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Operations & Maintenance Performance Manager

CrossBoundary

CrossBoundary

Operations
Remote
Posted on Sep 26, 2024

Senior Performance Engineer - Renewable Energy Projects
CrossBoundary Energy

About the Firm
CrossBoundary Energy (CBE) is a leading provider of clean, renewable, reliable, and affordable electricity directly to African businesses. According to World Bank data, access to reliable and affordable electricity is the most significant constraint on economic growth on the continent. CBE addresses this challenge by providing African corporates with fully financed renewable power. Through this approach, we are building a disruptive, distributed, renewable utility that can unlock sustainable growth in Africa.
We are already making rapid progress towards our vision. CBE is currently delivering a portfolio of over $200M of solar, wind, and storage projects for businesses across Africa. Our clients include Actis, Diageo, Heineken, Rio Tinto, Syrah Resources, Unilever, and other leading regional companies. But most of our potential impact still lies ahead of us. Now CBE needs your help to convert Africa's largest industries to cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable power. Learn more at www.crossboundary.com/energy.
CrossBoundary Energy is a member of the CrossBoundary Group, a mission-driven investment firm committed to unlocking the power of capital for sustainable growth and strong returns in underserved markets. Learn more at www.crossboundary.com.

Job Description
CrossBoundary Energy (CBE) is recruiting a Senior Performance Engineer to oversee the performance optimisation and monitoring of our hybrid solar PV projects for commercial-industrial and mining customers. As CBE's clients are predominantly in the private space in frontier markets, the Senior Performance Engineer will play a critical role in the overall success of our mission by ensuring the efficient operation and maximising performance of our renewable energy assets. You will be responsible for analysing and interpreting performance data, identifying areas for improvement, implementing strategies to enhance energy production, and coordinating reporting, while coordinating with cross-functional teams to drive operational excellence.

Who we are
The CrossBoundary Energy team is a unique group of people who are genuinely excited by the opportunity to make a difference in some of the world's most challenging and exciting renewable energy markets. The chosen candidate will play an important role in a unique team with the opportunity to make a large impact on the clean energy landscape in Africa. Team members come from diverse backgrounds but share several qualities: curiosity, humility, integrity, a drive for excellence, and a bias for action.

Who you are

  • A self-starter who is passionate about creating lasting change in frontier markets
  • Seeks to take on new types of work, even without prior experience/direct supervision
  • Shows willingness to work, travel, and live in a sometimes-challenging environment
  • Has comfort with ambiguity and an ability to operate effectively in a changing context
  • Can build strong relationships with clients and colleagues in stressful environments

Required Skills and Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, renewable energy, or a related field. Master's degree preferred.
  • Proven experience in performance management and optimisation of renewable energy projects, including solar, wind, BESS, or other relevant technologies.
  • Strong analytical skills and proficiency in data analysis and interpretation.
  • Knowledge of performance monitoring systems and software tools used in the renewable energy industry.
  • Familiarity with remote monitoring systems, SCADA systems, and data acquisition systems.
  • Familiarity with energy production and performance metrics for renewable energy projects.
  • Understanding of key factors influencing project performance, including technical, environmental, and operational aspects.
  • Ability to conduct root cause analysis and develop actionable recommendations.
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively convey complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders.
  • Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines.
  • Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required to support project sites.
  • Professional certifications in renewable energy or performance management (e.g., Certified Energy Manager) are a plus.
Primary Responsibilities
  • Performance Monitoring and Analysis:
    • Establish and maintain performance monitoring systems for renewable energy projects globally.
    • Analyse performance data, including energy production, availability, downtime, and other relevant metrics to identify trends, patterns, and anomalies.
    • Conduct regular performance audits to ensure compliance with project specifications and contractual obligations.
    • Monitor and assess the impact of external factors, such as weather conditions and grid integration, on project performance.
    • Monitor the real-time performance and operational parameters of renewable energy projects remotely.
    • Identify and diagnose technical issues or anomalies affecting project performance.
    • Collaborate with field technicians and engineers to troubleshoot and resolve issues, ensuring minimal downtime.
    • Generate comprehensive performance reports and present findings to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Performance Optimisation:
    • Develop and implement strategies to optimise the performance of renewable energy projects.
    • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, operations, and maintenance, to identify and address performance bottlenecks.
    • Conduct root cause analysis of underperforming assets and develop corrective action plans.
    • Recommend and implement process improvements and best practices to enhance project performance.
    • Analyse data trends and performance indicators to identify optimisation opportunities.
    • Continuously monitor project performance and recommend adjustments to operational parameters for maximum efficiency.
  • Reporting:
    • Overall responsibility for AM Operational reporting.
    • Create and improve reporting processes.
    • Coordinate cross functionally with other departments to integrate portfolio level reports.
  • Data Management and Systems:
    • Oversee the collection, storage, and analysis of performance data using appropriate software tools and systems.
    • Ensure data integrity and accuracy, and establish data validation protocols.
    • Collaborate with IT teams to enhance data management systems and reporting capabilities.
    • Implement advanced data analytics techniques to extract meaningful insights and drive informed decision-making.
    • Generate comprehensive reports on the performance of renewable energy projects, including KPIs, metrics, and recommendations for optimisation.
    • Utilise data visualization techniques to present complex data sets in a clear and concise manner
  • Integration and Configuration:
    • Integrate remote monitoring systems with renewable energy projects, ensuring seamless data collection and transmission.
    • Configure monitoring systems to capture relevant data points and parameters specific to each renewable energy project.
    • Collaborate with project teams to ensure successful implementation of monitoring systems.
  • Technical Support and Documentation:
    • Provide technical support to field technicians, project managers, and stakeholders regarding remote monitoring systems and data analytics.
    • Maintain comprehensive documentation of monitoring systems, configurations, troubleshooting procedures, and best practices.
    • Contribute to the development of standard operating procedures and guidelines for remote monitoring and analytics processes.
  • Stakeholder Engagement:
    • Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including project developers, owners, operators, and contractors, to align performance objectives and optimise project outcomes.
    • Participate in project meetings and provide performance-related updates and recommendations.
    • Communicate performance-related issues, risks, and opportunities to relevant stakeholders in a timely and effective manner.
    • Foster strong relationships with key stakeholders to drive performance improvement initiatives.

Location
While there is no specific preference on location, it would beneficial to have the candidate located close to the majority of our installed renewable energy assets in Africa.

Equal Opportunity Employer
CrossBoundary is an equal opportunity employer. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to wiehahn.dejager@crossboundary.com

Contact
Interested candidates should apply at https://www.crossboundary.com/careers/.