and from the Contractors and any other Service Providers.

Other

• Ability to work in broad cultural spectrum.
• Ability to communicate well with all stakeholders, both in writing and verbally.
• Ability to multi-task and work under pressure.
• Ability to lead multiple teams.
• Having no restriction to travel domestically and internationally between construction sites/workplaces and Developer offices/events.

COMMUNICATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal:

• Country Manager Southern  Africa
• Managing Director/s Thermal & Supply and Renewables AMEA Regions
• General Counsel ENGIE Southern Africa
• General Counsel AMEA Region
• AMEA Legal and Ethics team
• Business development teams
• Acquisition, investment and financial advisory teams
• Engineering and technical support teams

External:

• Off-takers
• Tendering authorities
• Project companies
• Operation and maintenance companies
• Joint venture partners
• Subcontractors
• the Authorities and representatives of partners in the Project Company.
• Lender legal advisors

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Degree / Experience

• University Degree in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical Engineering.
• Additional qualifications and registrations would be advantageous (HSE, project management, finance, business management).
• Minimum 10-15 years of project and site experience in utility scale power generation projects.
• Extensive  knowledge of renewable energy sources, construction of power plants and associated technical and contractual understanding.
• Experience in one or more of the following fields:
• Energy Industry
• Large infrastructure project development

Behavioural Competencies

• Requires strong character as he/she will be in front line with the Contractors, Owners’ Engineer, Off taker, the Authorities and representatives of partners in the Project Company.
• Strong technical knowledge of large-scale projects (renewable energy production) which will allow him/her to rapidly identify potential issues on site, to investigate and address them together with the Contractors and the Owner’s Engineer.
• Good knowledge and experience of construction processes, best practices/norms, contracts, and international standards.
• Strong contract/claim management and negotiations skills.
• Strong communication and reporting skills.
• Must be able to work both independently and lead team structures with ability to bridge cultural differences.
• Goal and result orientated, able to prioritize issues in the best interest of the project.
• Highest ethical standards.
• Flexibility and ability to take initiative;
• Maintains high ethical standards;

Specific Knowledge / skills

• Strong technical knowledge of large-scale projects (renewable energy production) which will allow him/her to rapidly identify potential issues on site, to investigate and address them together with the Contractors and the Owner’s Engineer.
• Extensive knowledge and experience of construction processes, best practices/norms, contracts, and international standards.
• Strong contract/claim management and negotiations skills.
• Strong communication and reporting skills.
• Must be able to work both independently and lead team structures with ability to bridge cultural differences.
• Goal and result orientated, able to prioritize issues in the best interest of the project.
• Highest ethical standards.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong negotiating skills

Language

• English

Location / travel

• Location: Northern Cape/Free State  – Sannespos, Graspan & Grootspruit,  South Africa.
• Possibility  to travel Through Africa and  outside the region (e.g. Paris, Belgium, Dubai).

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Adheres to the Company Policies and Procedures;
• Behaves in a professional and responsible way;
• Lives the values of the Company.