Overview
Country Lead Jobs in Lusaka, Lusaka Province, Zambia at AltGen Zambia
Title: Country Lead
Company: AltGen Zambia
Location: Lusaka, Lusaka Province, Zambia
Our client is seeking an experienced Country Lead to establish, grow and lead its business in Zambia.
The role will be responsible for the company’s market entry, local business establishment and commercial growth, while developing a strong pipeline of renewable-energy opportunities. This will include originating new projects, identifying existing projects or operating assets for potential acquisition, establishing strategic partnerships and representing our client with clients, developers, investors, government institutions and other key stakeholders.
The successful candidate will combine strong commercial judgement, local market knowledge, business-development capability and an understanding of renewable-energy project origination, financing, acquisition and delivery.
1. Zambia Market Entry & Business Establishment
- Lead the establishment and operational launch of our client’s business in Zambia.
- Develop and execute the Zambia market-entry and growth strategy.
- Coordinate company registration, licensing, tax, regulatory, banking and other local requirements.
- Establish the appropriate local operating model, partnerships and professional networks.
- Monitor developments in energy policy, regulation and the wider investment environment.
- Build the local team and support structure as the business grows.
2. Business Development & Project Origination
- Identify and originate commercial and industrial renewable-energy opportunities, including solar PV, battery energy storage and related solutions.
- Develop relationships with major commercial, industrial, mining, agricultural and infrastructure clients.
- Identify opportunities involving on-site generation, energy-as-a-service, PPAs and other suitable commercial models.
- Build and manage a qualified pipeline of bankable projects aligned with investment and return criteria.
- Lead client engagement, needs analysis, solution positioning and commercial discussions.
- Coordinate preliminary technical assessments, energy-consumption analysis and feasibility activities.
- Maintain accurate pipeline records and provide regular forecasts and reports to group leadership.
3. Project & Asset Acquisitions
- Identify renewable-energy projects, project companies and operating assets suitable for acquisition, investment, joint development or partnership.
- Build relationships with developers, asset owners, investors, lenders and advisers.
- Conduct initial commercial screening covering ownership, land rights, licences, grid connection, offtake, costs, revenues, returns, liabilities and key project risks.
- Prepare opportunity papers and investment recommendations.
- Coordinate commercial, legal, financial, technical, tax, environmental and regulatory due diligence.
- Support valuation, financial modelling, transaction structuring and negotiations through to financial close or acquisition completion.
4. Commercial Management
- Lead opportunities from initial engagement through commercial negotiation and contract handover.
- Develop pricing strategies and commercial proposals that balance competitiveness, risk and target returns.
- Support negotiation of PPAs, energy service agreements, development and JV agreements, EPC and O&M arrangements, leases and other commercial agreements.
- Work with finance and technical teams to validate project costs, energy yields, tariffs and returns.
- Identify commercial, financial, regulatory and delivery risks before commitments are made.
- Ensure opportunities follow the required internal approval and governance processes.
5. Stakeholder & Government Relations
- Act as our client’s senior representative in Zambia.
- Build strong relationships with relevant government ministries, regulators, utilities, investment authorities and industry bodies.
- Engage with institutions including the Ministry of Energy, Energy Regulation Board, ZESCO and Zambia Development Agency.
- Monitor government programmes, energy-sector developments, regulatory changes and investment opportunities.
- Develop relationships with banks, DFIs, investors, advisers and technical partners.
- Represent our client at industry events, conferences, client meetings and public-sector engagements.
6. Partnerships & Local Ecosystem
- Identify and assess local development, EPC, O&M, advisory and investment partners.
- Conduct commercial and reputational assessments of potential partners.
- Develop relationships with landowners, local authorities and communities where required.
- Structure partnerships that improve market access, project bankability and local delivery capability.
- Ensure partnerships comply with governance, ethics and risk requirements.
7. Country Leadership & Governance
- Own the Zambia business plan, budget, pipeline and commercial targets.
- Provide regular reports on opportunities, risks, market intelligence, stakeholder activity and financial performance.
- Ensure local activities comply with applicable laws and group policies.
- Coordinate with group investment, finance, legal, engineering, construction and operations teams.
- Recruit, manage and develop local employees and service providers as the business expands.
- Promote a high-performance, ethical and commercially accountable culture.
Qualifications and experience
Essential requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, Energy, Law or a related discipline.
- A postgraduate commercial, financial or business qualification would be advantageous.
- At least 8–12 years of relevant experience in renewable energy, power, infrastructure or project development.
- Demonstrated experience developing business or originating projects in Zambia or a comparable African market.
