Project Manager, Solar Tech Operations at Zola Electric

Duration: 6 months assignment

The Position

• Zola is looking for a deeply experienced technical operations leader to help us build out our technical field operations division in Nigeria and beyond.
• In this role you will work with the Executive Sponsor (Chief Product Officer, COO) and country leadership to develop a technical operations division within our Nigeria country operations.

Amongst other tasks, you will:

• Work with logistics to fully map out the order fulfillment-Installation-O&M journey.
• Design installation processes and QA systems for our proprietary grid compatible AC hybrid solar energy systems.
• Recruit, hire, onboard and train our initial crews who will go on to become our Quality Assurance, Train-the-trainers and "special forces" for installation and service.
• Work with engineering to develop standard protocols for remote (technical support) troubleshooting, field engineering and technician support, and standardized maintenance processes.
• Work with training and HR to train internal crews and contractors on said processes and procedures.
• Develop a QA framework to ensure consistent and reliable quality in every customer installation and technical service touch point.
• Work with COO, Supply Chain and Engineering to develop standard Bills of Materials, inventory control and reconciliation of goods processes.
• Other related activities as assigned during the course of the contract.
• Develop a first class health and safety program for field activities.

Requirements

• Our ideal candidate will have years of experiencing installing, commissioning and servicing hybrid energy systems in emerging markets.
• He or she will have experiencing managing field operations using internal and external crews including recruiting, training, managing and department optimization employees as well as managing external contractors.
• The candidate will have worked in emerging markets on the ground, ideally in Sub-Saharan Africa and have extensive knowledge about the challenges of working with sub-standard infrastructure, cultural differences, working with technicians of varying levels of expertise etc.
• The ideal candidate will have a passion for quality, and be obsessed with the value of systemizing processes in order to drive scalable operations and predictably quality work.
• Bachelor's or Master's (preferred) degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• Minimum 12 years’ experience conducting, managing and overseeing technical operations (installation, commissioning, operations and maintenance) of power systems, including hybrid power systems.
• Experience designing processes and developing written systems to manage quality and standardize activities.
• Strong bias for retrofit installations and smaller residential or commercial hybrid energy systems (solar installations, battery backup systems, remote sites such as telecom towers or outposts etc.)
• Electrical engineering and/or licensed electrician and field engineering experience
• Electrical Utility Intertie and regulations
• Deep HSE program experience and knowledge of international health and safety standards
• Electrical system integration, troubleshooting and repair
• Rooftop and ground mount Solar design and installation
• Technical Team management
• Passion for field operations and logistics management
• Extremely self-motivated, able to work with little or no supervision and deliver quality content and result.