Job Summary

The ideal candidate will be involved in multi-stakeholder collaboration, seamlessly working with energy engineers, original equipment manufacturers, developers, agricultural cooperatives, amongst other stakeholders to align agricultural processing needs with distributed renewable energy capacity. 

Job Details

The Climate-Smart Agro Engineer will be required to carry out the following activities: 

• Conduct hands-on technical due diligence on all agricultural processing equipment and renewable energy systems proposed for projects, evaluating OEMs and local fabricators for quality, durability, and contextual relevance.
• Lead the end-to-end technical design, operational modelling, and scalability validation of the PUE AssetCo including creating standardised, replicable PUE equipment packages (e.g., solar-powered milling, drying, cooling) to be deployed by the AssetCo. 
• Provide support with the structuring of the AssetCo operational model to embed diverse business models (lease-to-own/PAYGO structures, maintenance protocols, performance monitoring). 
• Validate the scalability of the technical model across diverse regions and product value chains (cassava, maize, rice, oil palm amongst others) to de-risk the portfolio for investors. 
• Develop technical models and assessment frameworks that incorporate technical data from OEM, equipment, energy while accommodating agricultural seasonality and climate variability for PUE projects. 
• Provide critical technical assumptions and data for financial models, including equipment CAPEX, maintenance schedules, energy consumption profiles (load forecasting), efficiency rates, and expected asset lifespans. 
• Collaborate with DRE engineers to ensure agro-processing load requirements are perfectly matched with the design and capacity of the Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) system for optimal technical and economic performance. 
• Lead the technical sections of New Business Committee and Credit Committee Papers for the PUE AssetCo model and the respective projects, clearly articulating the technical rationale, risks, and mitigants. 
• Provide expert responses to all technical queries from the MROC, Credit Committee, and development partners amongst others, instilling confidence and highlighting the credit thesis of the underlying assets. 
• Support the climate-smart agro transaction team to design and structure innovative models tailored to agricultural energy projects, incorporating risk sharing mechanisms and blended finance approaches. 
• Support with the origination and structuring of climate-smart agro deals using the PUE AssetCo model. 
• Develop comprehensive market assessments of energy transition opportunities across agricultural value chains, identifying priority sub-categories and investment themes. 
• Build strategic partnerships with agricultural technology providers, original equipment manufacturers, and energy service companies including mini-grid operators. 

Impact Measurement and Reporting 

• Establish sector-specific impact measurement frameworks that capture agricultural productivity, climate, and socioeconomic outcomes. 
• Develop regular reporting systems for tracking activities and performance in agricultural value chain. 
• Prepare case studies and documentation to demonstrate impact and attract additional partners. 
• Coordinate with development impact team to ensure detailed impact assessment and MEL reporting. 

Stakeholder Engagement and Knowledge Sharing 

• Build relationships with development partners, donors, other stakeholders and focused on climate-smart agro space and facilitate knowledge sharing and learning exchanges among agricultural energy project stakeholders.
• Design and implement capacity building programs for agribusinesses seeking energy transition investments. 
• Create educational resources and toolkits for development partners and donor agencies interested in financing energy transition projects for agro companies. 

Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) and Process Management 

• Develop and implement SoPs guiding investment/financing strategies, execution and operational workflows. 
• Document responsibilities, timelines, and approval requirements for climate smart agro activities. 

Data Management and Reporting 

• Provide critical data and update climate-smart agro transactions and database on the transaction reporting system. 
• Ensure all transaction related documents, reports, templates, and operational materials are organised and up to date and monitor performance and generate regular reports for development partners.

Requirements

Candidates for the role should possess the following qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Science, or closely related field; Master’s Degree (MBA, Agricultural Development).
• Relevant professional qualifications in engineering, agriculture, and other related subject areas are an advantage. 
• 4-7 years of experience in agricultural engineering, agricultural development, with at least three to five working with development finance institutions (DFIs) or donor agencies. 
• Proven experience in technical transaction structuring, assessment, and analysis for agricultural and/or infrastructure projects. 
• Deep understanding of agricultural value chains, farming systems, and rural economic dynamics in Nigeria. 
• Technical modelling and structuring risk sharing and blended finance transactions as well as risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
• Knowledge of renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency solutions, and climate-smart agricultural practices. 
• Sound understanding of blended finance mechanisms and development finance structures and strategies. 
• Strong analytical, project management skills and systematic problem-solving abilities, with excellent communication, writing and stakeholder engagement capabilities. 
• Ability to effectively manage competing deadlines for projects in a fast-paced work environment, with varying degrees of supervision. 
• Acute attention to detail and a dedication to providing high-quality reports.
• Proficiency in the use of all Microsoft Office applications, particularly MS. Excel and MS. Power Point

