Company Overview

Jaza is working to power Sub-Saharan Africa. We build solar-powered shops which charge batteries customers use to power their homes. Since 2022, we’ve achieved over 4 million battery swaps, providing approximately 225,000 people access to clean, affordable energy.

We employ women from each community (known as Jaza Stars) to run the service, empowering our team to become leaders, entrepreneurs and drivers of economic growth within their communities. For more information on what we are building, check out www.jazaenergy.com and watch the video the BBC made about Jaza here.

Position Overview:

The Construction Engineer oversees the acquisition, renovation, and installation process for Jaza service locations, managing a team of Expansion Construction personnel. This role is responsible for ensuring that approved sites are efficiently acquired, renovated, and prepared according to company standards. The Construction Engineer plays a critical role in translating validated sites into operational Jaza locations, maintaining high-quality standards while meeting acquisition targets.

Accountabilities:

• Lead a team of Expansion Construction personnel to achieve site acquisition targets
• Ensure the team maintains a First Pass Yield (FPY) of ≥95% for site acquisitions, minimizing the need for rework
• Maintain team staffing levels to ensure the required acquisition roles are filled
• Own the quality standards for site acquisition, renovation, and installation processes
• Manage relationships with vendors, contractors, and landlords across the region

Roles & Responsibilities

Team Management and Development:

• Recruit, train, and mentor Expansion Construction personnel
• Assign and track team member responsibilities for site acquisitions in assigned regions
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members
• Identify training needs and coordinate skill development for the acquisition team
• Ensure team members understand and follow acquisition quality standards

Site Acquisition Management:

• Develop and implement acquisition strategies based on expansion targets
• Review and approve lease negotiations and contracts before finalization
• Oversee the site registry and documentation process for acquired properties
• Coordinate with legal team to ensure compliance with local regulations and requirements
• Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in the acquisition process

Renovation and Installation Oversight:

• Approve renovation plans and budgets for acquired sites
• Manage vendor and contractor relationships for construction and renovation projects
• Establish quality control protocols for renovation and installation work
• Conduct regular site visits to assess progress and quality of work
• Ensure all sites meet structural and safety requirements before commissioning

Quality Assurance:

• Maintain FPY of ≥95% for site acquisitions by implementing quality control measures
• Review and approve final site preparations before handover to the commissioning team
• Identify reasons for rework and implement corrective measures to improve quality
• Document and standardize best practices for site acquisition and renovation
• Conduct periodic acquisition audits to ensure compliance with standards

Reporting and Communication:

• Provide regular updates to the Expansion Lead on acquisition progress
• Present acquisition data and insights during expansion team meetings
• Document and report key metrics including sites acquired, leased, FPY, and rework rates
• Escalate critical issues that may impact acquisition timelines or quality
• Contribute to the refinement of acquisition criteria and processes

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as construction management, civil engineering
• Experience in property management, construction management, or facilities management
• Demonstrated leadership abilities and experience managing teams
• Strong negotiation skills for lease arrangements and vendor contracts
• Knowledge of construction standards and quality control processes
• Excellent project management skills with ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
• Understanding of legal and compliance requirements for property acquisition
• Strong analytical skills for evaluating site renovation needs and budgets
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Willingness to travel frequently to remote locations

• Lead a team of Expansion Construction personnel to achieve site acquisition targets
• Ensure the team maintains a First Pass Yield (FPY) of ≥95% for site acquisitions, minimizing the need for rework
• Maintain team staffing levels to ensure the required acquisition roles are filled
• Own the quality standards for site acquisition, renovation, and installation processes
• Manage relationships with vendors, contractors, and landlords across the region
• Recruit, train, and mentor Expansion Construction personnel
• Assign and track team member responsibilities for site acquisitions in assigned regions
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members
• Identify training needs and coordinate skill development for the acquisition team
• Ensure team members understand and follow acquisition quality standards
• Develop and implement acquisition strategies based on expansion targets
• Review and approve lease negotiations and contracts before finalization
• Oversee the site registry and documentation process for acquired properties
• Coordinate with legal team to ensure compliance with local regulations and requirements
• Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in the acquisition process
• Approve renovation plans and budgets for acquired sites
• Manage vendor and contractor relationships for construction and renovation projects
• Establish quality control protocols for renovation and installation work
• Conduct regular site visits to assess progress and quality of work
• Ensure all sites meet structural and safety requirements before commissioning
• Maintain FPY of ≥95% for site acquisitions by implementing quality control measures
• Review and approve final site preparations before handover to the commissioning team
• Identify reasons for rework and implement corrective measures to improve quality
• Document and standardize best practices for site acquisition and renovation
• Conduct periodic acquisition audits to ensure compliance with standards
• Provide regular updates to the Expansion Lead on acquisition progress
• Present acquisition data and insights during expansion team meetings
• Document and report key metrics including sites acquired, leased, FPY, and rework rates
• Escalate critical issues that may impact acquisition timelines or quality
• Contribute to the refinement of acquisition criteria and processes

• Leadership
• Negotiation
• Project Management
• Analytical Skills
• Communication
• Interpersonal Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as construction management, civil engineering
• Experience in property management, construction management, or facilities management
• Demonstrated leadership abilities and experience managing teams
• Strong negotiation skills for lease arrangements and vendor contracts
• Knowledge of construction standards and quality control processes
• Excellent project management skills with ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
• Understanding of legal and compliance requirements for property acquisition
• Strong analytical skills for evaluating site renovation needs and budgets
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Willingness to travel frequently to remote locations