Project Development Director - DRC

Project Development Director – Democratic Republic of the Congo  

CrossBoundary Energy 

About the Firm

CrossBoundary Energy develops, owns, and operates distributed renewable energy solutions for businesses, offering cheaper and cleaner energy through power purchase and lease agreements. With a secured portfolio exceeding $567M, the company boasts over 500MW of solar PV and wind generation, approximately 605MWh of battery energy storage, and around 50MW of enabling thermal generation assets. Their clients include industry leaders like Rio Tinto, Unilever, Diageo, Heineken, Devki Group, and IHS Africa.  

The diverse portfolio features large-scale renewable-led hybrid power plants for mines, rooftop and ground-mount solar PV plants for industrial clients, and distributed solar PV and battery power solutions for telecommunications sites. As a member of the CrossBoundary Group, founded in 2011, CrossBoundary Energy is dedicated to unlocking the power of capital for sustainable growth and strong returns in underserved markets. Learn more at www.crossboundaryenergy.com.  

Job Description 

CrossBoundary Energy is recruiting a Project Development Director to drive the development of large-scale power projects for mining clients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Director will be responsible for translating financial and legal advice into the commercial structure of energy services contracts and advising on land acquisition agreements, supplier agreements, and joint development agreements with developer partners where necessary. Our deals combine capital and expertise from around the world, and the Director will be adept at working with diverse stakeholders. The Director will be supported by specialist expertise from CBE’s internal Business Development, Engineering, Legal, Regulatory, ESG, and Supply Chain teams, reporting to the Head of Project Development. This role will ultimately be responsible for overseeing CBE’s commitments at each step of the project’s development and construction, ultimately ensuring successful, safe, timely, and compliant delivery of the renewable energy power plant. 

Who We Are 

The CrossBoundary Energy team is a unique group of people who are genuinely excited by the opportunity to make a difference in some of the world's most challenging and exciting renewable energy markets. The chosen candidate will play an important role in a unique team with the opportunity to make a large impact on the clean energy landscape in Africa and underserved markets around the world. Team members come from diverse backgrounds but share several qualities: curiosity, humility, integrity, a drive for excellence, and a bias for action. 

Who You Are 

• Excellence: Demonstrated expertise in negotiating project finance contracts including power purchase agreements, partnerships, leases, secured debt, engineering agreements, procurement contracts, construction agreements, and similar structures. You hold your own work to higher standards because that’s what delivers successful outcomes. Transaction or transaction advisory experience in the renewable energy industry preferred. 

• Acts Like an Owner: You hold yourself personally accountable for brokering solutions where authority is unclear. When faced with an impasse, you convene the subject-matter experts you need to find a way forward. 

• Deliberate Thinker: Proficiency in complex corporate finance models, project finance models, corporate structuring, and tax concepts makes you a pragmatic commercial decision-maker. You’re known for deducing the simple, robust solution from more complicated approaches. 

• Curiosity: Not satisfied with “no;” assists others to generate creative solutions by looking at problems from new perspectives. You do not make or accept ultimatums. 

• Prioritizes Results: You distill the signal from the noise. Your colleagues praise you for translating complex inputs into a plan of action. A succinct written and oral communicator. 

• Authentically Cares: Patient and skilled at developing relationships with clients, external counsel, suppliers, consultants, and teammates to consistently deliver excellent outcomes. 

• Relevant advanced degree in engineering, business, or law – such as MBA, JD, LLM – preferred. 

• Excellent proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint and visual storytelling. 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, engineering, law, or other relevant field. 

• 8+ years of experience in project finance, transaction advisory, infrastructure development, and/or origination. 

• Applied understanding of commercial aspects of complex hybrid power projects and PPA structures. 

• Excellent proficiency in Microsoft Excel and corporate finance, project finance modelling. 

• A strong network among active power project developers, suppliers, and construction partners relevant to the electricity transmission, electricity distribution, or distributed energy industries, especially in the DRC. 

• Valid Congolese citizenship. Per local regulations, this role is reserved for Congolese nationals
• Excellent proficiency in professional English (C1 CEFR or higher)

Primary Responsibilities

• Collate and assess inputs from subject matter experts from other CBE teams to navigate contracting for complex power purchase transactions and portfolio acquisitions, especially multi-stakeholder transactions. Take a holistic view of commercial, financial, legal, and tax constraints to support Business Development in negotiation tactics. 

• Perform in-depth financial analysis to develop the appropriate strategy for executing a given project transaction. 

• Manage transaction documentation, deal structuring, and commitments across multiple deal contracts, working alongside support from internal and external Legal counsel. 

• Identify gaps in CBE's value proposition to counterparties and generate new ideas for how to better bridge those gaps. 

• Manage in-house deal teams and external counsel and consultants. 

• Design and deliver client-ready presentations advocating CBE’s desired commercial strategies. Advise counterparties on diverse aspects of financial, tax, and corporate structuring concerns. 

• Cultivate a wide set of developers and technical partners to originate, develop, and close project opportunities across CBE's geographies. 

• Assist Business Development, Investment, ESG, and Operations teams to accurately diligence and report on deal aspects to investors, noting implications for group financial model and portfolio risk.  

• Support business development efforts in the DRC by liaising with internal sales team, attending site visits, and building and maintaining relationships with our target customers, specifically in the Copper Belt region of the DRC.  

Location

The Director will join CBE’s team in Central Africa. The ideal candidate will be based in Kinshasha, Goma, Lubumbashi or Lusaka, with regular travel to Kolwezi anticipated.  

Equal Opportunity Employer

CrossBoundary is an equal opportunity employer. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to [email protected].