Technical Development Manager

Want to join an innovative player in renewable energy that is rapidly growing in Africa? Since it was established in 2019 as part of renewable energy frontrunner Release by Scatec has been developing and deploying a unique, flexible leasing solution of pre-assembled and modular solar and battery equipment for the mining and utilities market. Recently announced funding by Climate Fund Managers will enable our dynamic, young team in its ambition to power and electrify Africa. We are present in several countries in Africa and in the Americas, and are headquartered in Oslo, Norway.

Main purpose of position

Currently we are looking for a Technical Development Manager to be based in Oslo, Norway or Cape Town, South Africa and be part of our global team.

• The Technical Development Manager (TDM) has the overall responsibility of supporting projects during the early phases of project development (DG0 to DG3) by managing engineering and other resources involved in project development to deliver project-specific technical deliverables to the Business Development Managers (BDM).
• The TDM is the key liaison between the Engineering and Business Development functions and is assigned to work with a Business Development Manager on each project opportunity he/she supports. He/she takes ultimate responsibility for producing the technical offering and accompanying technical deliverables, but is supported by the Product Engineering, Civil Engineering, Project Engineering, Supply Chain and Project Execution functions.
• The TDM is responsible for managing the technical handover process for the projects he/she is involved in, a handover towards the Project Engineering Lead which officially completes at DG3. This handover may start prior to DG3, but the TDM remains the ultimate responsible party towards the BDM up until the handover is completed at DG3. The Project Engineering Lead then takes over the full technical responsibility beyond DG3.

Main responsibilities:

• Leading the Product Engineering Workstreams between DG0 and DG3: Support the Release Business Development team with technical screening of new project opportunities.
• Collect, review and file/organize all technical project information to ensure the information/documentation collected is consistent, clear and sufficient to conduct the project's initial feasibility, general evaluation, technical constraints and technical risks analysis.
• Prepare preliminary design documentation that are used for submission of indicative offers (DG1-1.5) and ensure timely delivery of such deliverables to the BDM.
• Document all technical inputs received, assumptions made, design decisions taken, and technical risks identified in the technical development and design process in the project design report.
• Together with the relevant stakeholders (mainly BD and civil engineering) conduct pre-contract site visits, gather site specific technical information and coordinate the drafting of a site visit report.
• Coordinate with civil engineering to finalize the site-specific scope of work documents for geotech-, hydro- and topo- studies and civil specifications.
• Review information gathered during site visits and prepare adjustments to the preliminary design documentation and overall technical offering if necessary.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Design, Procurement, and Installation teams to prepare design documentation for final offers (at DG2) and ensure timely delivery of such deliverables to the BDM.
• Support Procurement and Sales teams in defining power plant equipment scope and costs.
• Manage the process to complete the technical schedules of Lease Agreements (in particular Schedules 5, 7, 8 and 9).
• Support the BD team in negotiations of the Lease Agreement and serve as Release's main technical counterpart towards our clients during the development phase.
• Manage the handover process for all technical deliverables from the Technical Development Manager to the Project Engineering Lead between DG2-3.
• General Support to Sales/BDM: Participate in meetings, presentations, and conferences to promote the Release solutions in support to the Release BD team.
• Develop technical marketing material, standard offers and other documents needed to support the sales effort, in cooperation with Business Development and Product Engineering.
• Manage and prepare technical deliverables to be included in the offers and contracts.
• Deliver technical project cost information to BD (equipment/CAPEX and engineering costs) and source non-technical project costs from the relevant functions (installation cost and O&M costs).
• Feed-back to Engineering and Supply Chain teams: Highlight areas where Release's technical and commercial offering need to be adjusted to align with market needs.

Important role interfaces:

• Business Development (BD): Prioritization of activity to match BD and customer expectations.
• Strategic discussion on technical options for opportunities.
• Understand technical deliverables required to support all ongoing BD activities.
• Day-to-day interactions on opportunities with Business Developers, throughout the DG0-DG2 process.
• "Voice of Customer" for updating of offering and Alignment on market evolution.
• Engineering (ENG): Chief Engineer (CE): Inform CE of any technical support needed from Engineering team to support BD activity.
• Project engineering: Involve Project Engineering in projects after DG1.5. Administer technical handover process between DG2-3.
• Product Engineering: Seek Project Engineering input for any technical solution outside standard configuration/standard scope. Regularly align on updates to technology offering and standard tools/templates.
• Supply Chain (SC): Seek SC support for costing of non-standard items, including logistics and project specific equipment and services.
• Project Management (PM): Seek PM support as needed for evaluation and costing of installation and/or O&M.
• Document control (DC): Ensure that for each project, the technical documents are properly stored, reviewed and shared with external parties. Develop with DC a process for storing documentation early project opportunity documentation where no SP project site exists yet (CRM).
• Quality Assurance/Control (QC): Participate in Lessons Learned process.
• Technical Asset Management (AM): Align the project's O&M strategy and costs with the Technical Asset Management function.

Qualifications and competencies

• Degree in Electrical, Electro-Mechanical or Civil Engineering with substantial working experience in the industry.
• 7+ year of general engineering experience; or technical project management experience; or equivalent project engineering experience.
• An excellent knowledge of MS Office, and project reporting.
• Exposure to Utility Scale PV / Wind Project execution, developed and executed under Project Finance structures.
• 7+ years electrical engineering experience or BESS/Hybrid system engineering experience.
• 5+ years EPC/construction projects experience in Central or West Africa.
• 5+ years renewable energy sector experience (mainly solar PV, BESS experience is an advantage).
• Exposure to High Voltage Networks and Sub-Stations.
• Fluent both written and spoken in French and English.
• Valid driver's license.

For the particular role we also expect:

• Strong organizational and managerial skills.
• Task oriented, prioritization skills, highly structured, systematic, and analytical.
• Solution oriented, Independent and proactive.
• Able to communicate clearly in a professional manner to various internal and external parties.
• Able to produce clear written communication (emails, meeting minutes, reports, tasks) and submit to team and management in a structured and professional manner.
• Able to work in a fast-paced and deadline driven project environment.
• Must be able to work on site in various conditions.
• Travelling for certain periods in Africa and may result in extended time on site (1 to 2 weeks).
• Location of this position - Oslo, Amsterdam or Paris.

Personal characteristics

It is part of every Release employee's terms of reference to contribute to Scatec group's vision: Improving our Future and adhere to our company values which are:

• Predictable: demonstrate clear communication and listening skills, shares information in an open and honest way.
• Driving results: demonstrate determination, pro-activeness, can prioritise and work independently.
• Changemaker: demonstrate entrepreneurship, can challenge, fast learner, take initiatives and adjust.
• Working together: demonstrate teamwork, shares responsibilities, can compromise, has a can-do attitude.

We offer

Release, is an exciting, innovative and ambitious company operating in a growing industry. We offer a challenging and interesting position where you will be part of a flexible, diverse and truly international working environment consisting of highly competent and committed colleagues with a positive drive to make a difference.

Release is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by appropriate law.

All hiring decisions are made based on merit, competence and business need.