THE ROLE
The Portfolio Management team manage every solar and BESS project in every fund around the UK, Italy, the US, Chile, Spain, Portugal, India and Poland, following the growth of NextEnergy Capital funds.
The Portfolio Management function is situated within the investment management business of the Group and is tasked with managing all the solar projects owned by the Group’s investment vehicles in conjunction with the Group’s asset manager WiseEnergy.
The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the creation/evolution of the management strategy for each of the fund portfolio, of solar PV and energy storage systems, distributed across the globe under management by NextEnergy Capital, with particular focus on Iberian Countries and Chile.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
GENERAL
* Manage and be responsible for specific assets and/or portfolios, ensuring the delivery of the investment case
* Support the handover from the investment team of the acquired projects and/or internally developed projects (across different geographies for international funds), ensuring the alignment and cooperation of all the involved areas (investment, construction, ESG, fund management and asset management)
* Manage the key project contracts of the assets/SPV, including the sale and purchase agreements, during the lifetime of the investment, identifying the proper actions to be taken in coordination with the senior member of the Portfolio Management Team and the Investment Team
* Be conversant with contract writing, incorporating the necessary legal clauses needed to safeguard the business
* Ensure consistent oversight of information flow into internal and external reporting
* Assume the role of Director of SPVs for the allocated assets and/or portfolios, if required.
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ASSET MANAGER
* Overview the technical, financial/debt management and commercial activities of the asset manager (WiseEnergy) to drive the best outcomes for the assets and compare them against the scope of work under the relevant agreements
* Regularly meet with WiseEnergy to identify key risks and discuss action plans proposed by Report to the senior members of the Portfolio Management Team and relevant stakeholders as necessary
* Support and jointly discuss approach with WiseEnergy for activities falling outside the business as usual
* Overview WiseEnergy’s management of all contracts in place with the SPVs, providing support when
* needed
* Review and comment periodic reports and data from WiseEnergy regarding the performance of the portfolios (technical, finance, loan/debt management, commercial and ESG outcomes)
* Support WiseEnergy in the negotiation of all relevant operational contracts (i.e. O&M, PPAs, H&S) and selection of new contractors
* Highlight areas of improvement in relation to WiseEnergy activities to the senior members of the Portfolio Management Team (where appropriate)
* Periodic review of the budgets and monthly variations and cost allocation, identify the root causes trends or areas where actions need to be taken, especially in relation to potential cash shortfall.
INTERNAL RESPONSIBILITIES
* Ownership of the assigned assets/portfolios financial outcomes, including operational budget definition, revenue optimization and Opex reduction strategies
* Identify key activities and risks to be reported in recurring meetings to various internal and external stakeholders (investors, head of fund, top management,)
* Identify long-term trends in the performance of the portfolios and definition of short- and medium-term plans for asset health, and discuss them with the senior members of the Portfolio Management Team and other relevant internal stakeholders
* Support the Senior Portfolio Managers for out-of-the-ordinary and strategic projects and liaise with WiseEnergy’s dedicated team to implement them
* Identify key gaps or improvements in operational contracts (i.e. EPC, O&M,) and provide feedback to the relevant team
* Collaboration with other internal teams, like investment, energy sales, construction and procurement, etc.
* Train and manage the Junior Portfolio Manager tasks in conjunction with the other Portfolio Managers (if applicable).
SKILLS & COMPETENCIES
To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:
* Time management & prioritization skills - things can get a little hectic, so the ability to effectively manage yourself and your workload is critical
* Excellent communication skills (in English or/and other European languages) - you must be able to organize your thoughts in a way that others find clear and compelling. You will be expected to together well-written, grammatically correct emails and other communications. When communicating verbally – whether over the phone, on video calls, in person or in meetings – you will need to be articulate, warm and engaging
* Flexibility - being an effective team player means being flexible in your approach and open to getting involved with new things, even if they are not spelled out in your job description
* Intellectual Curiosity – we are looking for someone who is truly interested in our profession and has the intellectual curiosity to delve deep into topics and bring fresh ideas into the team
* IT Literacy - you need to be comfortable with IT systems and working with data (you should have at least intermediate-level excel)
* Delivery focus – it may sound obvious, but the ability to proactively churn through work at pace and deliver quality outputs really matters!
* Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
* Passion for our mission ‘to generate a more sustainable future by leading the transition to clean energy
* Our values: be a leader, build trust, be responsible, be innovative and ‘bring your alpha’.
EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
* 3-5 year experience as asset manager/portfolio manager in the renewable energy market, preferably solar
* Experience in management of solar assets in Iberia and/or Chile, knowledge of the market and key players
* Bachelor’s Degree with quantitative focus (e.g., Finance, Economics, Engineering, Environmental Science, Mathematics)
* Good understanding of contracts
* Knowledge Italian language (desirable).
WHAT WE OFFER
* A busy role in a supportive team, with plenty of opportunities to learn
* International scope – we operate in over 8 countries
* Hybrid working – we will need you in the Madrid / Seville office at least twice a week, but you will normally be able to work remotely for the remainder of the week
* 38 days’ holiday per year (including local bank holidays and 3 days which are taken during the festive shutdown in December)
* Private Healthcare
* Annual discretionary bonus.