Current Opportunities at Leap29

• My client possesses extensive expertise in renewable energy power engineering, construction and investment, particularly within developing markets. They operate as a developer, investor, and provider of renewable power assets in these regions.
• This role is to be based preferably in Nairobi (South Africa be considered), with frequent travel across the region.

Responsibilities
General

• Manage biomass supply, processing, testing, costing, and logistics for development projects.
• Conduct detailed market assessments of available biomass feedstocks, considering factors such as source distance, sustainability, calorific value, moisture content, and particle size. Establish and implement biomass sourcing strategies based on these assessments.
• Identify and conduct due diligence on potential biomass partners and suppliers for projects.
• Draft, negotiate, and execute supply/partnership agreements with selected partners and suppliers.
• Develop market-specific strategies and processes for the procurement, storage, processing, transportation, and supply of biomass for projects.
• Perform cost-benefit analyses of transportation versus biomass processing/densification.
• Develop strategies for ash disposal and create ash off-take agreements or CSR activities.
• Identify opportunities to continuously improve the sourcing strategy to optimize cost and sustainability objectives.
• Collaborate with the E&S team to undertake sustainability assessments of the biomass procurement strategy to meet board requirements.
• Monitor biomass supply costs, sustainability, and quality.
• Track and report monthly volumes and costs for internal review.
• Prepare presentations for management and board as needed.
• Over time, manage a team of in-country biomass procurement specialists and/or data researchers/analysts.

Reporting

• Fulfil internal reporting and management requirements using appropriate in-house systems.
• Provide regular briefings and updates as needed.

Key Skills

• University Degree in Engineering or Finance
• MBA is advantageous
• Enthusiasm and commitment to working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Strong people management skills and a team player, with the ability to work independently
• Willingness to travel and visit potential biomass suppliers
• Passion for the decarbonisation industry in Africa and contributing to project delivery

go to method of application »

• My client possesses extensive expertise in renewable energy power engineering, construction and investment, particularly within developing markets. They operate as a developer, investor, and provider of renewable power assets in these regions.
• This role is to be based preferably in Nairobi (South Africa and other locations in Middle East and Africa may be considered), with frequent travel across the region.

Responsibilities
Pre-Construction

• Collaborate with Business Development Teams across various markets to create and deliver innovative solutions for clients' decarbonisation needs.
• Regularly update and refine standard technical contract documentation based on lessons learned to ensure contracts are technologically appropriate.
• Evaluate tender proposals and technical specifications.
• Work with the Business Development Team to identify and engage key vendors for each project.
• Draft scopes of work for third-party consultants, manage their technical contributions, and oversee their involvement (e.g., Owners Engineers).
• Liaise with construction partners to ensure they understand and adhere to technical specifications and standards.
• Provide technical training to construction partners as needed.
• Conduct site visits to evaluate project technical risks.
• Collaborate with clients' technical teams to manage project delivery.
• Train site engineers as required.
• Review detailed engineering drawings and specifications from vendors to ensure compliance with client requirements, including site visits to vendors' manufacturing facilities.
• Lead HSE and design safety reviews before final design acceptance.

Construction and Commissioning

• Alongside the Project Manager, oversee the technical delivery of projects, including designs by vendors, contractors, and third-party consultants.
• Manage technical interfaces where design responsibilities are divided.
• Oversee relationships with and contributions from third-party technical consultants.
• Lead the Technical Team on each project, which may include Owners Engineers and Site Engineers.
• Delegate certain responsibilities to Site Engineers as necessary.
• Ensure compliance with all PPA and technical requirements.
• Contribute to the implementation of the project QA/QC plan.
• Align all technical teams to ensure compliance and plant performance, including factory and site acceptance tests.
• Conduct regular site visits to verify technical compliance.
• Manage construction partners' technical teams to ensure contract and supply agreement adherence, providing regular feedback to management.
• Ensure commissioning processes meet standards.
• Verify all technical documentation meets requirements.

Post-Commissioning

• Support the operational team by
• Managing contractor/vendor technical liabilities post-commissioning.
• Evaluating plant performance to ensure it meets PPA and contractor/vendor obligations.
• Overseeing O&M technical obligations of construction partners and third-party contractors.
• Provide feedback to the technical team with lessons learned, improvement suggestions, and information from each project during formal debrief meetings.

Reporting

• Fulfil internal reporting and management requirements using appropriate in-house systems.
• Provide regular briefings and project updates as needed.

