Project Development Manager

Company Description

Husk Power Systems (“Husk”) is an award-winning clean energy company serving rural India and Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2023, it was named “World’s Best Challenger Brand” in the energy industry and is a 3-time Global Cleantech 100 company. The company’s AI-powered rural energy platform provides 24/7 renewable power to rural households, commercial customers, institutions, and small factories. It also delivers a range of other products and services, including e-commerce and credit financing of branded appliances for home and commercial use, as well as community-based solutions for e-mobility and the agricultural value chain. Husk’s mission is to supercharge economic growth and social well-being in rural communities that are unserved and underserved.

Husk Values

Honesty and Integrity; Act with discipline and integral to your job; Respect each other; Respect Human rights within our responsibility and contractual obligations. Frugal Innovation, Quality and Reliability; Respect for environment, health, and safety. Excellence as an attitude; We shall align perception to a common understanding of performance rating and measures., We > I, Fail Fast and Learn Faster Continuous Learning.

Husk is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity and inclusion and welcomes all applicants regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, or religion. Husk is committed to improving gender balance within its teams in Nigeria and globally. Female candidates are therefore highly encouraged to apply even if not all requirements are met.

Benefits

Husk offers flexible working conditions with employee benefits that are in line with global best practices. These include clear career growth planning, transparent annual review processes that are gender inclusive, maternity, and paternity leave, gender-inclusive workplace conditions, family health insurance, and frequent training to assist the employees to grow in and to the next roles. Husk does not believe in micromanagement and encourages its employees to have a healthy work-life balance hence giving them the freedom to manage their workload to be compatible with their life.

Job Description

JOB OPENING FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Position Name: Project Development Manager

Division / Function: Corporate

Location of the Job: Abuja, Nigeria (with travel to project sites)

Reports to: Country Director

Role Summary

Husk is seeking a Project Development Manager to work with its team in Nigeria with overall responsibility in the development of interconnected mini-grids and C&I power projects, overseeing the full project cycle from site identification, evaluation, and permitting to land acquisition, environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA), and commercial structuring. This role requires a balance of technical expertise, regulatory knowledge, and commercial acumen to deliver bankable and scalable projects.

This position provides the opportunity to join a growing team that is changing the face of rural electrification in Nigeria and Asia. The ideal candidate should have a positive attitude, be a team player, believe in Husk’s values, have an inherent curiosity to find creative solutions for problem-solving and have an appetite for growth.

The ideal candidate will have 7-10 years of experience in energy project development, preferably in large scale MW RE projects. He/she will coordinate cross-functional teams, engage with regulatory authorities, and ensure compliance with all permitting and legal requirements.

Key responsibilities:

Project Development & Site Preparation

• Own and drive the end-to-end development process for interconnected mini-grids and C&I projects.
• Conduct site identification, feasibility studies, and technical due diligence.
• Lead land acquisition processes, including negotiations with landowners and securing legal titles.
• Oversee Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), ensuring compliance with national and international standards.
• Secure permits and/or approvals from relevant authorities, including NERC, TCN, DISCOs, and local governments.
• Develop and manage project timelines, ensuring alignment with business objectives.

Stakeholder Engagement & Regulatory Compliance

• Support internal teams in engaging with regulators, utilities, and government agencies to navigate licensing and compliance processes.
• Build and maintain relationships with distribution companies (DisCos) for Interconnected minigrid approvals.
• Coordinate community engagement initiatives to ensure project acceptance and smooth execution.
• Stay updated on policy developments, market trends, and regulatory changes impacting the sector.

Commercial & Financial Structuring

• Support business development teams in structuring commercial agreements, including Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and Connection Agreements.
• Support relevant teams with inputs to develop financial models and business cases to assess project viability and bankability.

Project Execution & Coordination

• Work closely with relevant internal teams to ensure project readiness.
• Manage risks associated with site development, permitting, and community relations.
• Monitor project progress and troubleshoot any bottlenecks during the pre-construction phase.
• Ensure documentation and reporting compliance for internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

General Skills & Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Sciences, Business, or related field. An advanced degree (MBA, MSc) is an added advantage.
• 7-10 years of experience in project management and either renewable energy project development, minigrids, or C&I power projects at MW scale.
• Strong understanding of Nigeria’s electricity sector, including regulations, permitting, and licensing for interconnected minigrids and distributed generation projects.
• Proven track record of leading land acquisition, ESIA, and permitting processes.
• Experience working with distribution companies, government agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Commercial acumen with experience structuring and negotiating power agreements, a plus
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, with strong problem-solving capabilities.
• Willingness to travel frequently to project sites across Nigeria

Additional Information

Location:

• This role is based in Abuja, Nigeria with frequent travels across Husk Project Sites

Salary

Negotiable based on experience. 

Women candidates are encouraged to apply.

DISCLAIMER:

This description indicates the general nature and level of the qualifications and duties required of employees in this job classification, as well as the essential functions a person must be able to perform to do this job. It is not designed to be a comprehensive inventory of all duties and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Husk Power Energy Systems and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and make employment decisions on the basis of merit and business need. We hire without consideration of race, colour, religion, citizenship, political activity or affiliation, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex or gender, or any other basis protected by law.