Job Title: Development Associate
Reports to: Fund Manager / Senior Team
Location: London
Main purpose of the role:
Support on delivery of the day-to-day development of projects primarily in the energy efficiency, behind-the-meter and decentralised energy generation space in London and across the United Kingdom (and secondarily in Europe). To support the project development, investment management processes and associated activities required to secure decisions from the Investment Committee. Support on all aspects of the deal lifecycle from origination, development, and execution through to asset management and portfolio optimization.
Responsibilities will include:
Project development
Support all aspects of the project development process from early identification, commercialisation and execution for investment from one of SDCL Funds. This will include:
· Working with commercial, industrial, and governmental customers to assess energy requirements and/or energy savings opportunities;
· Project managing the development process, including the coordination of project developers, clients and supply chain partners to deliver viable projects;
· Preparing commercial offers, proposals and tender responses for energy services;
· Working through energy services contracts, construction contracts, O&M contracts, etc.;
· Identifying and putting in plans to mitigate key risks;
· Taking responsibility for the financial model.
Origination
• Supporting the origination of new projects in the energy efficiency, behind the meter, decentralised and renewable energy space, working closely with clients and partners;
• Attending meetings with client teams and helping manage key relationships; and
• Working on establishing own network and key industry relationships, including technical partners, developers, contractors and consultants.
Deal evaluation & execution
Involvement in the whole lifecycle of the deal process, as part of a deal team. This will include:
• Triage, analysis and review of new opportunities;
• Supporting financial modelling workstreams;
• Establishing clear, detailed development and/or transaction plans, anticipating potential obstacles and planning how to overcome/accommodate these;
• Managing due diligence processes with third parties;
• Working on an integrated bases with internal teams and with external third-party advisors (banks, legal, financial, technical, tax etc.);
• Managing technical consultants, including onsite technical teams;
• Identifying key deal issues and areas where the firm could be exposed on a project/transaction;
• Preparing investment papers and presentations for internal and external use;
• Briefing senior deal team members on key project/transaction issues prior to meetings;
• Presenting investment papers to the Investment Committee.
Skills required
• Relevant industry experience preferably with a technical consultancy, Energy Services Company, EPC contractor, energy developer, Utility or similar background, OR engineering background with recent experience in commercial structuring and business development roles;
• Engineering degree (or similar);
• Positive results-oriented mindset: able to contribute to a positive, constructive working atmosphere with a focus on team and results oriented problem solving;
• Ability take ownership and be proactive: ability to take on a high degree of responsibility and to execute critical work streams with limited supervision;
• Ability to think critically in order to assess investment opportunities; Strong communication skills, able to lead interactions with internal and external colleagues, investors and clients;
• Financial modelling skills: able to understand proforma financial models including DCF valuations;
• Project management skills: able to manage multiple workstreams across different projects;
• Able to draft high quality development and investment materials;
• Motivation to work in an investment firm with particular focus on value creation through projects structuring and execution;
• Goal orientated self-starter with a genuine interest in working in energy efficiency.
Skills desired
• Sector experience (Energy & Utilities);
• Technical expertise in energy efficiency and decentralised generation;
• Chartered Engineer;
• Proactively focused on professional development, both technical skills and also soft skills such as negotiating, positioning and influencing.
The role is based full-time in the London office but will also include travel to project sites in the UK and overseas.
About SDCL
Founded in 2007, Sustainable Development Capital LLP (“SDCL”) is one of the most established and innovative investment firms in the sustainability markets and is unique in its dedicated focus on efficient and decentralized energy solutions.
SDCL’s core strategy is to develop and invest in sustainable energy infrastructure assets that reduce cost and carbon and improve reliability. The Firm has a long and proven track record in delivering solutions for major technology, healthcare, commercial, industrial, and public sector clients, such as enterprise and hyper-scale data centers, hospitals, heavy and light industrial facilities, universities, warehouses, and hotels. SDCL deploys a wide range of commercially proven technologies such as on-site renewables including solar paired with storage, renewable heat, and cogeneration, as well as energy conservation measures such as LED lighting, energy efficient heating and cooling, motors, building management systems and controls.
SDCL’s infrastructure investment capabilities cover all stages of the project development lifecycle, from concept to long term operations. In addition to project investments, SDCL has launched a private equity division to invest growth equity capital in the best companies providing products and services to the EDGE markets.
SDCL is headquartered in London and the group, and its investment vehicles also operate from offices in New York, Greenwich, Dublin, Hong Kong, and Singapore. SDCL is authorized and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority.