Director of Engineering

Levanta Renewables is a renewable energy developer and independent power producer in Southeast Asia. We develop, build and deliver renewable energy solutions that work for each country in support of its transition to renewable energy, and do so in a sustainable manner while helping local communities. With a shared goal towards helping Southeast Asia realize its energy transition and net zero targets, Levanta is backed by Actis, a leading sustainable infrastructure private equity firm.

We are developing 1.5 GW of renewable energy projects in Southeast Asia through M&A and greenfield development of C&I and utility scale projects. Due to business expansion, we are actively seeking a Director of Engineering to be based in the Philippines to join our Utility Scale team. This role reports to the Head of Utility Scale business.

The Director of Engineering is responsible for the Engineering team of high-quality wind and solar generation assets to support overall business target of more than 1.5 GW commissioned within 2029 followed by continued business growth thereafter; involved in investment risk modeling of wind and solar farms using operational and long-term historical data; leading in integration of energy technology innovations to improve profitability of the portfolio. The Director of Engineering has a pivotal role in the renewable energy sector, overseeing the development, M&A, and optimization of wind, solar, and hybrid energy projects. This position requires a deep understanding of energy resource assessment, site development, technology evaluation, and operational analysis.

The Director will drive innovation and ensure the successful execution of projects while optimizing energy generation and storage capabilities. Core responsibilities:Site identification and Development: Identification of potential sites and conduct preliminary and detailed analysis of wind, solar irradiance, site suitability and other technical constraints. Develop the overall strategy for greenfield site development in coordination with management.

Resource assessment and Energy Yield analysis: Perform in-depth wind and solar resource assessments and energy yield calculations, utilizing advanced modeling and data analysis techniques to optimize energy yield. Project Evaluation and Site Suitability: Evaluate operating wind, solar, and hybrid energy projects aligned with the company's strategic goals. Conduct in-depth site suitability analyses based on wind turbine specifications and extreme climate conditions.

Operational due diligence: Conduct a thorough assessment of operating assets, including performance metrics, operational risks, Wind/Solar Plant inspections and estimation of operational energy yield assessment based on generation data. Third-Party Coordination: Coordinate with consultants and technical advisors to obtain third-party due diligence studies. Collaboration with OEMs of Wind/Solar/BESS commodity suppliers: Maintain relationships with equipment manufacturers to stay updated on the latest technologies and optimize project designs.

Improve turbine performance post-commissioning of Solar, Wind and BESS plants, implementing performance tests, optimize plant performance and availability. Establish SOPs, and checklist documents to establish a standard work structure for the organization. Prepare all the technical specifications for tender preparation for Wind/Solar/BESS projects.

Prepare basic design of development Wind/Solar/BESS projects and prepare BOQs to estimate project CAPEX during development of the projects. In cooperation with subject matter experts within the company's development teams, develop the engineering criteria to apply to company's solar, wind, storage and transmission projects. Working with the company's development teams, provide technical input to the project definition stage for projects; and develop the technical requirements for project procurements (engineering, components supply, EPC contracts, BOP contracts, BOS contracts, others).

Review & approve all engineering submissions by project counterparties during execution. Provide engineering support for resolution of technical issues during construction, commissioning, and energization. Provide technical input requested from the company's O&M team in respect to procurement of services to support operations.

Provide engineering support for capital improvement/maintenance projects undertaken by the company's O&M group. Provide engineering support for resolution of technical issues arising during plant operations. Support, as necessary, the project teams with the review of various studies including but not limited to, resource assessment, grid impact assessment, transmission route survey, geotechnical, marine and other environmental studies.

Support the project team in identifying and selecting land for power plant and substation and the transmission line route. Support Project Management team to prepare EPC and O&M contracts for a project. This includes preparing the invitation to bid packages, coordinating site visits and pre-bid meetings, evaluating offers, procuring internal approvals for the selected bidder and signing the EPC and O&M contracts.

Assist the project team in putting together construction management team, manuals, plans and systems. Assist the project team, if necessary, with engineering review, testing, commissioning, start-up and other technical services. Support the investment team:

a) in undertaking technical due diligence of solar, wind onshore, and energy storage projects, b) providing cost and other technical inputs to the investment team as may be necessary to complete the analysis and valuation of a project. Assist the investment and management team with review of the development, construction, and O&M budgets.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics:Technical knowledge of renewable energy and storage projects with prior experience in the areas of project development, construction management and supervision of O&M.Excellent interpersonal skills and effective verbal and written communication skills. Ability to set high personal goals and work independently.

Technology Evaluation and InnovationTechnology assessment: Continuously evaluate emerging technologies in wind, solar, battery storage, and other relevant areas to identify opportunities for cost reduction and performance enhancement. Hybrid project optimization: Explore the integration of wind, solar, and battery storage systems to create optimal LCOE solutions. Innovation roadmap: Develop and implement a technology roadmap to drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge.

Project Execution and OptimizationBasic project management: Oversee project timelines, resource allocation, and stakeholder management. Performance optimization: Monitor and optimize the performance of operational assets. Data analytics: Utilize data analytics to identify performance trends, optimize operations, and inform decision-making.

Team Leadership and DevelopmentTeam building: Build and lead a high-performing engineering team with a focus on talent development and succession planning. Knowledge management: Create and maintain a knowledge base to capture project learnings and best practices. Industry collaboration: Develop relationships with industry partners, research institutions, and regulatory bodies.

Collaboration: Work closely with Business Development, Project Development, Project Execution, Finance, and Engineering teams to ensure the integration of innovative technologies and best practices. Ideal candidate should possessThe ideal candidate is a highly skilled and experienced renewable energy professional with 15 years of experience in resource assessment and energy yield estimation. Possess a deep understanding of wind resource assessment, data analysis, and project development, coupled with strong leadership and communication skills.

Technical expertise: In-depth knowledge of wind, solar and basic knowledge on battery storage-hybrid energy systems, including site assessment, energy yield modeling losses and uncertainty calculations. Basic project management: Understanding of project timelines, resource allocation, and stakeholder management. Leadership: Strong leadership skills to inspire and motivate teams, build consensus, and drive innovation.

Data analysis: Proficiency in data analysis and interpretation to inform decision-making. Software proficiency: Understand wind and solar assessment software (WAsP, WindPRO, Openwind, PVSyst, NREL SAM), data analysis tools (VBA, Python), GIS software (QGIS, Global Mapper), and other relevant software such as Google Earth etc. Industry knowledge: Extensive experience in the renewable energy sector, including project development, construction, operations, and acquisitions.

Preferably strong network among wind project developers and wind resource consultants in the region. Operational expertise: Strong understanding of project operations, including maintenance, performance metrics, risk management, and energy yield assessment. SCADA data analysis: Knowledge to analyze operational SCADA data to support O&M team to prepare operational reports.

Civil and electrical design experience for Wind and Solar Plants, being able to calculate BOQs and estimate Capex. Wind and Solar design specifications: Technical specifications preparation experience for procurement equipment or services.