Clean Energy Rotational Graduate Programme

Renewable Careers Limited; Christchurch; Hybrid; NZD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM's NZ renewable team seeks an Associate Director - Renewable Energy (Solar) to lead technical and delivery requirements across solar projects, developing client relationships, and delivering advisory solutions for complex solar-hybrid systems.

Based in Christchurch, with opportunities across New Zealand, you will mentor engineers, oversee procurement, performance guarantees, and project delivery, and travel as required to sites and client meetings.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in Solar or related energy engineering with project delivery focus.
• Strong client relationship management with senior leaders.
• Understanding of NZ regulations and market dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Lead Solar project delivery in NZ as technical lead.
• Support business development and bid/proposal responses.
• Lead procurement evaluations and risk/contract negotiations.
• Mentor and coach Solar engineers in the team.
• Provide input to market strategy within NZ Generation & Storage.

Skills

Solar energy

Project delivery

Leadership

Client relations

NZ market knowledge

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Chartered Engineer or Renewable Masters (advantage)

Job description

Associate Director - Renewable Energy (Solar)

**Company Description**
**Come and grow with us.**
AECOM's Energy practice provides a wide range of services from consulting and design to advisory and procurement support for power, energy efficiency, and renewable energy clients. Our understanding of the big picture - and the interconnection between generation, distribution, transmission, energy storage, and the demand side of the meter - allows us to deliver holistic strategies that improve and modernise next generation energy infrastructure. We connect knowledge and experience across our global framework to bring together a unique combination of engineers, planners, scientists, and project managers who advance cleaner, secure, and more sustainable energy solutions.

**Everyone belongs at AECOM**
We're committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging - because great ideas come from diverse perspectives. AECOM is proud to be a Fortune 500 Most Admired Company, a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards 2025 Winner and an AWEI Bronze Tier LGBTQ+ Inclusive Employer.

Job Description

Newly created leadership role as Associate Director - Renewable Energy (Solar) with AECOM's New Zealand (NZ) renewable team, leading technical and delivery requirements across solar projects. In this role, you will be leading the technical and delivery requirements for this key renewable market, as well as working with clients supporting the development of client relationships through delivery excellence. You will be leading AECOM's approach providing technical, project, Owners Engineer, commercial and advisory solutions across complex solar hybrid projects with varied client, site, engineering and delivery requirements.

You will have a broad scope to make a lasting difference throughout NZ during a rapidly evolving renewable energy landscape, as our clients look to explore and solve renewable generation options as part of the energy transition. You will be part of the AECOM Generation & Storage team and Energy business line in NZ, with technical subject matter expertise available across multiple disciplines in NZ, Australia and globally, to provide solutions for project and client requirements.

How you will make a difference

• Be the Solar and related subject matter project delivery and technical lead in NZ, connecting with clients and the market to originate project proposals acting as a trusted advisor.
• Support business development activities, including bid and proposal response processes, working across AECOM's team of subject matter leaders across engineering disciplines.
• Lead the technical approach working with client technical teams, as well as with AECOM disciplines, applying Solar, electrical and renewable related engineering capability.
• Prepare and review Principal's requirements, technical schedules and guarantees covering net power, usable energy, round-trip efficiency, availability, auxiliary consumption, degradation, augmentation, throughput, response performance and reactive-power capability.
• Lead procurement and tender evaluations to normalise competing offers by interrogating assumptions, exclusions, operating limits, warranted curves, design margins, augmentation strategies, lifecycle costs and technical risks.
• Support contract negotiations on performance guarantees, test and acceptance methods, warranties, liquidated damages and remedies, scope interfaces, long-term service obligations, operations and maintenance, and augmentation responsibilities.
• Leading project delivery either in an Owners Engineer, Project or Design Management leadership capability, or liaising with AECOM's project management teams, ensuring scope, timeframe and client budget requirements are met.
• Provide input and advocate for the NZ market across the AECOM internal Generation and Storage teams from a market insight, technical and project requirement perspective.
• Provide mentoring and coaching for the development of other Solar and Renewable Engineers in the Generation and Storage team, supporting their career development.

Ideally based in Christchurch, this role has scope to be based in other main AECOM offices throughout New Zealand. Some domestic travel is required depending on client, site, project and people leadership requirements.

Qualifications

To be successful in this Associate Director role, you will be a leader known across the Solar, Renewable and related energy markets in NZ. You will have current networks and a reputation for being a trusted advisor known for your ability to deliver complex Solar, renewable and related projects.

You will have a strong track record of project delivery in the NZ market, being able to provide project advice as an Owners Engineer innately knowing what is critical for Solar projects during delivery stages. Understanding and experience with NZ construction regulations and requirements will be important. Most likely your technical engineering abilities, will be across the electrical, or related disciplines.

You will also be known for your ability to connect with senior leaders, to understand their technical commercial and project needs, being able to provide solutions and proposals that meet these needs and support other AECOM market leaders.

What you will bring (Desired Qualifications and Experience)

• Deep knowledge of Solar, Renewable and related Energy engineering requirements with 10+ years (ideally more) in Solar or related energy engineering with a focus on project delivery on complex projects.
• A track record and ability for building positive client relationships, across senior leaders and with technical engineering, project, contractor, OEMs and site teams.
• Current relationships and a network working with a broad range of solar and renewable related clients, including developers, energy generators, private and public sector clients.
• A background and experience of working in either / or a combination of consulting, developer, OEM, integrator or EPC industries.
• Detailed understanding of solar and BESS performance criteria and guarantees, including net power, usable energy, round-trip efficiency, auxiliary consumption, availability, response, thermal derating, degradation, warranty limits and acceptance testing.
• Experience with factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, commissioning, capacity or efficiency testing, and verification of contractual performance requirements is highly regarded.
• Demonstrated experience preparing or reviewing procurement documentation, evaluating and normalising bids, undertaking technical due diligence, assessing departures and supporting commercial negotiations.
• Track record assuring quality and compliance-confirming what is built aligns with detailed design and contractual performance obligations, ideally within the NZ market.
• Commercial acumen and negotiation skills, with the ability to assess lifecycle value, risk allocation, warranties, performance remedies, long-term service agreements, operations and maintenance obligations, and augmentation strategy.
• Degree in Electrical, or related engineering discipline - a postgraduate qualification such as being a Chartered Engineer or a Master's degree in Renewable Energy is advantageous.
• A passion for mentoring and the development to support the growth of the next generation of Solar and Renewable Engineers.

**Additional Information**

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, noting the ability to visit solar sites will be important. If you require any adjustments during the hiring process, please let us know.

Applications are reviewed as they come in, and the role may close earlier than expected, so if this opportunity sounds like you, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

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About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well‑being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. ...

**Work Location Model**: Hybrid

**Business Line**: Energy

**Career Area**: Engineering

**Work Location**: New Zealand

**Employee Status**: Regular

**Job Level**: Individual Contributor

**Schedule**: Full‑time

**Travel**: No

**Position Role Type**: Onsite

**Req ID**: J

**Strategic Business Unit**: ANZ

**Business Group**: DCS

**Business Line**: Energy

**Work Location Model**: Hybrid