C&I Solar Commercial Contracts Specialist

Department: Energy

Location: Africa

Description

Allied Talent Partners is a talent marketplace, connecting experienced professionals with climate-related projects and businesses in Africa.

High-Level Overview

Client:
The client is a C&I (Commercial & Industrial) solar energy platform operating in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Mali, and Burkina Faso. The client primarily serves clients in the manufacturing, mining, cement, and telecommunications sectors, providing businesses with integrated solutions for energy transition – from feasibility studies and financing to installation, operations, and maintenance.

Project:
The client manages contracts ranging from $100K to $3M+, including PPAs, lease-to-own agreements with performance warranties, and other tailored structures. The client is seeking an expert to help them upgrade their contract template to international standards, ensuring commercial terms are clear, risk-appropriate, and tailored to the nuances of C&I solar projects across its diverse client base (e.g., PPAs, leases with performance warranties). This position is essential to ensuring that the client's contractual agreements effectively address the requirements of its diverse industrial clients across multiple West African markets.

Role and Responsibilities

Role: C&I Solar Commercial Contracts Specialist
Direct Report: CEO
Candidates Required: One

Key Deliverables:
Review and revise the commercial terms in the client’s existing French-language PPA and lease-to-own master contract templates ensuring they:

• Meet international standards while reflecting the business realities and remain commercially viable for West African C&I solar projects ($100K - 3M+)
• Function as adaptable frameworks for easy customization across the client’s jurisdictions (Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso) and client sectors (manufacturing, mining, telecom)
• Use clear, professional French and unambiguous commercial terms that maintain legal precision without confusing non-legal stakeholders
• Allocate risk transparently through structured provisions on performance, penalties, and termination
• Align terms with investor requirements and client realities (B2B offtakers)
  
  

Requirements

Experience Required:

• Experience drafting C&I solar PPAs and lease-to-own agreements with performance guarantees for commercial clients (100K−3M+ deals)
• Demonstrated success adapting contracts for Francophone Africa's jurisdictions and DFI requirements (Proparco/AfDB standards)
• Technical expertise in solar risk allocation (output guarantees, penalty structures, O&M integration) and understanding of financial models
• Professional French contract drafting fluency with ability to balance legal precision and client clarity
• Portfolio demonstrating contract templates, negotiation frameworks, and cross-border adaptations

Technical Requirements:

• Mastery of solar PPA mechanics e.g., radiation risk allocation, performance guarantees, and curtailment clauses
• Advanced structuring of lease-to-own agreement e.g., payment waterfalls, default triggers, and asset transfer protocols
• Ability to understand complex financial modelling for C&I solar
• Familiarity with West African electricity grid rules and connection requirements for commercial solar projects (regulatory knowledge not critical; client will handle local context).

Soft Skills:

• Ability to translate complex commercial terms into clear, actionable contract language suitable for diverse stakeholders.
• Skilled in leading collaborative drafting processes, synthesising cross-functional feedback, and producing practical outputs independently
• Pragmatic approach: Ability to balance international standards with practicality.

Working arrangement
Location: | Remote; WAT/Africa time zone friendly
Language: | Fluent in written French (contract drafting)
Travel requirements: | Project is fully remote

Terms of agreement:
Required start date: | ASAP
Contracting period: | : 1 – 3 Months (exact timeline to be agreed between client and consultant)
Budget: | TBD