Head of Utilities at 21 Search Ltd

Responsibilities

Head of Utilities is a strategic position that establishes and executes the business model and directs the strategy for city-scale utilities (water, power, gas, telecom and ICT). A senior management position in Nigeria that works closely with the Construction & Delivery team, the Head of Utilities coordinates with the company’s management and management of other company’s cities.

The position is responsible for all aspects of utility management:

• Financial and business strategy and oversight
• Budgeting, planning and development
• Policy development and implementation
• Operations and Maintenance
• Personnel management
• Contract preparation and implementation  

Other responsibilities include:

• Lead and coordinate key engineering activities that affect company’s utilities.
• Provide leadership and coordination with all other groups to integrate project deliverables and plans to support procurement, construction, and commissioning activities.
• Ensure all regulatory reports and deadlines are adhered to.
• Monitor and oversee internal quality standards that are met for the operational deliverables of maintenance services.
• Prepare high-quality weekly, monthly and other periodic reports on the status of utilities.
• Implement and ensure enforcement of best practices, policies and procedures for the utilities businesses.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other departments, regulatory agencies, consultants and customers.

REQUIREMENTS

• Undergraduate degree with a minimum of 15 years of hands-on experience in an engineering setup or utility infrastructure, including but not limited to electricity generation and water treatment and distribution.
• Leadership experience in an engineering or construction firm is a major plus.
• Experience in construction, operation and maintenance of utilities infrastructure.
• Effective development/project management skills.
• Excellent business analysis skills.
• Excellent budgeting and reporting skills.
• Mature, pragmatic and flexible approach, strong commercial judgment.
• Team player but comfortable working autonomously.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Good negotiation skills and attention to detail.
• Rigorous and organized approach.
• Hands-on, ready to roll up the sleeves.
• Quick learner and ability and pick up new skills in other related fields.

Personal characteristics:

• Strong analytical skills.
• Strategic thinker with advanced verbal/written communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to articulate and communicate complex infrastructure and energy concepts in simple terms clearly and succinctly.
• Exceptional project management and cross-functional leadership skills, a process-focused and keen ability to forester collaboration, influence, and build trust in a highly matrixed organisation.
• Ability to prioritise, multitask and deliver high-quality work in tight timeframes.
• Self-starter with a track record of demonstrated ability and willingness to learn, motivation and dedication to excellence.
• Entrepreneurial spirit, comfort with ambiguity, good judgement and diplomacy.
• A consummate team player with impeccable ethics and integrity.
• The ability to work outside of standard business hours is expected of this position.