Portfolio Manager

THE ROLE

The Portfolio Management team manage every solar and BESS project in every fund around the UK, Italy, the US, Chile, Spain, Portugal, India and Poland, following the growth of NextEnergy Capital funds.

The Portfolio Management function is situated within the investment management business of the Group and is tasked with managing all the solar projects owned by the Group’s investment vehicles in conjunction with the Group’s asset manager WiseEnergy.

The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the creation/evolution of the management strategy for each of the fund portfolio, of solar PV and energy storage systems, distributed across the globe under management by NextEnergy Capital, with particular focus on Iberian Countries and Chile.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

GENERAL

• Manage and be responsible for specific assets and/or portfolios, ensuring the delivery of the investment case
• Support the handover from the investment team of the acquired projects and/or internally developed projects (across different geographies for international funds), ensuring the alignment and cooperation of all the involved areas (investment, construction, ESG, fund management and asset management)
• Manage the key project contracts of the assets/SPV, including the sale and purchase agreements, during the lifetime of the investment, identifying the proper actions to be taken in coordination with the senior member of the Portfolio Management Team and the Investment Team
• Be conversant with contract writing, incorporating the necessary legal clauses needed to safeguard the business
• Ensure consistent oversight of information flow into internal and external reporting
• Assume the role of Director of SPVs for the allocated assets and/or portfolios, if required.

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ASSET MANAGER

• Overview the technical, financial/debt management and commercial activities of the asset manager (WiseEnergy) to drive the best outcomes for the assets and compare them against the scope of work under the relevant agreements
• Regularly meet with WiseEnergy to identify key risks and discuss action plans proposed by Report to the senior members of the Portfolio Management Team and relevant stakeholders as necessary
• Support and jointly discuss approach with WiseEnergy for activities falling outside the business as usual
• Overview WiseEnergy’s management of all contracts in place with the SPVs, providing support when
  needed
• Review and comment periodic reports and data from WiseEnergy regarding the performance of the portfolios (technical, finance, loan/debt management, commercial and ESG outcomes)
• Support WiseEnergy in the negotiation of all relevant operational contracts (i.e. O&M, PPAs, H&S) and selection of new contractors
• Highlight areas of improvement in relation to WiseEnergy activities to the senior members of the Portfolio Management Team (where appropriate)
• Periodic review of the budgets and monthly variations and cost allocation, identify the root causes trends or areas where actions need to be taken, especially in relation to potential cash shortfall.

INTERNAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ownership of the assigned assets/portfolios financial outcomes, including operational budget definition, revenue optimization and Opex reduction strategies
• Identify key activities and risks to be reported in recurring meetings to various internal and external stakeholders (investors, head of fund, top management)
• Identify long-term trends in the performance of the portfolios and definition of short and medium term plans for asset health, and discuss them with the senior members of the Portfolio Management Team and other relevant internal stakeholders
• Support the Senior Portfolio Managers for out-of-the-ordinary and strategic projects and liaise with WiseEnergy’s dedicated team to implement them
• Identify key gaps or improvements in operational contracts (i.e. EPC, O&M) and provide feedback to the relevant team
• Collaboration with other internal teams, like investment, energy sales, construction and procurement, etc.
• Train and manage the Junior Portfolio Manager tasks in conjunction with the other Portfolio Managers (if applicable).

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

• Time management & prioritization skills - things can get a little hectic, so the ability to effectively manage yourself and your workload is critical
• Excellent communication skills (in English or/and other European languages) - you must be able to organize your thoughts in a way that others find clear and compelling. You will be expected to together well-written, grammatically correct emails and other communications. When communicating verbally – whether over the phone, on video calls, in person or in meetings – you will need to be articulate, warm and engaging
• Flexibility - being an effective team player means being flexible in your approach and open to getting involved with new things, even if they are not spelled out in your job description
• Intellectual Curiosity – we are looking for someone who is truly interested in our profession and has the intellectual curiosity to delve deep into topics and bring fresh ideas into the team
• IT Literacy - you need to be comfortable with IT systems and working with data (you should have at least intermediate-level excel)
• Delivery focus – it may sound obvious, but the ability to proactively churn through work at pace and deliver quality outputs really matters!
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Passion for our mission ‘to generate a more sustainable future by leading the transition to clean energy
• Our values: be a leader, build trust, be responsible, be innovative and ‘bring your alpha’.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS 

• 3-5 year experience as asset manager/portfolio manager in the renewable energy market, preferably solar
• Experience in management of solar assets in Iberia and/or Chile, knowledge of the market and key players
• Bachelor’s Degree with quantitative focus (e.g., Finance, Economics, Engineering, Environmental Science, Mathematics)
• Good understanding of contracts
• Knowledge Italian language (desirable).

