Job Title

There is one good opportunity for General Manager -Solar Business with our Energy client based in Lagos, Nigeria.Position Title: General Manager – Nigeria Location: Lagos / Abuja, Nigeria (with extensive travel to project sites) Reports to: Group CEO / Head – Africa BusinessRole Purpose:The General Manager – Nigeria will have end-to-end responsibility for Renewable /Solar Energy’s business and projects in Nigeria, starting with a World Bank–funded 200 MW solar programme across ~60 villages and expanding to future projects in Cameroon and other African markets. The role combines P&L ownership, engineering & project delivery oversight, stakeholder and investor management, and building a high-performing local team. Key Responsibilities 1. Country and P&L LeadershipOwn the Nigeria P&L across all projects – from budgeting and forecasting to delivery against revenue, margin, and cash-flow targets. Translate group strategy into a clear country business plan, with milestones for delivery, risk, and growth. Build and lead a multi-disciplinary team (engineering, projects, finance, commercial, HSE, community) and develop strong local leadership bench. 2. Project Delivery – 200 MW Solar Programme. Provide overall leadership for the 200 MW, 60-village solar rollout (0.5–1.5 MW per village), from development through construction, commissioning and handover. Oversee project management frameworks: scope, schedule, cost, quality, risk, and HSE across all sites. Coordinate with EPC contractors, OEMs, consultants and local partners to ensure timely, on-budget delivery. Review and approve engineering designs, BoQs, technical specifications, and ensure compliance with World Bank and Nigerian regulatory standards. Set up robust project monitoring systems (dashboards, progress reviews, risk logs) for multi-site execution. 3. Engineering and Operations Oversight Provide high-level guidance on solar PV design, grid/off-grid integration, storage (if applicable) and O&M philosophy. Ensure that each village-level system (0.5–1.5 MW) is designed for reliability, safety, and ease of operation in rural conditions. Establish O&M frameworks and SLAs for long-term performance and availability. 4. Finance, Compliance and Governance Work closely with Group Finance to manage project budgeting, fund drawdowns, contractor payments, and cost control. Ensure full compliance with World Bank requirements, Nigerian energy and environmental regulations, tax and statutory norms. Implement internal controls and reporting processes in line with group policies. 5. Investor Relations and Reporting (Family Offices / DFIs / Others) Act as the primary on-ground contact for family offices, institutional investors, DFIs, and lenders linked to Nigeria projects. Prepare and present regular project and portfolio reports: progress vs plan, key risks, mitigation, ESG metrics, and financial performance. Support roadshows, due diligence, site visits and data-room queries as the projects scale and new capital is raised. 6. Stakeholder and Government / Community Management. Build and maintain relationships with federal and state regulators, distribution companies (DisCos), rural electrification agencies, and local authorities. Lead engagement with community leaders and local stakeholders in each village to secure land, right-of-way, and social licence to operate. Resolve on-ground issues proactively (land, permits, community expectations, security). 7. Expansion to New Markets (Cameroon and Other Countries) Support market entry strategy for Cameroon and other African countries: opportunity assessment, partners, regulatory landscape. Provide playbook and learnings from Nigeria rollout to standardise processes for future projects (design standards, contracting models, reporting templates, HSE standards). Over time, take on regional responsibility for multiple countries as portfolio expands. Candidate Profile Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Electrical / Mechanical / Civil or related) is mandatory. MBA or master’s in business / Energy / Infrastructure / Finance is an advantage. Experience 15 years plus experience, with at least 7–10 years in power/renewables, and minimum 5 years in a senior leadership / country / business head role. Proven track record in utility-scale or large C&I solar projects (preferably multi-MW, multi-site programmes in Africa or emerging markets). Strong exposure to project finance / donor or DFI-funded infrastructure (World Bank, AfDB, IFC, etc.) is highly desirable. Experience managing cross-functional teams (engineering, projects, finance, commercial, HSE, community) in complex environments. Prior work in Nigeria or West Africa with comfort on local regulatory, cultural and operating context is a strong plus. Skills and Competencies Strategic and commercial acumen: Ability to link project delivery, commercials and long-term portfolio value. Project management excellence: Skilled in large, multi-site EPC / EPCM management with strong grasp of schedule, cost and risk control. Financial understanding: Comfortable with project budgets, IRR/NPV basics, cash-flow management and investor reporting. Stakeholder management: Confident dealing with ministries, regulators, DFIs, family offices, communities and contractors. Leadership: Can build, inspire and retain a high-performance local team in a challenging environment. Communication: Strong written and verbal communication (English), able to produce investor-grade reports and presentations. Resilience and adaptability: Comfortable working in remote locations, handling ambiguity, and operating in a fast-scaling business.