General Manager Technical Solar

**Job no**: 516914

**Work type**: Full Time Fortescue Employee

**Location**: Perth

**Categories**: Technical & Engineering, Technology, Vertically Integrated Supply Chain, Green Industry

**_At Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) we are leading the global energy transition by developing a portfolio of renewable energy and green hydrogen projects._**

**_ Our large scale, low-cost hydropower, geothermal, solar and wind assets will support establishment of green energy and green product industries around the world._**

**_ FFI is committed to building thriving communities by delivering social, environmental and economic benefits._**

**General Manager Technical Solar**

**Work Location**:Perth

**Roster**:Monday to Friday

The General Manager Technical Solar is a senior leadership role with responsibility for a critical function in Fortescue’s growth agenda and decarbonisation pathway. Initially reporting to the Director of Green Industry the General Manager Technical Solar will have overall responsibility for the development, manufacture and commercialisation of Fortescue’s solar business; and research into the best methodologies and technologies to manufacture solar panels suitable for utility-scale deployment.

**Key accountabilities will include**:

- Lead Solar Technology and R&D during both engineering phase and steady state
- Lead both evolutionary and revolutionary innovations on various solar technology platforms
- Develop and implement vision for solar technology and R&D. This vision must be broad, not limited to any one technology platform
- Drive long term development of new platforms that can provide competitive edge to Fortescue
- Develop and deliver the cost and performance roadmap over short term as well as long term
- Value based and risk adjusted leadership to create and maintain differentiation
- Accountable for a comprehensive Technology delivery with 100% ownership
- Work with the existing R&D team to accelerate development in solar
- Build Technology and R&D team from ground up ensuring human capability and capacity for rapid growth
- Drive outcomes to achieve FFI schedules
- Establish Solar Technology and R&D fit for purpose systems and processes
- Communicate technical Solar and R&D detail to non technical stakeholders and decision makers
- Provide financial forecasts indicative of Risk and FFI schedules
- Attract, retain, and develop talent in the solar technology organisation
- Lead the technology component of basic and detailed engineering
- Develop and deploy a technology strategy and roadmap for the solar sector that delivers profitable growth and market penetration
- Drive the culture of ownership and accountability in formulating and implementing the technology plans
- Organize resources and drive the innovations impacting the top and bottom line on both short-term and long-term basis
- Understand risks and benefits of each project and create a value optimised portfolio of projects for development
- Develop a culture of external awareness to drive internal innovation
- Manage and build key relationships with key research centres, academic institutes, and reputed laboratories in the solar sector
- Introduce new approaches to technology development that will significantly impact growth.
- Assess, analyse and adapt new technology platforms in the sector that could further enhance Fortescue’s competitive advantage

**Qualifications and skills required**:

- Deep experience and competence in solar technology
- Good knowledge of various new solar technologies including perovskites
- Good working knowledge of all steps in the solar conversion process
- Experience in leading solar technology equipment design and modifications, quantitative new process development, technology transfer to HVM, and process simulations
- A thorough understanding of critical unit operations such as chemical vapour deposition, hydrochlorination to produce TCS, and all chemical and mechanical unit operations
- Familiarity with analytical methods to ensure quality
- Ability to deliver commercialization from concepts
- Develop processes and technologies and provide complete turnkey solution
- Assess risk and develop risk adjusted development plans
- Ability to quantify commercial value to drive decisions
- A strong commercial awareness that will impact and influence the performance and effectiveness
- Tenacity to deliver difficult projects and judgment to terminate unproductive projects
- General understanding of the Renewable Energy domain to make proper decisions within a larger energy ecosystem
- Track record of building and developing successful teams
- Proven ability to drive R&D outcomes to achieve schedules
- Develop Solar Technology and R&D fit for purpose systems and processes
- Ability to communicate technical Solar and R&D detail to non-technical stakeholders and decision makers
- Good knowledge of financial forecasting reflecting technology specific risk and commercialisation schedules

**Lead