Productive Use of Energy Associate (Agro Engineer)

1. Feasibility & Project Initiation

• Review validated demand and agricultural activity data
• Assess site suitability for agro-processing and infrastructure deployment
• Evaluate land use logistics and access to raw materials and markets
• Identify constraints and prepare feasibility reports

2. Agro-Engineering & Equipment Design (Primary Focus)

• Specify agro-processing and productive equipment based on value chains
• Define equipment capacity motor ratings and operational requirements
• Align production capacity with market demand and utilization levels
• Develop Bills of Quantities (BoQs) and equipment specifications
• Estimate maintenance needs and lifecycle costs

3. Load Profiling & Energy Demand Translation

• Convert productive activities into energy demand requirements
• Estimate daily consumption peak loads and operating hours
• Develop load profiles to support energy system design
• Apply conservative assumptions to ensure cost efficiency

4. Renewable Energy System Support (Secondary Focus)

• Support the design of solar PV battery storage and power systems
• Work with energy engineers to ensure proper system sizing and integration
• Ensure compatibility with standalone and mini-grid systems
• Contribute to basic system performance and stress assessments

5. Agrohub & Infrastructure Design

• Design layouts for agro-processing hubs (Agrohubs)
• Optimize workflow equipment placement and safety considerations
• Integrate energy infrastructure into facility design
• Ensure scalability and modular expansion capability

6. Technical Risk & Cost Management

• Identify risks related to agricultural productivity and system performance
• Assess equipment reliability and seasonal variations
• Recommend mitigation strategies
• Ensure cost-effective and practical engineering solutions

7. Procurement & Implementation Support

• Prepare technical specifications for equipment and systems
• Support vendor evaluation and technical due diligence
• Provide guidance during installation and deployment

8. Collaboration & Reporting

• Work closely with internal teams (Assessment Finance Energy ESG)
• Support engagement with farmers cooperatives and equipment suppliers
• Prepare technical reports designs and documentation
• Contribute to knowledge sharing and continuous improvement

9. Cross-Departmental Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Interface with the ESG Technical Finance and Impact Development counterpart officers at DREEF cluster to ensure information symmetry and alignment on outputs that meet project finance lenders bankability requirements
• Collaborate with the technical ESG Impact Development and project finance teams to ensure seamless PUE integration into DRE project design and that financial models for PUE components accurately reflect engineering specifications costs and revenue projections
• Support stakeholder engagement with developers co-investors development partners local communities and businesses to understand productive needs and identify PUE opportunities
• Assist with the formulation and execution of strategies to integrate PUE components into DRE projects and support quantitative modelling for viable and scalable business and finance models

10. Reporting Knowledge Management & Capacity Building

• Prepare detailed PUE engineering reports and technical presentations for clients stakeholders and internal teams
• Monitor and report on agricultural productivity improvements and engineering performance indicators including design turnaround time CAPEX variance vs. procurement outcomes post-installation utilization variance design revision frequency and system reliability after deployment
• Document lessons learned from joint project development activities and recommend revisions to the PUE Engineering workstream based on field and design experience
• Provide engineering-focused PUE training and technical awareness to internal teams external partners and community stakeholders on the use and maintenance of energy and productive systems
• Participate in industry conferences and workshops to represent the DREEF stay abreast of technological advancements in the PUE and renewable energy industries and expand the program network

Education

• Bachelors degree in Agricultural Engineering or a closely related technical discipline
• Postgraduate qualification in energy systems agro-industrial engineering or renewable energy finance is an advantage

Technical Experience

• Minimum 35 years of hands-on engineering experience in renewable energy system design agro-processing machinery or productive use of energy applications
• Basic to intermediate knowledge of Solar PV systems and battery storage and Mini-grid or distributed energy systems (preferred)
• Experience preparing technical specifications and BoQs

Soft Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and quantitative modelling skills with a focus on CAPEX discipline and cost efficiency
• Ability to produce investor-grade technical documentation including engineering drawings BoMs and risk registers
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills with demonstrated ability to interface with finance ESG procurement and impact teams
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for producing technical reports and presenting to diverse stakeholder groups
• High attention to detail structured thinking and commitment to version control and design governance