Head of O&M

Location: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) or Cape Town | Hybrid

Contract Type: Permanent

Start Date: ASAP

Reports To: Chief Asset Operations Officer

Direct Reports: Plant Managers and other corporate O&M personnel

Overview

A leading international energy developer and operator is seeking a strategic and operational leader to head up its Operations & Maintenance (O&M) division. With a growing footprint of renewable and low-carbon assets across South and Sub-Saharan Africa—including wind, solar, and battery storage—the company is transitioning from outsourced BoP O&M to a high-performing internal service model. This Head of O&M role is critical to driving excellence in asset performance, regulatory compliance, and safety, while embedding operational best practice and scalability in line with ambitious growth targets.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the transition from outsourced to internalised BoP O&M service delivery.
• Establish systems, teams, tools (CMMS, monitoring, etc.), and processes for a new O&M entity.
• Oversee preventive, corrective, and predictive maintenance across operational sites.
• Drive performance KPIs such as availability, reliability, and downtime response.
• Ensure full compliance with health and safety legislation and fulfilment of legal appointments (e.g., 16.2).
• Participate in HSE audits, inspections, and risk assessments while promoting a proactive safety culture.
• Manage, mentor, and build capacity of Plant Managers, Supervisors, and broader O&M teams.
• Oversee O&M budget planning and control, including tooling, spares, consumables, and labour.
• Hold full P&L responsibility for the O&M entity, including commercial claims and contract management.
• Engage with stakeholders including SPVs, landowners, local authorities, and the Grid Operator.
• Advise project and development teams on operability, commissioning, hazard identification, and design feedback.
• Coordinate readiness-to-operate (RTO) activities including documentation handover, team training, and operational preparation.
• Interface with internal teams across Legal, Finance, HSE, Grid Engineering, Development, Construction, and Asset Management.
• Ensure standardisation of O&M practices and continuous improvement across all operational sites.
• Liaise with global peers to access technical support and share best practices.

What We’re Looking For

• 10+ years of experience, with at least 7 in O&M for utility-scale energy infrastructure (e.g., substations, overhead lines, BoP).
• Minimum 5 years in a senior leadership or people management role.
• Demonstrated success in managing cost, risk, and delivery of large-scale infrastructure.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering (or equivalent).
• Experience in renewable energy (especially wind and solar) strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with ISO standards, South African HSE legislation, and regulatory interfaces (NERSA, Eskom).
• Strong knowledge of contract and claims management, procurement, and technical-commercial documentation.
• Excellent Microsoft Office and CMMS proficiency.
• Driver’s licence and willingness to travel to sites.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to lead and shape a newly established O&M entity within a rapidly expanding renewable energy portfolio.
• Exposure to diverse technologies including wind, solar, and BESS across a multi-site, multi-country asset base.
• Strategic leadership responsibility within a high-performance and collaborative Asset Operations team.
• A hybrid working model with site engagement and close integration with project development and execution teams.

Should you not hear back from us within 14 days, your application was unsuccessful.