Vacancies Open at SolarAfrica Energy Pty Ltd

Principal Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage a team of commercial, financial, and technical asset managers to optimise asset performance and compliance.
• Develop and implement strategies for efficient and cost-effective operation of renewable energy assets.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, standards, and guidelines, including health and safety, environmental, and quality requirements.
• Develop and manage budgets for the operation and maintenance of assets.
• Monitor and analyse asset performance to optimise efficiency and reduce costs.
• Manage external debt facilities, including ongoing reporting and loan compliance.
• Develop risk management strategies for asset ownership and operation.
• Stay up to date with industry trends and provide leadership for new technologies and approaches.
• Implement best practice asset management, optimising long-term commercial and technical performance.
• Establish/refine systems and processes for improved commercial and technical oversight, performance monitoring, and stakeholder reporting.
• Manage and create accurate and timely stakeholder reporting, including reporting to investors, lenders, and internal stakeholders.
• Identify value accretive opportunities on existing assets and present proposals to the Investment Committee.
• Own business plans, budgets, capital projects, and other initiatives on existing assets.
• Ensure compliance across the portfolio with project contracts, HSE, regulation, and policy.
• Contribute to the quarterly valuations process by supporting assumption methodologies, management, and informative quarterly reporting.
• Work closely with the investment team to provide technical and commercial input into the investment process.
• Monitor and report asset performance, implementing strategies for improvement and risk mitigation.
• Oversee the transfer of Assets post commissioning to Fund or SPV.
• Facilitate periodic internal and external audits.
• Any other job duties associated with this role.

Specific Attributes:

• A profound understanding of the C&I renewable energy industry, focusing on solar asset management and operations.
• Demonstrates excellent knowledge of key commercial agreements (PPA, EPC, O&M, etc.) and project finance, including asset reporting requirements, covenants, and ratio tests.
• Exhibits strong leadership qualities with proven experience in managing and building effective teams. Capable of establishing and maintaining strong relationships with colleagues and external counterparts.
• Demonstrates the ability to develop and implement strategic plans for the efficient and cost-effective operation of renewable energy assets.
• Ensures compliance with relevant regulations, standards, and guidelines, including health and safety, environmental, and quality requirements.
• Stays up to date with industry trends and provides leadership for new technologies and approaches in the renewable energy sector.

Desirable Attributes:

• Holds a relevant degree or equivalent financial/technical/commercial qualification. A master's degree or higher is beneficial.
• Possesses a passion for Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) with a good awareness of HSE legislation and standards.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, enabling effective communication with stakeholders, investors, lenders, and internal teams.
• Sound data management skills to handle and analyse information crucial for decision-making and reporting.
• Solid planning and organising skills, including effective prioritisation and resource management, to deliver high-quality work under pressure and tight deadlines.
• Proactively identifies value accretive opportunities on existing assets and presents proposals to the Investment Committee.
• Fosters collaboration within the Asset Management Team and other functional teams across the business, promoting a one-team approach.
• Works towards optimising the long-term commercial and technical performance of assets, contributing to the overall success of the company's renewable energy portfolio.

What Does Success Look Like?

By month 3:

• I will have successfully familiarised myself with our software and departmental processes.
• Active participation in monthly 1:1 meetings, gaining knowledge of my team and our asset portfolio.
• I have formulated the team structure, agreed on the Accountability Chart, and have a team plan for the year, including systems, processes, and people.

By month 6:

• I will demonstrate a solid understanding and effective performance of roles and responsibilities.
• I will be accountable for the Asset Management department and change management of team members in this team.
• I achieved my key performance indicators (KPIs) and proficiently utilised all internal software.
• Active engagement with the team, fostering a collaborative environment, and ensuring peers recognise the value of my contributions.

By month 12:

• I will confidently execute my 5 key roles and responsibilities.
• Providing valuable support to team members, contributing to a collaborative and high-performance work environment.
• Producing quality work that directly contributes to the company reaching its goals in the renewable energy portfolio.

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Principal Duties/Responsibilities:

• Evaluate and close corrective maintenance tickets promptly.
• Analyse and identify poor performance, developing practical solutions.
• Conduct daily monitoring of solar assets to ensure optimal performance.
• Identify and address any system issues promptly.
• Capture and analyse data for monitoring and reporting purposes.
• Populate fund reports with site performance data.
• Monitor all installed solar assets through Excel Spreadsheets and Databases.
• Ensure systems are performing optimally and take appropriate actions for any identified issues.
• Manage the monitoring portal, ensuring online status and data quality.
• Gather, analyse, and interpret data to drive business decisions and provide recommendations.
• Facilitate weekly discussions with maintenance teams to review outstanding issues.
• Dispatch technicians when needed based on identified problems.
• Facilitate inspections of solar systems and review reports from 3rd party engineering firms.
• Address performance issues and identify problems proactively.
• Develop user guides and job aids for daily tasks.
• Cross-train team members on relevant procedures.
• Review and audit completed work for accuracy.
• Make necessary corrections and provide timely status reports to management.
• Perform ad-hoc data investigations to troubleshoot and optimise system performance.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned by management.

