Team Leader and Renewable Energy Engineer – Papua New Guinea

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Team Leader and Renewable Energy Engineer for a energy, private sector consultancy assignment financed by UNDP in Papua New Guinea.

Aninver Development Partners SL is seeking a qualified Team Leader and Renewable Energy Engineer for an upcoming consultancy assignment supported by the UNDP in Papua New Guinea. The initiative focuses on the agricultural sector, specifically addressing post-harvest processing challenges in the country's important cocoa industry by evaluating, benchmarking, and designing climate-efficient cocoa drying technologies.

The successful candidate will lead a multidisciplinary team to assess existing processing practices, conduct technology benchmarking, and develop procurement-ready engineering designs for sustainable, solar-assisted drying facilities. This expert will play a pivotal role in reducing fuelwood dependency, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing the market competitiveness of smallholder farming communities.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Assess current cocoa drying technologies and practices across major producing regions in Papua New Guinea.
• Evaluate and benchmark existing solar-assisted drying technologies and alternative climate-smart innovations.
• Quantify the environmental, climate, social, and economic benefits of alternative processing technologies.
• Develop technically viable, commercially feasible, and procurement-ready engineering designs for hybrid solar drying systems.

Scope of work

• Lead inception activities, stakeholder engagement, and methodological framework development.
• Conduct field assessments of representative cocoa-producing communities, cooperatives, and drying facilities.
• Perform technical, economic, quality, social, and geographic suitability assessments of drying systems.
• Execute technology benchmarking, supplier mapping, and options analysis for solar and hybrid systems.
• Assess and quantify environmental, climate, and socio-economic benefits aligned with national climate targets.
• Determine pilot site selection, optimal sizing, and demonstration strategies.
• Prepare detailed engineering drawings, technical specifications, Bills of Quantities, and cost estimates.
• Develop operations and maintenance frameworks, standard operating procedures, and training materials.

Your role as Team Leader and Renewable Energy Engineer

• Provide overall technical and managerial leadership for the multidisciplinary consultancy team.
• Oversee the technical assessment of existing and alternative renewable energy drying technologies.
• Lead the design and engineering of centralized hybrid solar-assisted cocoa drying facilities.
• Coordinate stakeholder consultations with government authorities, private sector actors, and farmer cooperatives.
• Ensure the delivery of high-quality outputs, including technology assessments, feasibility reports, and concept designs.
• Supervise the preparation of detailed engineering designs, equipment specifications, and procurement packages.
• Contribute to the formulation of sustainability, operations, and maintenance frameworks for pilot investments.

Requirements

• Education: Relevant master's degree or bachelor's degree with additional 2 years of experience
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in field of assignment

Desirable

• Previous professional experience in Papua New Guinea or the Pacific region.
• Familiarity with agricultural value chains, specifically cocoa post-harvest processing technologies.
• Experience working with international development organizations or UNDP-funded projects.

An experienced renewable energy engineer and project leader with a strong background in agricultural processing technologies, climate-smart infrastructure, and managing multidisciplinary teams in developing country contexts.

Assignment details

• Location: Papua New Guinea
• Financed by: UNDP
• Sector: Energy, private sector
• Estimated duration: 3 months
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a UNDP-financed project in Papua New Guinea.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.