Time to meet more of the Solarpro Team! Lili Dimova is one of our bright and ambitious Bidding Engineers, her passion for renewables brought her to the team 2 years ago. Learn more about her day-to-day activities and the challenges of being in the dynamic PV market.
Tell us more about your role in Solarpro
As a Bidding Engineer, my responsibilities consist mainly of the preparation of proposals for tenders for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction of photovoltaic power plants.
Once an invitation for participation in a tender is received, our bidding team reviews the documentation provided by the client. Then, we put together a summary, as well as a list of documents to be prepared in order to submit a complete proposal that meets the client’s requirements. The tasks are are distributed among different departments (Procurement, Design, Administration, Legal, etc.) and after the organization for the tender preparation is complete, we submit. Several rounds of clarifications sessions between the client and Solarpro may follow and after an eventual awarding of the project, an EPC contract is signed and the project execution starts.
How does an average day on the job look like for you?
My day starts with reviewing and prioritizing the ongoing tasks for the day and the week. Once I have a clear plan, I start working on the most important ones. Each is of different nature, but all are related to the preparation of proposals for tenders. My main daily tasks include: review of tender documentation; selection of the most technically and financially appropriate equipment; calculation of price proposals; communication with colleagues from different departments and communication with clients.
What’s the most important skill to bring to your position?
As my role requires communication with clients from different nationalities and backgrounds, as well as working with colleagues from all Solarpro departments, I would say that the most important skills to bring to my position are quick thinking, flexibility, adaptability, patience and team work.
What are the typical challenges you face in your role?
Time management. Since in the Bidding department we work simultaneously on many requests for proposals for PV projects which differ in their size, location, configuration and specifics, the good organization of the tasks is crucial for meeting deadlines. The better we manage our time, the more efficient we are.
Why did you choose solar energy? What motivates you to work within the renewable sector?
My decision to work in renewables goes back to more than 10 years ago when I was still in high school and was choosing in which university to continue my education. Back then global warming, greenhouse gas emissions and energy transition were topics that I was interested in and wanted to learn more about. Thus, I started studying engineering in the French National Institute of Applied Sciences with the clear idea that I would like to specialize in energetics, and more precisely, in renewables.
What are your interests outside of work?
In my free time, I like to travel in Bulgaria and abroad. Spending my university years in France has widen up my horizons and made me passionate about exploring new places and cultures.
How and when did you start working in Solarpro?
I started working in Solarpro in the beginning of 2021. I knew about the company from before and I wanted to join it because its profile corresponded to what I was looking for. Looking back, I’m really glad I made that choice because now I’m a part of a company with an excellent organizational structure and I have the pleasure to be working with outstanding professionals in every field – engineering, management, finance and legal.
What advice would you give to someone looking to start a job in renewables?
Be responsible in your work and have a strong willingness to learn. The current dynamics of the market require us all to be adaptive to change, to develop new skills and acquire up to date knowledge.