Quality Assurance Manager – Geothermal - Kenya

Smart4 Energy is hiring a Quality Assurance Manager for a geothermal power plant in Nakuru, Kenya. The role involves establishing and maintaining the Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with ISO standards, and overseeing quality during commissioning and operations. Responsibilities include managing audits, contractor compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives. Candidates should have a relevant engineering degree and significant experience in power generation or industrial settings.
A major utility‑scale geothermal power plant in Kenya is seeking an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to establish, lead, and maintain the plant’s Quality Management System (QMS) through commissioning, transition to Commercial Operations Date (COD), and long‑term operations.

This is a critical O&M‑focused role supporting plant reliability, compliance, and operational excellence in a safety‑ and performance‑driven environment.




Role Overview

The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for implementing and maintaining a robust ISO‑aligned Quality Management System covering all plant operations, maintenance activities, contractors, and service providers.

The role ensures full compliance with contractual obligations, regulatory requirements, OEM standards, and international best practice throughout the plant lifecycle.




Key Responsibilities

Commissioning & COD Transition (Pre‑COD)

Oversee quality compliance during commissioning, performance testing, and reliability runsVerify compliance of test procedures with EPC contracts, OEM requirements, and offtake agreementsReview FAT/SAT documentation, Inspection & Test Plans (ITPs), performance test reports, and reliability run dataMonitor EPC punch‑list close‑out through the Defects Notification PeriodEnsure completeness and accuracy of as‑built documentation prior to handover to O&MQuality Management System (Post‑COD)

Develop, implement, and maintain the plant Quality Management System aligned with ISO 9001Define plant quality policy, objectives, KPIs, and performance metricsDevelop and control SOPs, work instructions, and quality plansEnsure effective document control, records management, and audit readinessLead internal audits and coordinate external auditsManage non‑conformances (NCRs) and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA)Support plant performance optimisation and loss‑reduction initiativesRegulatory & Contractual Compliance

Ensure compliance with local regulatory requirements and all contractual quality obligationsSupport audits by lenders, insurers, regulators, independent engineers, and internal stakeholdersMaintain up‑to‑date and audit‑ready quality documentation at all timesContractor & Vendor Quality Oversight

Monitor contractor quality compliance during outages and maintenance activitiesConduct vendor and OEM quality audits where requiredEnsure warranty conditions are preserved through appropriate quality controlsRisk Management & Continuous Improvement

Develop quality performance dashboards and reporting toolsConduct risk‑based quality assessments for critical plant systems, including:Turbine‑generator setsCooling systemsSteam and reinjection interfacesProtection, control, and balance‑of‑plant systemsPromote a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellenceReporting & Documentation

Prepare weekly, monthly, and annual quality performance reportsMaintain controlled documentation systems for: As‑built drawings, O&M manuals and procedures, Compliance certificates and OEM documentationMinimum Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or Process Engineering (or equivalent)7–10+ years’ experience in power generation or heavy industrial environmentsStrong experience with ISO 9001 Quality Management SystemsISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification (preferred)Professional engineering registration (or eligibility) requiredTechnical Skills & Competencies

Strong understanding of power plant systems and reliability engineeringExperience with commissioning, performance testing, and operational readinessProficiency in root cause analysis methodologies (5‑Why, Fishbone, FMEA)Strong audit, reporting, and documentation control capabilityFamiliarity with SCADA/DCS documentation and CMMS/ERP systems (SAP advantageous)Advanced MS Excel and data‑driven analysis skills