Project and Operations Manager at Puma Energy

Technical expert responsible for the management of physical projects including design, development and commissioning. Negotiation of EPC contracts and EPC management to ensure cost-effective, timely and safe project execution. Also responsible for operations after completion (note we plan to split these roles in future). 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Understands the specifics of the African market including legislation and market norms
• Good contacts with EPC’s
• Experience with AutoCAD, MS Office, PV Syst, Helioscope, Solar GIS/Metronome, OpenSolar, HOMER, SCADA
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Capacity to act as the technical expert to evaluate project feasibility
• Likely to have a degree in electrical, mechanical or industrial engineering but not a prerequisite.
• Needs to be able to sit in front of customers and communicate project at high level without getting weighed down by technical details.
• Proactive, commercial, smart and not interested in bureaucracy.
• Ability to travel

 Key Responsibilities

• Technical due diligence and pre-construction feasibility analysis to ensure the project is correctly sized & scoped
• Planning including design, permitting and regulatory approvals
• Cost inputs and financial analysis alongside the commercial team
• Project management (during development) including engineering, construction and commissioning
• Procurement of equipment from OEM’s
• Contracting with and managing EPC’s and sub-contractors
• Cost and timeline management
• Contract management
• Operations and maintenance (O&M) management (once constructed) 

Educational Qualifications / Experience:

• 3-7 years as technical, project or operations management
• Preference to have worked at one of the solar developers (Lightsource, Total Solar, Shell New Energies, Blueleaf, Engie, Enel X) or well-regarded EPC’s (solarsaver, solarhart)
• Has worked with commercial teams and directly with customers. C&I customer delivery is a must
• An expert in distributed / off-grid energy systems, Mini-grids, hybrid energy systems or storage (batteries)
• PAYG and pre-pay rooftop systems experience to be highlighted
• Knowledge of batteries and grid-tied transmission, distribution a bonus

Key Relationships      

• Internal – Future Energies Commercial Team, Future Energies Executive Team, Puma construction and maintenance teams
• External – OEM’s, EPC’s, Customers, government and regulatory bodies