Key Skills

• Engineering degree (preferably with Honours in Mechanical or Thermodynamic Engineering) from a reputable university.
• Knowledge of the renewable thermal industry in Africa.
• In-depth understanding of the technical aspects of thermal markets.
• Excellent written English; proficiency in other African languages is a plus.
• Proficiency in MS Office and relevant design software.
• Proven design experience and technical delivery of thermal projects in emerging markets, specifically for solid-fired power plants/CHP plants (minimum 1MW capacity) and solid-fired steam boiler projects (minimum 6t/h capacity).
• At least 7 years of experience as a design engineer for thermal power plants.

go to method of application »

• My client possesses extensive expertise in renewable energy power engineering, construction and investment, particularly within developing markets. They operate as a developer, investor, and provider of renewable power assets in these regions.
• This role is to be based preferably in Nairobi (South Africa and other locations in Middle East and Africa may be considered), with frequent travel across the region.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality feasibility studies to align technical requirements between client and supplier
• Collect data, review technical offers, and build proposals to support the business development process until handover for execution
• Prepare the technical appendix during the contract phase, including technical specifications, delivery commitments, responsibility matrix, and clear definition of battery limits between all parties
• Data collection and analysis
• Preliminary design and sizing
• Obtaining quotes and technical input from suppliers
• Clarification with suppliers and clients
• Budget preparation and inputs to the financial model
• Presentation preparation
• Defining battery limits and tie-in boundaries
• Initial layout concept design

Key Skills

• Engineering degree holder, preferably with Honours in Mechanical/Thermodynamic engineering from a reputable university
• Background in boilers and industrial heating and cooling processes
• Preferably previous experience in energy audits
• Minimum 5 years of experience in energy and environmental fields
• Experience in designing, sizing, and evaluating technical solutions for Biomass boiler, biogas digester, solar thermal, vapor absorption chiller, ammonia chiller, and biomass power plant
• Knowledge of biomass feedstocks and their impact on boiler combustion, emission control, and handling
• Holistic approach to client's needs, ability to identify potential solutions, and evaluate options with the business development team
• Strong presentation skills and English proficiency in corporate settings
• Direct interaction with clients necessitates excellent communication skills to ensure client requirements are met by supplier offers and project team can deliver on time
• Proficiency in MS Office and relevant design software packages
• 3-5 years of experience as a sales engineer or similar role

go to method of application »

• My client possesses extensive expertise in renewable energy power engineering, construction and investment, particularly within developing markets. They operate as a developer, investor, and provider of renewable power assets in these regions.
• This role is to be based preferably in Nairobi (South Africa and other locations in Middle East and Africa may be considered), with frequent travel across the region.

Responsibilities
Development

• Collaborate with business development teams across various markets to design and deliver innovative and complex solutions for clients’ decarbonisation needs.
• Create integrated technical solutions for each project, enabling market issuance for vendor proposals.
• Evaluate tender proposals and technical specifications from suppliers.
• Identify and collaborate with key vendors for each project.
• Prepare scopes of work for third-party consultants providing technical inputs and manage their contributions (Owners Engineers, consultants, etc.).
• Offer technical expertise and guidance on energy efficiency initiatives to internal stakeholders and external clients.
• Develop comprehensive technical solutions to reduce and decarbonise current energy demand, considering cost-effectiveness, feasibility, and environmental impact.
• Draft design concepts, provide proposals, and work with the business development teams to build the pipeline and convert projects from inception to delivery.
• Continuously improve procedures, evaluation tools, and templates for energy efficiency processes to enhance accuracy and reduce timelines.

Delivery

• Assist the business development team in handing over to the Engineering & Construction team to ensure seamless solution delivery, ensuring all necessary technical documentation is available.
• Guide the Engineering & Construction team in structuring the design and contractual framework, including the execution of design functions and identification of OEMs and third-party consultants as needed.
• Ensure the responsibility matrix and contractual arrangements are clearly defined before hand-over between clients, contractors, consultants, and end-users.
• Define scope, battery limits, and interface points clearly for all involved parties.

Reporting

• Meet internal reporting and management requirements using appropriate in-house systems as needed.
• Provide briefings and project updates regularly or as required.

Key Skills

• Engineering degree from a reputable university.
• Knowledge of the renewable thermal industry in Africa.
• In-depth understanding of energy efficiency technologies, including heat pumps, chillers, waste heat recovery systems, and heat exchangers.
• Excellent written English skills; proficiency in French, Arabic, or other African languages is a plus.
• Proficiency in MS Office and relevant design software.
• Proven design experience and technical delivery of energy optimisation and efficiency projects for industrial and commercial clients in emerging markets.
• At least 7 years of experience with energy audits and efficiency projects.