Akuo Group

Akuo is an independent, privately-owned, company which specializes in the development, financing, construction, and operation of renewable power plants, such as wind, solar and battery storage, in more than 20 countries globally.

With more than 500 employees worldwide, Akuo has offices and develops large renewable projects in France, the United States, Greece, Portugal, Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Colombia, Mali and Indonesia, with a flexible approach that enables the company to adapt to all local energy markets. The company headquarters are in Paris, France.

Fully independent from power supply equipment manufacturers, Akuo can select the best technological solutions based on the specific site requirements, the resources available and specific local requirements of each project.

Within Akuo, we place great value on caring for the Environment, Health, and Safety. Our overarching priority is the safety of our employees, partners, contractors, and suppliers, and we strive for zero accidents across our entire business.

Leading the energy transition, we at Akuo strongly believe that clean and never-ending, renewable energy is the best way to meet our current and future energy needs while avoiding greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Akuo is looking for an experienced Senior Project Manager, to be based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, being part of LATAM regional organization. 

 1 – Main responsibilities & mission: 

Lead the coordination of projects in structuration and execution: 

• Coordinate projects in the following phases : 

• Structuration phase, i.e. from PPA securing until Financial Close, under a non-recourse project finance scheme. 

• Execution phase, i.e. from Financial Close until Take Over, managing the overall completion of the execution phase mainly in managing the construction contracts, the site activities, the cost follow up and the Lenders and/or Equity partners relationship. 

• Support CapEx, OpEx and other Financial Model assumptions and optimizations aiming to reach expected Project economics in coordination with the Project Team. 

• Contribute to the selection, negotiation and enforcement of the EPC, O&M and other supply agreements, in coordination with the Project Team. 

• Coordinate the Technical due diligence of the Project with different stakeholders. 

• Support the structuration of the insurance package, that shall be aligned with Akuo standards and validated by the Financing parties. 

• Report HSE, E&S, contractual issues, schedule, budget, and progress follow up and manage the construction site team in charge of the day-to-day activities on site 

• Ensure that Lessons learned/REX, tools, guidelines and methods are properly shared within the Project Team and the Region. 

• Support projects under development, whether Tender or M&A, in quantifying CAPEX and OPEX, anticipating key risks and optimizing adequately the industrial strategy. 

Set the framework and lead the project team: 

• Ensure proper coordination between team members (core and extended team), based in Dominican Republic and other Akuo offices, in accordance with agreed framework and targeted KPIs of the projects. 

• Deployment of processes and implementation of methods, tools and best practices, in line with the Group strategy, industry HSE and quality standards. 

• Lead Kick Off Meetings, regional committees and Board Approval committees. 

• Lead internal weekly project review and external weekly meetings (e.g. with Technical Advisor, EPC contractor). 

• Issue internal weekly Project Reporting in coordination with Project Team, including risks and opportunities register. 

• Coordinate i) handover to execution team and/or asset management team, at the end of structuration and/or execution phases, ii) lessons learned (REX) meetings. 

2 - Team description:  

Structuration & Execution (S&E) is a Support Unit of Akuo Group, gathering the following areas of expertise: Project Management, Contract & Procurement Management, Supply Chain Management, Construction Management, Technical Expertise. S&E’s main workstreams are: 

• Support to Projects in the different phases, taking S&E roles (linked with our areas of expertise) in Project Teams, with major focus in Structuration and Execution phases. 

• Continuous improvement of our methods: Improve, complete & deploy processes & tools & templates& trainings (incl. interfaces with other SUs/BUs), based on REX 

Within S&E, the Senior Project Manager focuses on the coordination of the structuration and/or execution phases of a batch of projects, managed by the S&E regional Lead in coordination with the regional COO. 

3 – Profile: 

Project Management 

• Experience in managing project teams in structuration and/or execution phases, in line with safety requirements, schedule, budget and established governance. 

• Strong background coordinating and managing the interfaces between project stakeholders such as the project team, lenders, equity investors, administrations, contractors, third parties. 

• Anticipating and coordinating with the project team the assessment of the risks of the project and implementing follow up of the mitigation measures, identifying and communicating any deviation from projects under structuration and execution. 

• Experience in providing project management coaching & sponsoring to project team members when/if required. 

• Ability to perform risk assessment and technical due diligence for M&A opportunities. 

• Good understanding of how to implement all contractual obligations of the project company including environmental and social obligations. 

• English and Spanish mandatory. French or other language is a plus 

• Good ability to listen, analyze and negotiate. 

• Autonomy, proactivity, agility, as well as a good ability to work in a team and interface with various internal and external stakeholders. Organization and prioritization skills. 

Contract & Procurement Management 

• Good understanding of the interfaces between project development, engineering, contract & procurement, project financing and construction. 

• Experience in Contract & Procurement Management, preferably in the Renewable Energy industry, anticipating and identifying the risks with the objective to mitigate them within the different Contracts. 

• Strong experience in negotiation and dispute/claims management. 

• Knowledge of the local/regional construction companies is a plus.  

Construction Management 

• Experience in coordinating multiple contractors and suppliers  

• Experience in reviewing detailed design engineering documentation is a plus 

• Experience in implementing a Quality Control Plan 

• Experience in implementing a HSE Plan 

• Experience in Solar plant construction  

4 – Business trips:  

Punctual international travels (France mainland and within the LATAM Region) are a part of the role, as well as meetings with stakeholders such as contractors and third parties. 

Expected evolution of the position:

• Support the development and growth of the region with the completion of structuration and/or execution phase of Projects 

• Assignment of Projects of higher capacity and higher complexity 

• Role of Sponsoring for Projects in structuration and/or execution