Head of Electro-Mechanical Equipment & Balance of Plant (BoP)
The Head of Electro-Mechanical Equipment & Balance of Plant (BoP) is responsible for leading all activities related to the design, specification, procurement, installation, and commissioning of electro-mechanical systems and BoP components for a large-scale pumped storage hydropower project. This includes turbines, pumps, generators, transformers, switchgear, auxiliary systems, and control systems, as well as mechanical and electrical BoP equipment.
This role also includes responsibility for managing the procurement lifecycle — from technical specification through bid evaluation to contract execution — ensuring technical compliance, schedule alignment, and cost control in accordance with international standards (e.g. IEC, IEEE, ISO, ICOLD) and environmental/social performance requirements (e.g. IFC, World Bank). This project will be based in Ponferrada, near Leon.
Your accountabilities
- Define and validate technical specifications for main electro-mechanical equipment (pumped-storage units, motor-generators, governors, transformers, etc.).
- Oversee the design and integration of BoP systems (HV/MV/LV systems, cooling, compressed air, drainage, fire protection, control & instrumentation, etc.).
- Ensure system compatibility across all project interfaces (civil works, grid connection, SCADA, etc.).
- Review and approve supplier documentation (design drawings, FAT procedures, QA/QC plans, etc.).
- Develop procurement strategies and technical input for tender documents (RFQ/RFP).
- Lead or support the evaluation of technical bids and participate in contract negotiations.
- Monitor contractor performance to ensure adherence to specifications, budget, and timeline.
- Coordinate procurement interfaces with project planning, legal, financial, and E&S teams.
- Supervise installation and commissioning activities of electro-mechanical and BoP systems.
- Ensure contractor compliance with HSE requirements and project QA/QC procedures.
- Provide expert input during factory and site acceptance testing (FAT/SAT).
- Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues during construction and early operation.
- Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of engineers and consultants.
- Interface with OEMs, EPC contractors, Owner’s Engineer, and regulatory authorities.
- Represent the electro-mechanical scope in internal reviews and external audits.
Your profile
- Master’s degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent).
- Minimum 15 years of experience in hydroelectric or PSP projects, with at least 5 years in a senior technical or management role.
- Proven expertise in electro-mechanical design, installation, and commissioning of large hydro or PSP projects (DFIM, variable/constant speed, excitation systems, etc.).
- Strong knowledge of BoP systems and integration.
- Experience in managing complex procurement processes (FIDIC, EPC, Design & Build).
- Familiarity with international standards (IEC, IEEE, ISO, IFC, World Bank EHS).
- Excellent project management, negotiation, and leadership skills.
- Fluent in Spanish (spoken and written); good English, French a plus.
- Experience working on international, multi-stakeholder PSP projects.
- Knowledge of variable-speed technologies and hybrid solutions (e.g., battery storage).
- Exposure to digitalization of O&M and SCADA integration