Program manager F/M/NB

Permanent contract

Location : Milan/Rome

Starting date : Asap

Frequent travel / Driving Licence required

WHO WE ARE

Urbasolar is a key French photovoltaic player and pioneer since 2006. We are fully integrated to the AXPO Group, a Swiss based utility with a leading position in energy markets across 30 countries in Europe, Americas, Asia and Africa. Through our solar division, we operate in the development, investment, construction and operation of photovoltaic plants and the supply of green electricity and advanced energy solutions for our customers in Europe (Italy, Spain, Germany and Poland).

Role Overview: The Program Manager will oversee the management and coordination of a portfolio of photovoltaic (PV) projects in Europe with focus on Italy. The role consists essentially in transversal coordination and in representing the owner's interests throughout the project lifetime, from the stages of development through to construction, operation and asset sale. This role requires close interaction with cross-functional teams to ensure the successful delivery of projects within the portfolio.

Role Overview: The Program Manager will oversee the management and coordination of a portfolio of photovoltaic (PV) projects in Europe with focus on Italy. The role consists essentially in transversal coordination and in representing the owner's interests throughout the project lifetime, from the stages of development through to construction, operation and asset sale. This role requires close interaction with cross-functional teams to ensure the successful delivery of projects within the portfolio.

Key responsibilities:

• Cross-functional coordination:
  • Ensure continuous cross-functional project management and smooth transition of project responsibilities during the development and construction phases, early stage of operation and preparation and execution of sales proceedings .
  • Collaborate closely with the entire team assigned to each project, particularly development, construction project managers, asset manager, M&A and corporate functions.
  • Challenge the project setups and proceedings.
• Management of project schedule:
  • Monitor, coordinate, and control project schedules, with a focus on multidisciplinary tasks involving multiple teams or external partners.
  • Oversee tasks such as setting up financing, PPAs, legal and tax structures, grid access conditions, energy sale structure and requirements, O&M setup, etc…
• Business plan mastery:
  • Master and challenge the business plans of projects, understanding the room for maneuver and contributing to project management with project managers and senior management.
  • Identify the revenue streams of projects and ensure its optimization.
  • Ensure proper cost and cash flow control.
  • Ensure updated business plans are drawn up at key stages:
    • Upon entry into the company pipeline, based on initial technical results and projected rates.
    • Upon final investment decision, based on updated technical results and projected rates.
    • Upon commitment to the construction phase, based on final technical studies and actual rates obtained.
    • Upon financing
    • BP backtesting after early operation
• Commercial and contractual oversight:
  • Assess and control commercial and contractual conditions of projects and impact on profitability and deadlines.
  • Negotiate with external stakeholders as needed.
  • Support business in seeking and optimizing partnerships and contracts
• Stakeholder engagement:
  • Participate in client, key account, investor and landlord relationships as needed.
  • Support negotiations with external stakeholders and ensure compliance of contractual obligations with project parameters.
• Risk management:
  • Ensure adequacy between project needs and available resources and skills, proposing additional resources and skills as needed.
  • Alert in the event of deviations from project budgets, schedules and general project related risks, proposing corrective measures assessed with project managers.
• Reporting and process improvement:
  • Ensure project reporting to senior management and submit arbitration requests.
  • Propose the development or implementation of dedicated processes for projects not fully covered by existing processes, with support from the QHSE team.
• Objective achievement:
  • Ensure project objectives are met in terms of deadlines, costs, and compliance with contractual and country specific commitments.
  • Follow and reconcile the schedules of teams assigned to projects and make necessary decisions to meet objectives, in line with departmental delegations and business decisions.
  • Qualifications of the candidate:
    • Proven experience in managing a portfolio of PV projects or similar large-scale infrastructure projects of at least 7 years.
    • Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
    • Strong cross-functional project management skills.
    • Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
    • Ability to manage multidisciplinary tasks and coordinate with various teams.
    • Excellent understanding of business plans and financial metrics.
    • Ability to set up standardized processes the company and projects can benefit form.
    • Willingness to challenge existing processes and propose more efficient ways of working.

    This role is critical in ensuring the successful delivery of PV projects within the portfolio, meeting all objectives in terms of deadlines, costs, and compliance with contractual commitments. The Program Manager will play a key role in driving the success of the company's PV project portfolio.