Permitting Manager and Regulatory Lead - TESCo Nigeria at CrossBoundary Energy (CBE)

CrossBoundary Energy (CBE) is the leading provider of clean, renewable, reliable, and affordable electricity directly to businesses. According to World Bank data, access to reliable and affordable electricity is the most significant constraint on economic growth on the continent. CBE addresses this challenge by providing corporates with fully financed renewable power. Through this approach, we are building a disruptive, distributed, renewable utility that can unlock sustainable growth.

We are already making rapid progress towards our vision. CBE is currently delivering a portfolio of over $200M of solar, wind, and storage projects for businesses across Africa. Our clients include Actis, Diageo, Heineken, Rio Tinto, Syrah Resources, Unilever, and other leading regional companies.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Permitting Manager and Regulatory Lead - TESCo Nigeria

Location: Abuja, Nigeria (with significant travel required to support project development across rural Nigeria
Employment Type: Full-time
Experience: Experienced

Job Description

• We are recruiting a full-time Permitting Manager to join CBE’s Policy and Regulatory Affairs Team, to support development and implementation of our Telecom Energy as a Service Company (TESCo) activities in Nigeria.
• We are seeking a resourceful and creative individual to assist the team in preparing multiple permit and license applications in support of CrossBoundary’s work to provide energy services to telecom customers across rural Nigeria.
• The Permitting Manager will help to refine CBE’s understanding of the licensing and permitting roadmap for these TESCo projects and help ensure we are fully compliant with the relevant regulations (at federal and state level).
• The ideal candidate will be a highly organized and proactive problem solver, with excellent relationship building skills and attention to detail. We are looking for a candidate with previous experience in environmental permitting and/or regulatory development of energy or infrastructure projects. He/she should also have a strong network in Nigeria, including understanding of the relevant regulatory agencies.
• The selected candidate will help ensure that an exciting new portfolio of CBE renewable energy projects secures regulatory approval, proceeds to system installation, and achieves compliant commissioning. The Permitting Officer will report to the Head of Regulatory Affairs (in Nairobi) and work closely with other experts within CBE’s, Regulatory and TESCo teams.

Primary Responsibilities 

• Lead energy regulatory analyses across African countries to inform business development, project development, and investment decisions 
• Support CBE direct engagements with energy regulators and policymakers across several jurisdictions, to negotiate successful acquisition of project permits needed to achieve CBE’s business goals 
• In collaboration with the Head of Energy Policy and Regulatory Affairs, work with policymakers to best practices and new ways of thinking about distributed energy to advance CBE's business interests and impact goals  
• Maintain extensive practical familiarity with energy, investment, and corporate regulations across Africa to readily advise relevant project teams 
• Summarize impacts of new and existing regulations to current renewable energy projects, then plan and manage rollout of any activities required to align with these standards  
• Regularly evaluate policy risks to achieving business goals and single out top priority concerns. Summarize for management and investors and offer recommendations on how best to mitigate 
• Maintain strategic relationships with senior local counsel to advise on new regulations 
• Lead CBE relationships within the energy industry across several jurisdictions and ensure CBE Regulatory team has effective engagement with releavant associations and industry bodies, where useful. Leverage influence to build buy-in among competitors and cooperate in advocating policymakers and regulators for mutually beneficial sector-wide policies  
• Manage CBE's internal database of laws and regulations across all markets, creating and overseeing processes to ensure that our information is current and relevant to project development teams 
• Supervise local policy consultants on specific advocacy or project permitting objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in relevant field.
• 3+ years experience at a leading multinational professional services firm, policy research or consulting institution, or infrastructure firm, including experience in highly regulated sectors in underserved markets.
• 2+ years’ business experience in Africa or on Africa-based projects  
• Specific insights and real-world experience about how policy engagement by private businesses can successfully shape national market environments 
• Established network in the energy sector, including in CBE countries of operation 
• Expert and professional communicator in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Professional fluency in English.

Who You Are:

• A seasoned policy expert, with 5+ years’ experience at a leading multinational professional services firm, policy research or consulting institution, or infrastructure firm, including experience on African energy projects 
• An established "voice' in the clean energy sector, with a record of success liaising with utilities or energy regulators to secure agreements or licensing to successfully implement power projects.
• Experienced in advising or implementing distributed energy projects, as distinct from utility-scale (i.e., captive, commercial-industrial, mini-grids) 
• Familiar with the key terms of power purchase agreements and the business models of independent power producers.
• Skilled at creating and leveraging professional relationships across countries, personalities, and the political spectrum to achieve a positive impact. Comfortable in working in complex, and highly political environments, when needed.
• Politically savvy; passionate about understanding the unique machinery of government in different countries, and understands that there is no one-size-fits-all policy solution  
• Systematic and highly organized, you can track multiple activities across diverse workstreams while delivering results on time.
• Ethical and highly principled; you hold yourself to rigorous international standards for anti-bribery and anti-corruption without exception.
• You thrive in a non-hierarchical, collaborative environment and welcome input on your work from any teammate. There is nothing you’d task someone else to do that you wouldn’t do yourself.
• Professional fluency in French.

Application Closing Date
31st March, 2023.