PERSON DESCRIPTION

Experience:

• 2-3 years experience in the Solar PV industry relating to asset and maintenance management.
• Qualification in engineering: Diploma or Degree in Electrical/ Chemical/ Mechanical Engineering, BSc IT (or equivalent).
• Proficiency in introductory statistical techniques (e.g. distributions, regression).
• Proficiency in data analysis software (e.g., Python, Matlab, PowerBI)
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel, and Microsoft Projects.
• Inverter & solar panel knowledge, including thin film and polycrystalline.
• Good interpersonal skills in terms of communication and ability to contribute to a team.

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Principal responsibilities:

• Team management for your growing maintenance technicians, solar panel washing teams and apprentice/maintenance assistant teams, including mentoring for success.
• Manages the scheduling of maintenance activities by resource planning
• Develop and implement maintenance plans for solar energy systems.
• Monitor and analyse system performance, including energy production and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and enforce safety protocols.
• Oversee and maintain high maintenance quality standards.
• Addresses and resolves issues related to maintenance
• Monitor assets, issue work orders, follow up on work orders and close work orders
• Review maintenance reports, which include CBM, scheduled maintenance, and panel washing reports and utilise V-com for automation of these tasks
• Solar PV asset monitoring and reporting. 
• Direct supervision of sub-contractors or overseeing the work of management contractors where required 
• Monthly internal stakeholder reporting
• Updating of department KPIs every week
• Inventory management, including spares planning
• Daily monitoring and technical support
• Continuous improvement of documentation, processes and policies
• ASR creation
• Conduct O&M audits on sites on an adhoc basis to retain quality control
• Health and safety management of the team
• Warranty claims
• Coordination and management of the panel washing teams/subcontractors
• Any other job duties as required.

PERSON DESCRIPTION

Experience:

• 3 years+ experience in asset and maintenance management in the solar PV industry.
• Proven Experience as an electrician.
• Diploma in relevant vocational training or completed apprenticeship as an electrician.
• Experience and knowledge of leading and managing a team
• Have the ability to plan, issue and manage maintenance activities
• Thorough knowledge of safety procedures and legal regulations and guidelines.
• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving ability.
• Able to effectively multitask, prioritise and meet strict deadlines.
• Valid driver's license and willing to travel.  
• Resourceful and comfortable working in a fast-paced and changing environment. 
• Comfortable with working at heights. 
• Computer literacy (MS Office).

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Principal responsibilities: 

• Support safety and environmental compliance. 
• Ensure compliance with technical policies and procedures. 
• Monitor, inspect and approve all electrical work performed on site by the EPC’s in terms of approved standards and regulations, including primary plant and secondary plant installation, cabling, testing and commissioning of substation construction works and solar field works. 
• Coordinate site inspections. 
• Interface effectively with the engineering team. 
• Review and approve contractors' quality plans and work procedures. 
• Facilitate and provide site queries. 
• Raise non-conformance reports for defective work. 
• Monitor project costs, review contractor invoices and produce milestone payment reports. 
• Review and support the Construction Manager with contractor variations. 
• Support Contracts Manager with contractual communication (technical, schedule, and cost-related). 
• Assist with raising of early warning/ events for quality, cost or schedule impacts. 
• Assist with the issuing of contractual notices and prepare assessment reports. 
• Address, record and audit performance, scope, quality, and schedule issues. 
• Proactively notify the Construction Manager of potential changes to the contract scope. 
• Contribute to project scheduling and the supervision of the Works, with the focus being on the quality of the Works. 
• In support of the Project Scheduler, conduct weekly progress assessments and maintain progress reports. 
• Apply effective change control processes. 
• Facilitate concessions and support auditors. 
• Implement document management control. 
• Maintain effective communication with the team, contractors, and the Employer. 
• Manage identified risks and opportunities. 
• Build and maintain positive relationships with customers and contractors. 
• Any other job duties associated with this role.  

Experience: 

Specific attributes: 

• Relevant engineering degree/diploma. 
• Minimum of 7 years of industry experience. 
• 5-7 years of commercial contract management experience. 
• 5-7 years of experience working on construction sites. 
• 5-7 years of experience managing/overseeing contractors. 

Desirable attributes: 

• Proven experience on a similar project in the renewable space 
• Substation Construction (Primary Plant) experience is required. 
• Project Management qualifications. 
• Construction management qualifications