Asset Manager - Octopus Australia

Company Description

We’re excited to offer an opportunity to become part of the Octopus Australia team in our Melbourne office.

The successful applicant will join Octopus Australia on our mission to harness capital and expertise to accelerate the renewable energy transition.

The successful candidate will have a strong technical understanding of the operation of Wind assets, with broader exposure to solar and storage viewed favourably, and be responsible for driving operational performance of Wind assets. Whilst ensuring that best practices for contract, governance, and financial management with support from the finance function.

The role requires a highly organised individual who is comfortable managing multiple priorities and stakeholders simultaneously, balancing technical, commercial and compliance requirements across several assets. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with internal teams, service providers and project stakeholders to identify performance improvement opportunities, resolve operational issues and support the delivery of asset management objectives.

This role will report to the Assets Lead based in Sydney and will be based in Melbourne, with site visits and occasional interstate travel required.

Octopus Australia

Established in 2018, Octopus Australia is a renewable energy fund manager and developer. Our dynamic multi-disciplinary team of over 70 highly skilled people have the expertise required to manage a renewable energy fund and operate a renewable energy and storage portfolio.

We have an existing multi‑GW portfolio of operating and development assets, including utility‑scale solar, wind and battery storage facilities across the country. We are continuing to grow to create a long‑term business that can deliver a firmed energy product to meet the evolving needs of Australia’s energy future.

Job Description

The role is focused on technical and commercial asset management of our renewable assets including solar, wind and storage. The role will at times become ‘hands on’ in solving issues, and at other times require technical and contract oversight of service providers. Applicants must be confident and comfortable in this role and effective at delegating and managing the underlying technical activities carried out by third parties.

Key job functions include:

• Compliance: Promote a culture of compliance focused on health, safety, and environment. Oversee all compliance activities at operational assets.
• Community Engagement: Work with the community and stakeholder engagement manager to develop and implement the community engagement strategy and initiatives.
• Technical: Manage day-to-day technical performance activities across wind assets. Work closely with Asset Managers, O&M providers and technical consultants to monitor asset performance and support the resolution of operational issues. Identify asset performance improvement opportunities and support implementation initiatives to maximise availability, reliability and generation outcomes.
• Problem solving: Strong problem-solving capabilities to work through operational asset performance issues and bring multiple stakeholders together to resolve with a sense of urgency.
• Relationships: Proactively build strong relationships with external stakeholders, regulatory bodies (i.e. AEMO), Asset Managers and key project stakeholders. Work collaboratively with internal teams to ensure effective communication and alignment across operational activities.
• Contract Management: Ensure timely delivery of services under Asset Management, O&M and 3rd party contracts. Work within the Assets team to set-up performance metrics for all contracts.Procurement: Prepare and run tender processes for all 3rd party contracts, as required.
• Opex Budgets: Support the finance function and 3rd party asset managers to prepare and manage yearly Opex budgets including reporting and insights.
• Develop: Create and implement bespoke technical asset performance opportunities to maximise site performance and revenue. Including tracking and reporting with deep insights.
• Reporting: Prepare monthly asset and quarterly board reports for the leadership team in conjunction with external asset managers and finance function. Provide clear and concise technical analysis and performance insights to support decision making.
• Systems improvement and AI: Support the implementation and continuous improvement of asset management systems, reporting tools and operational processes. Contribute to the adoption of digital tools, automation and AI-enabled solutions that improve efficiency, reporting and decision-making capabilities as the portfolio grows.
• Data: Work with all stakeholders to implement a data driven approach to decision making to ensure asset delivers best in class performance. Analyse performance trends and provide insights that support operational improvements across the portfolio.

Qualifications

• Prior experience working on renewable energy projects with a strong preference for candidates with experience operating Australian wind assets connected to the NEM.
• Experience supporting implementing operational systems, digital tools and process improvements within a growing organisation.
• Candidates should have a tertiary qualification in project management, engineering, or a related discipline.
• Contract and project management skills which demonstrate that you are highly organised, diligent, and confident with complex contract environments.
• Understanding of Health, Safety and Environmental practices, legislations, and requirements.    
• Knowledge of Compliance requirements across a NEM operating asset.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, stakeholders and deadlines simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing priorities.
• Contract and project management skills which demonstrate that you are highly organised, diligent and confident working within complex contractual environments.
• Candidates must demonstrate a commercial mindset, and in particular be able to consider technical challenges in a broader commercial and investment context.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. The ability to communicate effectively and ensure your communication strategy covers the different stakeholders.
• An understanding of core legal concepts, particularly those relating to contracts for the operation and management of renewable energy projects.
• An ability to understand risks, reach a balanced appraisal of probability and severity and develop feasible mitigation strategies.
• A self-starter with high energy levels, tenacity, initiative, and a willingness to commit whatever it takes to deliver the required results.
• Eligibility to work in Australia – visa sponsorship is not offered.

Additional Information

What we offer

• 💰 A competitive salary package including annual bonus
•  🩺 A generous contribution to your private health insurance, when you join the Octopus Australia-sponsored Medibank policy.
• ✈️ An extra five days’ annual leave entitlement
• 🏡 Hybrid working arrangement.
• 💼 Ongoing learning and career development opportunities including a LinkedIn learning subscription.
• 📱Monthly mobile phone allowance.
• 🧘‍♀️Access to our employee wellness program, including an annual wellness allowance and Headspace subscription.
• 🚗 Access to novated leasing
• ☀️ The opportunity to apply your skills to the renewable energy transition.

Our Values 

At Octopus Australia we don’t just focus on what we do but also how we do it. Everyone shares our values of being straightforward, helpful, bold and empathetic. Our culture is critical to our success and is built around four principles that underpin how we pursue our goals:

We empower people to:

• Be Bold – make decisions quickly and be OK changing your mind if it turns out there’s a better way of doing things.
• Be Helpful – behave like it’s always day one and remember that without our customers, there is no business.
• Be Straightforward – have opinions and express them in a way that’s respectful and easy to understand.
• Be Empathetic – care about others and take the time to understand different perspectives. It’s about listening, supporting, and creating an environment where everyone feels valued – so we can send our people home happy.