Senior Solar Consultant at DNV GL

Local Unit & Position Description

DNV – Energy Systems SEMELA’s Renewables Advisory group is seeking a Senior Solar Consultant to join our Solar Team. DNV is the world’s leading renewable energy consultant, and DNV’s Solar Middle East and Africa team holds a substantial market position for owners engineering and independent engineering services to support financing and construction of solar energy projects in Middle East and Africa. We are also very active on Technical Advisory role for large / complex IPP procurement exercises, including a mix of renewables technologies: solar, wind and storage.  Our staff are viewed as experts and thought leaders in the industry. The Senior Solar Consultant is expected to work as Project Manager or Quality Assurance for large / complex assignments in the region and to handle therefore complex stakeholder management. He/she will also manage large complex bids on behalf of DNV, supporting DNV on winning new external work. Networks with senior professionals outside DNV is also highly expected.  

This position is based out in Cape Town and to report to Solar Middle East & Africa Team Lead based in Dubai, while collaborating structurally with storage, green hydrogen, and wind.

 Tasks May Include

• Project Management & Project Sponsorship for Lenders Technical Advisory and Owners Engineering projects
• Managing several stakeholders. Reviewing and negotiating EPC and O&M contracts.
• Reviewing PPA and supporting PPA negotiations. Supporting customers through the financial closings of projects.
• Reviewing portions of due diligence reviews, including financial model (OPEX and CAPEX) reviews
• Coordinating with Finance and Legal teams for Tendering Renewable Power Procurement.
• Developing and winning proposals for scopes of services related to technical advisory, owners engineering and Due diligence work.
• Prioritizing QHSE considerations within the team to ensure safe execution and healthy work environment.
• Integrating renewables disciplines related to solar, wind, storage, and green hydrogen
• Initiating and coordinating technical review process among internal specialists (including civil and electrical engineering, energy assessment, technology experts, permitting, etc).
• Coordinating input from technical specialists and reviewing / approving due diligence reports.
• Discussing and resolving technical issues with project developers and lenders/investors, including coordinating input on such issues from internal technical specialists as necessary.
• Participating in continuous improvement efforts for the team, including leading tool development, process refinement, and lessons learned activities.
• Hold Customer / Key Account Manager role for local or global customer

Position Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (ideally electrical), Masters degree Preferred. 
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience working in the solar industry and or Minimum of 10 years’ experience working in the renewables industry.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience working in technical advisory (consultancy) role
• Technical Due Diligence and Owners Engineering experience
• Familiarity with energy industry technology (modules, inverters, mounting system, balance of system, etc)
• Project management and time management skills, including an ability to balance multiple projects under tight deadlines and to establish and maintain good relations with clients.
• Solution-oriented thinking skills – identifying technical risks and formulating solutions.
• Displaying high integrity and honesty – clients rely on DNV’s independence and its responsibility to perform a rigorous but fair review of a project.
• Fluent in MS Office products.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills, including ability to write clear and detailed technical reports, presentations, and emails, and to clearly communicate complex technical issues to a non-technical audience.
• Familiarity with contracts (construction, supply, operations, interconnection, offtake, and/or asset management contracts).
• Business development experience. Local experience (South Africa). Energy Production Assessment (EPA) knowledge
• Conceptual design & optimization knowledge. Understanding of budgets and financial models.

Preferred Skills:

• French / Spanish / Arabic speaker is a plus
• Coding. Innovation and process improvement mindset.
• Willingness and ability to travel, up to 20% of the time.