Key Takeaways
– Urgent Need: On Energy requires technical staff for its EPC management team to execute a 60 MW PV / 80 MWh BESS pipeline, as its small team of 4-5 technicians is at capacity.
– Role Strategy: The company will pursue two hiring paths: a single, highly experienced generalist (100k+ salary) or multiple specialists (70-80k each) to fill three distinct functions: Grid Expert, Technical PM, and Site Manager.
– Candidate Profile: The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver with deep technical expertise (PV, MV/HV electrical) who can work independently and deliver solutions.
– Recruitment Terms: On Energy prefers a success-based (contingency) model. Darwin will send terms for a 25% fee and begin sourcing candidates immediately.
Hiring Need & Project Pipeline
– Problem: On Energy has a capacity shortage in its EPC management team, which oversees external EPCs for turnkey project sales.
– Pipeline: A 60 MW PV / 80 MWh BESS portfolio across six projects is in progress, with two more planned to start this year.
– Context: The company downsized its early-stage development team from ~45 to ~25 staff over the last 18 months, creating the current execution bottleneck as projects mature.
Role Definition & Hiring Strategy
– Core Functions: The hiring need covers three distinct areas:
1. Grid Expert: Specializes in MV/HV electrical systems and grid connection calculations.
2. Technical Project Manager: Oversees projects from RTB status, including technical negotiations with EPCs.
3. Senior Site Manager: Provides on-site oversight and quality control, acting as the client’s representative.
– Hiring Paths:
– Path 1 (Generalist): A single, highly experienced individual covering all three functions.
– Pro: One hire.
– Con: High salary (100k+), rare profile, longer search.
– Path 2 (Specialists): Multiple hires, each focused on one function.
– Pro: Faster hiring, lower individual salaries (70-80k).
– Con: Higher total cost, more hires to manage.
– Decision: On Energy will pursue both paths, prioritizing speed.
Candidate Profile & Logistics
– Key Traits: Proactive problem-solver, technically deep, and able to work independently.
– Experience: Must have PV and MV/HV electrical expertise. Wind experience is also acceptable.
– Location: Hamburg or Dortmund office, with regular site travel and a few days per week of home office.
Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
Nsika Nxumalo