Climate-Smart Agro Engineer at Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (InfraCredit)

Job Summary

The ideal candidate will be involved in multi-stakeholder collaboration, seamlessly working with energy engineers, original equipment manufacturers, developers, agricultural cooperatives, amongst other stakeholders to align agricultural processing needs with distributed renewable energy capacity. 

Job Details

The Climate-Smart Agro Engineer will be required to carry out the following activities: 

• Conduct hands-on technical due diligence on all agricultural processing equipment and renewable energy systems proposed for projects, evaluating OEMs and local fabricators for quality, durability, and contextual relevance.
• Lead the end-to-end technical design, operational modelling, and scalability validation of the PUE AssetCo including creating standardised, replicable PUE equipment packages (e.g., solar-powered milling, drying, cooling) to be deployed by the AssetCo. 
• Provide support with the structuring of the AssetCo operational model to embed diverse business models (lease-to-own/PAYGO structures, maintenance protocols, performance monitoring). 
• Validate the scalability of the technical model across diverse regions and product value chains (cassava, maize, rice, oil palm amongst others) to de-risk the portfolio for investors. 
• Develop technical models and assessment frameworks that incorporate technical data from OEM, equipment, energy while accommodating agricultural seasonality and climate variability for PUE projects. 
• Provide critical technical assumptions and data for financial models, including equipment CAPEX, maintenance schedules, energy consumption profiles (load forecasting), efficiency rates, and expected asset lifespans. 
• Collaborate with DRE engineers to ensure agro-processing load requirements are perfectly matched with the design and capacity of the Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) system for optimal technical and economic performance. 
• Lead the technical sections of New Business Committee and Credit Committee Papers for the PUE AssetCo model and the respective projects, clearly articulating the technical rationale, risks, and mitigants. 
• Provide expert responses to all technical queries from the MROC, Credit Committee, and development partners amongst others, instilling confidence and highlighting the credit thesis of the underlying assets. 
• Support the climate-smart agro transaction team to design and structure innovative models tailored to agricultural energy projects, incorporating risk sharing mechanisms and blended finance approaches. 
• Support with the origination and structuring of climate-smart agro deals using the PUE AssetCo model. 
• Develop comprehensive market assessments of energy transition opportunities across agricultural value chains, identifying priority sub-categories and investment themes. 
• Build strategic partnerships with agricultural technology providers, original equipment manufacturers, and energy service companies including mini-grid operators. 

Impact Measurement and Reporting 

• Establish sector-specific impact measurement frameworks that capture agricultural productivity, climate, and socioeconomic outcomes. 
• Develop regular reporting systems for tracking activities and performance in agricultural value chain. 
• Prepare case studies and documentation to demonstrate impact and attract additional partners. 
• Coordinate with development impact team to ensure detailed impact assessment and MEL reporting. 

Stakeholder Engagement and Knowledge Sharing 

• Build relationships with development partners, donors, other stakeholders and focused on climate-smart agro space and facilitate knowledge sharing and learning exchanges among agricultural energy project stakeholders.
• Design and implement capacity building programs for agribusinesses seeking energy transition investments. 
• Create educational resources and toolkits for development partners and donor agencies interested in financing energy transition projects for agro companies. 

Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) and Process Management 

• Develop and implement SoPs guiding investment/financing strategies, execution and operational workflows. 
• Document responsibilities, timelines, and approval requirements for climate smart agro activities. 

Data Management and Reporting 

• Provide critical data and update climate-smart agro transactions and database on the transaction reporting system. 
• Ensure all transaction related documents, reports, templates, and operational materials are organised and up to date and monitor performance and generate regular reports for development partners.

Requirements

Candidates for the role should possess the following qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Science, or closely related field; Master's Degree (MBA, Agricultural Development).
• Relevant professional qualifications in engineering, agriculture, and other related subject areas are an advantage. 
• 4-7 years of experience in agricultural engineering, agricultural development, with at least three to five working with development finance institutions (DFIs) or donor agencies. 
• Proven experience in technical transaction structuring, assessment, and analysis for agricultural and/or infrastructure projects. 
• Deep understanding of agricultural value chains, farming systems, and rural economic dynamics in Nigeria. 
• Technical modelling and structuring risk sharing and blended finance transactions as well as risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
• Knowledge of renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency solutions, and climate-smart agricultural practices. 
• Sound understanding of blended finance mechanisms and development finance structures and strategies. 
• Strong analytical, project management skills and systematic problem-solving abilities, with excellent communication, writing and stakeholder engagement capabilities. 
• Ability to effectively manage competing deadlines for projects in a fast-paced work environment, with varying degrees of supervision. 
• Acute attention to detail and a dedication to providing high-quality reports.
• Proficiency in the use of all Microsoft Office applications, particularly MS. Excel and MS. Power Point