Head of Project Development

About the role

PowerGen, a leading renewable energy platform in sub-Saharan Africa, is expanding into large-scale generation and grid projects for mining, industrial and utility-scale offtakers. The Head of Project Development leads the development of large-scale solar PV + storage projects (and other technologies) from award through to financial close, and builds a mature project development function (team, processes, governance and tools) so projects can be developed repeatedly and at scale.

Key responsibilities

• Own each large-scale project from award to financial close, within budget and on schedule, covering PPA/commercial, EPC and O&M, technical and design, regulatory and permitting, tax, grid interconnection, land, E&S and risk management.
• Set and secure development budgets, manage consultants and advisors, and keep projects bankable through to financial close.
• Support debt and equity raising with the Investments team, and help secure new awards through feasibility, project structuring and input to proposals and pricing.
• Ensure a complete handover to Implementation and Asset Management at financial close.
• Build the project development function: define the team structure and hire in line with the pipeline, train and coach internal talent, and design a stage-gated development process with gate criteria and investment committee touchpoints.
• Set up project governance (decision rights, reporting cadence, risk monitoring, approval of development spend at each gate) and a pool of pre-qualified advisors and consultants.
• Define interfaces with BD, Investments, Engineering, Implementation, Procurement, Legal and Asset Management, and build a standard toolkit of development plans, risk registers, due diligence checklists and contract templates.
• Provide strategic oversight of the development portfolio, advise on contracting strategy, PPA structuring and financing, and represent PowerGen with offtakers, governments, regulators, lenders and investors.
• Lead, develop and motivate the project development team, and contribute to the Commercial & Development leadership team and Group strategy.

Required profile

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Finance, Business, Law, Renewable Energy or a related field.
• 10-15 years in energy or infrastructure project development, including at least 5 years as a lead developer or in a development management role.
• Multiple large-scale (50 MW+) renewable energy projects taken to financial close.
• At least 3 years managing teams, development budgets and consultant portfolios.
• Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa or other emerging markets; DRC or francophone Africa experience is an advantage.
• Experience with mining / industrial offtakers, hydro, or mini- / metro-grids is an advantage.

Required skills

• Lead developer of large-scale solar PV and/or BESS projects, including project-financed transactions with DFIs and/or commercial lenders.
• Hands-on command across PPA, EPC / O&M, technical, grid, land, permitting, E&S (IFC Performance Standards), tax and regulatory workstreams.
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills, and sound understanding of project bankability drivers.
• Team leadership, stakeholder management and entrepreneurial, hands-on approach.
• Excellent written and verbal English; French is a strong advantage.

What we offer

• A competitive package including annual compensation and performance bonuses.
• Health insurance, professional development and team building events.