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