Utilities Manager at Alaro City

Alaro City Development FZC is an integrated, mixed-use city planned for over 2,000 hectares in the North West Quadrant of the Lekki Free Zone. Alaro City’s vision goes beyond alleviating what is a self-evident problem - that of stifling urban congestion and a dearth of quality housing and commercial property in Lagos and Africa as a whole.

Rather, we aim to help create the infrastructure - the living and working spaces, communities, schools, and hospitals - that will help sustain and accelerate Nigeria’s economic growth, meet the aspirations of Africa’s burgeoning middle classes, and serve as a catalyst for further urban development. The people in our team are multi-skilled and experts in their respective fields. They possess a unique drive, underpinned by the desire to help improve Africa’s urban development.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Utilities Manager

Location: Epe, Lagos
Job Type: Full-time

Responsibilities

• Coordinate corporate structuring activities to create, setup and undertake the licensing of the multi-utility businesses i.e. urban management, water, power, gas and telecom utilities.
• Develop and implement the legal and operational framework to guide the operationalisation of the multi-utility businesses
• Manage relationships with regulators, vendors, consultants and other stakeholders as necessary for the successful setup, establishment and licensing of the utility companies.
• Prepare business and statutory documentation required for the setup and approvals of the utility businesses including business plans, environmental impact assessments, white papers and implementation manuals.
• Oversee and administer the day-to-day operational functions and components of the integrated multi-utility engineering and operations department including telecoms, electrical distribution, power supply, gas distribution, water distribution and supply, sewerage and sewage treatment within Alaro City.
• Working closely with the Construction and Delivery team coordinate local project development efforts for the establishment of power, water, gas and telecom utility companies.
• Have technical responsibility for handover of plant and equipment from the projects/delivery team at site, environmental reporting, compliance and monitoring of policies and procedures within the utility businesses.
• Prepare commercial and technical model for provision of utilities including setting up of tariff structure, billing framework, metering systems and ERP/software recommendations for the respective utility businesses.
• Implement and manage the utilities ERP/software system for Alaro City to ensure each of the utilities business units is tracked and monitored efficiently.
• Analyse financial, technical and billing data to identify issues and opportunities, support and reinforce credit collections.
• Construct a year by year demand and load profile for the utility companies  
• Supervise the daily activities relating to supply utilities and functioning of the integrated technical departments.
• Assist and support the investigation of faults and complaints about the utility services, monitor compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Prepare the annual O&M budgets and other CAPEX expansion projects for the utilities companies.
• Manage Alaro City’s utility infrastructure along with future improvement and expansion plans.
• Represent the utilities department at meetings with other business units to ensure tight integration and coordination.
• Support customer relations to deal with complaints and other issues with end users and property owners.
• Set up, oversee and administer the urban management function for Nigeria and implementation of development control guidelines.
• Oversee facility management activities including managing service charge administration and accounts.
• Monitor and oversee internal quality standards are met for the operational deliverables of utilities and maintenance services.
• Prepare weekly, monthly and other periodic reports on the status of the urban management, and utilities business at Alaro City.
• Effectively implement and ensure enforcement of best practices, policies and procedures for the utilities and urban management functions.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other departments, regulatory agencies, consultants and customers

Requirements
Hard skills and experience:

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Project Management or Real Estate focused discipline;
• Master’s degree and professional certificates are  a plus
• Minimum of 7-10 years hand-on experience in utilities or facilities management with at least 3 years of relevant management experience
• Working knowledge of relevant regulatory agency processes and proven ability to facilitate approvals for required licenses.
• Effective development/project management skills;
• Excellent budgeting skills;
• Excellent reporting skills.

Soft Skills:

• Mature, pragmatic and flexible approach, strong commercial judgment;
• Team player but comfortable working autonomously;
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills;
• Good negotiation skills;
• Good attention to detail;
• Rigorous and organized approach; and
• Hands-on, ready to roll up the sleeves.
• Quick learner and ability and pick up new skills in other related fields.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.