TECHNICAL/OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Technical Operations Director Jobs in Lusaka – Join ZAMGRIDCO

ZAMGRIDCO invites qualified professionals to apply for the position of Technical/Operations Director based in Lusaka, Zambia. This role is central to advancing Zambia’s national electricity distribution grid modernization under the Grid Resilience Program. If you are seeking impactful technical operations director jobs in Lusaka, this full-time opportunity offers a chance to lead transformative projects that support sustainable energy development.

About ZAMGRIDCO

ZAMGRIDCO is a Zambian private company limited by guarantee with not-for-profit objectives, established through a pioneering debt-for-development agreement between the Government of Zambia and the African Development Bank. Headquartered in Lusaka, the company channels debt-conversion savings into upgrading and expanding Zambia’s electricity distribution network, aligning with national energy strategies such as the Integrated Resource Plan and Integrated Distribution Plan.

Role Overview: Technical Operations Director

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Technical/Operations Director is responsible for leading the delivery of ZamGridCo’s grid modernization and expansion projects. This position oversees the entire project lifecycle from Request for Proposals (RFP) through to final financing reporting, ensuring operational efficiency, financial compliance, and excellent stakeholder engagement. The role also involves managing systems and processes that support project delivery and financing, while coordinating technical oversight, procurement, and portfolio monitoring.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Funding Lifecycle Management: Develop and maintain a three-year project portfolio plan aligned with program objectives and funding strategies. Oversee application intake, due diligence, award disbursement, and reporting. Implement and manage project funding management systems.
• Financial and Compliance Oversight: Collaborate with Finance to manage project budgets, ensure compliance with donor restrictions and international regulations, conduct fiscal risk assessments, and coordinate audits.
• Process Improvement and Scalability: Design Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to streamline funding review, approval workflows, and payment processing. Reduce administrative burdens and introduce automation to accelerate award turnaround.
• Team Leadership: Manage a multidisciplinary team including Senior Distribution Engineer, Field Verification Engineer, Environmental & Social Specialist, and Smart Grid/SCADA Specialist. Provide training and foster a recipient-focused culture.
• Data and Reporting: Produce comprehensive reports on portfolio performance for leadership and donors, ensure data integrity across all systems, and support donor supervision and evaluation missions.
• Vendor and Partner Management: Maintain strong relationships with fiscal sponsors, external evaluators, technology vendors, and key stakeholders such as ZESCO.

Qualifications and Experience

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Technology, or related technical field; MBA preferred.
• Minimum 15 years’ experience in power generation, transmission, or distribution projects, including at least 8 years in senior supervisory or owner’s representative roles.
• At least 8 years of operations experience focused on project implementation within foundations, corporate giving, nonprofits, or similar organizations.
• Direct project management of major power system projects valued at USD 20-50 million, including EPC contract oversight.
• Proven expertise in procurement, bid evaluation, contract management (FIDIC or equivalent), and compliance with lender requirements.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (Zambia).
• Experience managing teams of five or more operations staff.
• Strong knowledge of project funding compliance, electricity distribution systems, and proficiency with Google Suite/Microsoft Office and ERP/financial systems (e.g., QuickBooks, NetSuite).

Preferred:

• Process improvement certifications such as Lean Six Sigma or grants management training (CGMS).
• Experience with participatory or trust-based philanthropy models.
• Experience executing multilateral development bank (MDB) funded projects.
• Master’s degree in a related technical field.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification.

Key Competencies for Technical Operations Director Jobs in Lusaka

• Systems Thinker: Designs scalable solutions rather than temporary fixes.
• Risk-Aware: Balances operational decisions with compliance escalation when necessary.
• Recipient-Centric: Prioritizes enabling funding recipients through streamlined operations.
• Data-Driven: Utilizes dashboards and analytics to guide decision-making.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their resume along with a brief statement describing their experience with project funding lifecycle systems to humanresources@zamgridco.com. Please specify Technical/Operations Director in the subject line of your email. Visit our website at https://zamgridco.com for more information.

Application Deadline: 30th September 2026

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. ZAMGRIDCO is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and expanding access to reliable, affordable electricity through innovative and commercially sustainable solutions.

Job Details