Renewable Energy Technical Manager (RETM) - NZMATES (Ambon)

Program Summary

The New Zealand – Maluku Access to Renewable Energy Support (NZMATES) program aims to accelerate renewable energy (RE) development to improve access to energy on Seram and surrounding islands in Maluku province. The five-year program is funded by New Zealand Government Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and is implemented by renewable energy company Infratec Ltd. in partnership with Mercy Corps Indonesia. NZMATES is working towards promoting and accelerating the identification of renewable energy projects and increasing their attractiveness and viability, social and environmental assessments, technical considerations, and triggering and facilitating investment and funding from government, private sector, or other donors. NZMATES has partnered with and collaborates closely with PLN, EBTKE, Dinas ESDM, and BAPPEDA on increasing the use of renewables and improving energy access through grid-connected and off-grid RE projects..

The NZMATES Team is based in Ambon and provides support to fill gaps in knowledge, resources, and research, and ensure that projects are aligned with the Government of Indonesia and with community development objectives. The proposed support for RE projects includes assistance with project identification and appraisal, technical and social assessments, finance matching, and project design to strengthen long-term sustainability. NZMATES also intends to enhance local public and private sector capacity and offer opportunities for direct training, technical exchange programs, and interaction between Maluku educational institutions and NZ renewable energy specialists.

NZMATES is a uniquely flexible program which is designed to respond to the needs and priorities of partner organizations and changing realities on the ground. Work plans and program activities are not pre-defined but are developed collaboratively with partners through a 6-monthly planning cycle.

General Position Summary 

The Renewable Energy Technical Manager (RETM) will join an existing team, based at Mercy Corps Indonesia’s office in Ambon and travel to program locations in remote areas of Maluku province. As part of a multi-disciplinary team, the RETM will show capacity to work with staff from different disciplines in a collaborative way. He/she will lead engineering tasks and technical assessments, and will supervise, mentor, and work together with two Renewable Energy Technical Specialists (RETS), as well as mentoring other non-technical staff less familiar with renewable energy technologies and programs. This role’s main responsibility will be to manage the technical aspects of the NZMATES program, including strategizing, planning, mapping, communicating, and leading the implementation of technical assistance for renewable energy projects in the program pipeline. 

In his/her day-to-day the RETM will partake in field trips to assess existing infrastructure or identify new potential renewable energy projects. He/she will lead the development and review of tendering and engineering processes (e.g. detailed engineering, producing bills of materials, drawings, and layouts). He/she will lead and be responsible for the development of technical assessments for potential renewable energy projects, mainly mini- and small-hydro and/or solar PV and storage technologies, grid-connected solar PV, and/or other renewable energy technologies. The RETM will work on aspects such as: design, engineering, feasibility studies, budgeting, modelling, and contribute to providing project delivery support with external stakeholders (e.g. supervision, training materials, commissioning good practices, etc.).

The RETM will also support assessments such as scoping potential renewable energy project sites, assessing available RE resource potential and conducting techno-economic studies from project identification phase (e.g. scoping, pre-design, cost estimates, and pre-feasibility studies), mainly for solar PV mini-grids, small hydro projects, hybridization of diesel-based generation, and grid-connected projects. The RETM will need to keep up to date on provincial, district and national development plans for renewables, scope efforts from other entities and keep a clear overall vision of the renewable energy portfolio in the province, and how NZMATES can support viable and highly promising projects.

It should be noted that while the RETM will be responsible for a wide range of technical areas, the role will be supplemented with technical engineering support, from within Infratec or externally, where required at key stages during the program. The RETM is also expected to closely engage with the NZMATES Community Engagement Officers for support in data gathering, and to incorporate social assessments and considerations into the projects’ technical aspects. 

Qualifications:

• University degree in electrical engineering, renewable energy technologies, and/or similar, or proven equivalent of work experience;   
• >10 years’ experience in designing and delivering renewable energy projects, preferably solar PV and storage technologies and hydropower;
• Experience managing technical staff, mentoring colleagues and close collaboration with program partners;
•  Experience working with a multidisciplinary team;
• Experience conducting engineering designs, modeling, feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments, grid-interconnection studies, and/or other technical studies in the renewable energy field;
•  Electrical, renewable energy and energy storage technology software: Experience using renewable energy and energy storage modeling and design software (e.g. HOMER Pro®, RETScreen, Hoga, DER-CAM, Excel-based tools, or others), Experience using solar PV design and modeling software/tools (e.g. PVSyst, PV Sol, SolarGIS, Meteonorm, Sunny Design); and/or Experience using GIS tools and hydropower modeling software/tools (e.g. Casimir, PEACH, Hydro help, others), Experience with power systems software (DIgSILENT, PSS®Sincal, or others)  and Other renewable energy tools (LEAP, or others)
• Experience using drawing software (e.g. AutoCAD, Sketch-Up, Draft Sight);
• Experience in developing bill of materials for renewable energy projects;
• Experience in developing tendering documentation, detailed design, and engineering, and with supporting entities as owners engineer is desirable ; 
•  Knowledge of renewable energy financial analysis tools (e.g. SAM), using pricing or estimation techniques or software (e.g. Pronamics, Excel, other tools), and developing RE project budgets;
•  Some knowledge of the conceptual or detailed design of LV and HV network installations will be advantageous;
• Practical, hands-on experience working in energy access and/or renewable energy programs;
• Ability to foster positive and effective working relationships with a variety of stakeholders;
• Strong communications skills and experience working as part of a multi-disciplinary team;
• Experience working in Maluku province and understanding of local context will be highly valued;
• English language skills;
• Ability to take initiative, to anticipate and solve problems, meet deadlines, work under pressure, work independently on multiple tasks with limited supervision, and work cooperatively with team members and partners; 
•  Ability to be flexible, open-minded, and creative; 
• Willingness to spend significant time in field locations with limited access to commodities;
•  Women and people from Maluku are especially encouraged to apply for this position.

Please check more about this position on this link: RETM - NZMATES Position Description

Please send your CV together with the form on this link with position applied on the email subject to hrd@id.mercycorps.org 

The vacancy will be closed 29 September 2019 and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

We look forward to hearing from those who are interested in taking this opportunity to grow and develop with us.