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Background

• As part of its market development initiatives, InfraCredit developed its Green Housing Funding Programme (the “Programme”) working alongside private sector intermediaries, market stakeholders, and development partners. The Programme seeks to address the funding constraints faced by developers resulting from the lack of an institutional mechanism to provide homebuyers with access to affordable funding required to make both home financing and the final sale predictable and scalable.
• The Programme is being implemented in collaboration with development including KFW Development Bank (KFW) and Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) through technical assistance grant support. Under the Green Housing Funding Programme, InfraCredit has established a strategy for developing climate-smart and resilient infrastructure, which will include developing resource-efficient and low-carbon housing infrastructure. InfraCredit is currently implementing the supply-side component of the Programme by prequalifying eligible developers that will benefit from its guarantees to access local currency funding from the debt capital markets to finance the construction of eligible green- edge-certifiable housing projects.
• Under the Programme, InfraCredit is developing an initial pipeline of green housing developers that will benefit from technical assistance support and transaction structuring towards a local currency bond issuance while incorporating E&S best practices and where applicable, EDGE Certification. One of the key constraints that the Programme seeks to address is the fragmentation of housing demand and supply-side activities by ensuring that the demand and supplyside intervention happen concurrently and in a complementary manner.
• On the supply side, eligible developers will access sustainable construction funding from the debt capital markets on the back of InfraCredit’s guarantees thereby creating a strong pipeline of completed housing projects. On the demand side, the collaboration with the Housing Solutions Fund will identify, evaluate and prequalify prospective homebuyers to benefit from its affordable home loans in partnership with participating lending institutions towards the purchase of homes. This, therefore, creates an integrated and coordinated structure for addressing the housing market problem. InfraCredit has originated a cumulative pipeline of 21 EDGE-certifiable housing infrastructure projects within the affordable and mid-market subcategories amounting to NGN122 billion, to develop c.4,000 energy efficient homes over the next 36 to 60 months horizon, housing c. 20,000 people and businesses.
• To support its deal execution capacity to bring these projects to financial close within the key performance milestones agreed with its co-funding and development partners, InfraCredit supported by technical assistance from KFW is seeking to contract specialised consultants to work alongside the Green Housing deal team to execute NGN50 – NGN100 billion annually in green housing projects to enhance access for low-mid income residential and commercial buildings, within environmentally sustainable communities

Job Responsibilities

The Candidate will be providing support for the origination, structuring and execution housing infrastructure projects. This role requires a blend of financial acumen, analytical skills, industry knowledge, and project management capabilities. The critical responsibilities include:

• Lead the preparation of credit papers and presentations, terms sheets, information memorandum and other relevant documentation to support credit risk decision-making process.
• Conduct thorough financial analysis, credit, and risk assessment, to evaluate the feasibility and attractiveness of potential investment opportunities.
• Build and review financial models for the housing and real estate sector to determine the long-term credit quality of the project.
• Lead project finance structuring of transactions in the green housing sector with clear understanding of risk mitigation and structuring elements.
• Highlight any key risks or opportunities for improvements on the project based on site visits and documentation review and due diligence.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop the scope of work for due diligence workstreams and review due diligence reports on respective green housing projects comprising legal, technical, commercial, and environmental aspects.
• Provide end-to-end transaction execution support including negotiating deal terms, coordinating legal documentation, and liaising with external advisors and stakeholders to ensure timely deal closure.
• Engage in market research, stay informed about industry trends, regulatory developments, and market dynamics in the green housing sector to identify emerging opportunities and risks.
• Lead the origination and manage the growing pipeline of green housing infrastructure transactions as well as reviewing market needs while recommending improvements in transaction structuring.
• Co-ordinate the preparation of regular reports and updates for internal stakeholders, investors, and regulatory bodies, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and reporting standards.
• Support new business pitches and product design with sound situation-based offerings.
• Contribute to process improvements, knowledge sharing, within the green housing team to scale deal flow, enhance deal execution efficiency and effectiveness.
• Any other responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time during the engagement period.

Qualification Requirement

Candidates for the role should possess the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, economics, finance, engineering, or a related field. Master’s degree or relevant professional qualification is an added advantage.
• Minimum of six (6) to eight (8) years of credit, debt capital market, corporate finance, project finance, private equity, and mortgage or real estate.
• Strong analytical skills and structuring know-how, good understanding of guarantee products, capital markets and financial instruments.
• Sound financial modelling skills and proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office tools as well as other financial analysis tools.
• Proven analytical skills and systematic problem-solving skills, while paying attention to detail and a quantitative mindset.
• Effective communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts in a clear and concise manner.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Sound understanding of real estate and housing industry, familiar with guidelines and regulations, processes and procedures as well as the project development processes will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and social impact objectives.
• Good grasp of the critical issues and constraints faced by key actors in the housing sector in Nigeria.
• Acute attention to detail and a dedication to providing high-quality work outcomes.

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