Role Overview
The Country Manager - Energy Business will oversee the energy business operations, specifically focusing on Electric Vehicle (EV) charging and battery swapping infrastructure. This position requires a blend of technical expertise in electrical systems and strong business leadership to ensure the delivery of reliable, safe, and efficient energy solutions.
Key Responsibilities
Infrastructure Operations & Maintenance
- Oversee the day-to-day functioning of EV charging and swapping stations, ensuring maximum uptime, safety, and efficiency.
- Implement and monitor preventive and corrective maintenance programs for electrical and mechanical components.
- Coordinate with maintenance teams and third-party vendors for repairs, upgrades, and emergency response.
- Ensure compliance with local regulations, safety standards, and environmental requirements.
- Monitor IoT-based station performance dashboards and troubleshoot issues remotely and on-ground.
Project Management & Expansion
- Lead the planning, installation, and commissioning of new charging and swapping stations across target geographies.
- Manage project budgets, timelines, procurement, and vendor contracts.
- Oversee infrastructure expansion projects, including upgrades to accommodate new EV models, charging standards, and capacity growth.
- Collaborate with civil and electrical contractors to ensure quality construction and adherence to technical specifications.
- Prepare and present project progress reports to leadership and stakeholders.
Business Development & Partnerships
- Identify and evaluate new site opportunities for charging and swapping stations in line with business strategy.
- Build partnerships with fleet operators, real estate developers, utility providers, and government agencies.
- Develop strategies to increase infrastructure utilisation, customer adoption, and station profitability.
- Negotiate agreements for site acquisition, revenue-sharing, and operational partnerships.
Technical Leadership
- Provide technical expertise in EV charging technologies, batteries, AC/DC systems, and grid integration.
- Liaise with power distribution companies (Discoms) for load approvals, connections, and energy efficiency initiatives.
- Ensure seamless integration of hardware and software platforms for automated charging and swapping solutions.
- Lead infrastructure R&D initiatives, staying ahead of evolving industry standards.
- Evaluate and implement renewable energy and energy storage solutions for sustainable operations.
Team Leadership & Cross-functional Coordination
- Lead and support a cross-functional team including engineers, technicians, project managers, and customer service staff.
- Define and enforce processes for commissioning, decommissioning, and safety protocols across infrastructure.
- Provide coaching, training, and performance management for team members.
- Foster collaboration with product, engineering, operations, and finance teams to align infrastructure plans with company goals.
Analytics & Reporting
- Track and analyse utilisation trends, station performance, downtime, and maintenance costs.
- Generate detailed infrastructure health reports and dashboards for management decision-making.
- Provide data-driven insights on demand forecasting, capacity planning, and expansion strategy.
- Lead root-cause analysis for recurring issues and implement long-term corrective measures.
Customer Service & Experience
- Ensure stations deliver a seamless, reliable experience to end users.
- Develop customer service protocols for quick resolution of complaints and service disruptions.
- Partner with customer support teams to improve satisfaction and build trust in the charging/swapping network.
Innovation & Adaptability
- Stay updated on global trends in EV infrastructure, smart charging, and battery swapping.
- Adapt strategies and operations to adopt new technologies.
- Propose innovative business models and service enhancements to remain competitive in the market.
Requirements and Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Energy Management, or a related technical field. A master’s degree in a relevant field is an added advantage.
- 10+ years of project management and operations experience in EV charging/swapping infrastructure, telecom active/passive infra, or battery systems.
- Proven expertise in electricity systems, renewable energy integration, and EV technologies.
- Strong knowledge of civil and electrical construction practices for infrastructure projects.
- Hands-on experience with IoT systems, power distribution, and AC/DC electrical components.
- Familiarity with regulatory frameworks, safety standards, and grid interconnection requirements.
- Excellent project management skills (PMP certification is a plus).
- Strong business acumen with experience in site acquisition, vendor management, and stakeholder engagement.
- Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
- Deep understanding of EV charging/swapping technologies and grid systems.
- Ability to lead cross-functional and technical teams across multiple locations.
- Skilled in managing complex infrastructure rollouts on time and within budget.
- Commitment to delivering reliable, safe, and user-friendly charging solutions.
- Flexible mindset to adapt to evolving EV technologies and business models.
- Good in ensuring precision in operations, safety, and compliance.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online through the Flexi-Personnel application tracking system at https://www.myjobmag.co.ke/apply-now/1166943.