WHAT WE OFFER 

• A busy role in a supportive team, with plenty of opportunities to learn
• International scope – we operate in over 8 countries
• Hybrid working – we will need you in the Madrid / Seville office at least twice a week, but you will normally be able to work remotely for the remainder of the week
• 38 days’ holiday per year (including local bank holidays and 3 days which are taken during the festive shutdown in December)
• Private Healthcare
• Annual discretionary bonus. 

HOW TO APPLY

If you are interested in this opportunity, please follow the link to apply or send your application to careers@nextenergygroup.com. If you have been shortlisted for the next stage, we will be in contact within 14 days.

By selecting “Apply” or sending us your CV, you indicate you have read and acknowledged NextEnergy Group’s Candidate Privacy Notice.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Our approach to diversity and inclusion is a natural extension of our values. Our entrepreneurial culture inspires us to try new things, be open to different viewpoints and be bold. Our Group is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of connectedness that values difference and gives space for individual expression. The collective sum of our individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent and hard work form the bedrock of who we are and who we aspire to be.

We are committed to equal employment and advancement opportunity irrespective of race, color, ancestry, social background, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability and gender identity.

ABOUT US

NextEnergy Group was founded in 2007 to become a leading market participant in the international solar sector.  Since its inception, it has been active in the development, construction, and ownership of solar assets across multiple jurisdictions.  NextEnergy Group operates via its three business units: NextEnergy Capital (Investment Management), WiseEnergy (Operating Asset Management), and Starlight (Asset Development). 

NextEnergy Capital manages the Group's investment activities and has invested in over 520 solar plants, exceeding 2GW in capacity across its institutional funds.

• NextEnergy Solar Fund (NESF): Listed on the London Stock Exchange, NESF manages 102 solar and energy storage assets in the UK and Italy, with a total installed capacity of 983MW and a gross asset value of £1,014m.
• NextPower II (NPII): A private fund of 105 solar plants (149MW) focused on Italy, successfully divested in January 2022, delivering net IRRs exceeding its 10-12% target.
• NextPower III ESG (NPIII ESG): A private fund targeting solar infrastructure in OECD countries (e.g., US, Spain, Italy), with $896m raised, exceeding its $750m target.
• NextPower UK ESG (NPUK ESG): A private fund dedicated to new-build solar plants in the UK, with ~£600m raised.
• NextPower V ESG (NPV ESG): A private OECD solar fund investing in solar and adjacent technologies like battery storage. To date, it has raised $745m, targeting $1.5bn ($2bn ceiling).

WiseEnergy® is NextEnergy Group’s operating asset manager.  WiseEnergy is a leading specialist operating asset manager in the solar sector.  Since its founding, WiseEnergy has provided solar asset management, monitoring, technical due diligence and under construction services to over 1,500 utility-scale solar power plants with an installed total capacity in excess of 3.4 GW.  WiseEnergy clients comprise leading banks and equity financiers in the energy and infrastructure sector.  

Starlight is NextEnergy Group’s development company that is active in the development phase of solar projects.  It has developed over 100 utility-scale projects internationally and continues to progress a large pipeline of c.10GW of both green and brownfield project developments across global geographies. 

NextSTEP is the venture capital fund of NextEnergy Group, dedicated to investing in innovative startups in the field of environmental sustainability. The fund primarily focuses on investments in Italy and the United Kingdom but also extends its reach to the rest of Europe and the United States, targeting startups in the pre-seed and seed stages. NextSTEP pays particular attention to emerging entities from incubators, startup accelerators, universities, and research centers, supporting projects that address global challenges in crucial areas such as Climate Change, Energy Transition, CO2 Capture and Sequestration, Circular Economy, Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Mobility, Sustainable Fashion, Waste Management, Water and much more. 

NextEnergy Foundation is a non-profit organisation founded in 2016 by the NextEnergy Group that operates internationally and whose mission is to proactively participate in the global effort to reduce carbon emissions by providing clean energy sources in regions where they are not yet available and thereby contributing to poverty reduction. As the main sponsor of this foundation, the NextEnergy Group donates at least 5% of its consolidated net profits each year. The NextEnergy Foundation has no overhead costs and therefore 100% of the funds raised go to donations for the various projects. Since 2016, in 8 years of operation the foundation has donated more than £1.2 million, supporting over 30 projects in 27 different countries around the world.