Portfolio Manager - Solar Projects

Role Overview

We are recruiting a Portfolio Manager - Solar Projects to lead owner-side delivery across a portfolio of utility-scale solar PV projects, including integrated battery storage where applicable, in South Africa.

The role carries owner-side accountability across the full project lifecycle: transaction, execution, commissioning, handover and the Defects Liability Period. It is primarily a portfolio role, with direct project management on selected projects where required, including the move from transaction into execution and the onboarding of project and site resources.

You will report to the Head of Solar. Depending on structure and project allocation, the role combines line management with functional coordination of Project Managers, alongside direct project management where needed.

Location: Cape Town, with travel to project sites.

Contract: Two-year fixed-term.

What You Will Do

• Support business development to identify construction and operational risks early in project development.
• Own the budgeting and scheduling assumptions that feed the owner's financial model.
• Support financing due diligence, including technical due diligence with the Lender's Technical Advisor.
• Develop and agree the project budget, covering soft and hard costs, with the shareholders.
• Run procurement of EPC, balance-of-plant, equipment supply and design contractors: prepare requests for proposal with technical and commercial schedules, evaluate proposals, negotiate commercial terms, and finalise contracts for execution with legal support.
• Manage preparation of technical documents, plans and applications, including grid connection, environmental approvals and preliminary designs.
• Procure and manage early works on site during the transaction phase.
• Hold direct or portfolio-level accountability for scope, schedule, cost, quality, resources, procurement, risk, communication and stakeholder engagement.
• Supervise and coordinate allocated Project Managers, and manage decision-making and escalation in line with company policies and procedures.
• Act as Project Manager directly on projects where a dedicated Project Manager is not allocated.
• Maintain compliance with the corporate environmental and social management system, IFC Performance Standards, the Equator Principles and applicable South African law.
• Ensure effective health, safety and environmental processes and systems are in place.
• Manage the project team, including project engineers, construction, site, health and safety, environmental, quality and commissioning leads, before, during and after construction.
• Ensure the project is designed and built in line with legislation and permits, including EIA, EMPr, water authorisation and building permits.
• Manage relationships with landowners and the local community.
• Carry out site inspections covering workmanship, materials, conformity to design, code compliance, safety and progress against programme.
• Chair or attend construction progress meetings, covering change orders, risks, schedule, budget and information requests.
• Monitor the programme, report deviations and variances, and develop corrective actions.
• Support lender and asset-management obligations, including the common terms agreement and the management services agreement.
• Ensure all lien and claim releases are executed.
• Uphold the project's economic development obligations.
• Report internally and to stakeholders on progress, risks and opportunities.

What Good Looks Like

• The portfolio is governed to a consistent standard. Risks are identified early and escalated before they affect delivery.
• Projects move from transaction into execution cleanly, with resources onboarded and delivery activities coordinated from the start.
• Budgets and programmes are owned, tracked and defended. Deviations are reported early and corrective action is taken.
• Contractors are procured and managed to deliver on scope, cost, quality and programme.
• Health, safety, environmental and compliance obligations are met without exception across the portfolio.
• Commissioning, handover and the Defects Liability Period are closed out with no outstanding items and no surprises.
• Shareholders, lenders and stakeholders get straight, accurate reporting and always know where each project stands.
• Project Managers are supervised and supported, so decisions and escalations happen in line with company policy.

This role suits someone commercially serious and execution-focused, who is comfortable operating under strong governance. It is not a fit for anyone who needs close hand-holding.

What We're Looking For

Minimum requirements

• Demonstrated experience in utility-scale solar PV development and execution on the owner, IPP, developer or owner's engineer side.
• A tertiary qualification in engineering, construction management, project management, quantity surveying or a related field.
• Strong owner-side project and portfolio management across schedule, cost, risk, quality, governance and stakeholder engagement.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including reporting to senior management and external stakeholders.
• A sound understanding of utility-scale solar PV development, construction, commissioning, handover and Defects Liability Period requirements in South Africa.
• Willingness to travel to project sites and stakeholder meetings.

Preferred

• 10 or more years in major engineering or infrastructure projects, with real exposure to construction delivery and project controls.
• 5 or more years in renewable generation, including transaction support, construction readiness, execution, commissioning and handover in South Africa.
• Professional registration or accreditation such as SACPCMP, ECSA or PMP.
• Leadership experience combining line management with functional coordination of Project Managers.

What We Offer

• Full owner-side ownership of a portfolio of utility-scale solar PV projects, with battery storage, across the full lifecycle from transaction through construction, commissioning, handover and the Defects Liability Period.
• Real decision-making authority. You own the budgets, programmes and procurement, and you drive delivery decisions and escalation across the portfolio.
• Leadership scope that combines line management and functional coordination of Project Managers, with direct project management on selected projects.
• Senior-level exposure, working directly with shareholders, lenders and external stakeholders, including technical due diligence and financing support.
• Breadth and complexity across development, transaction, construction and commissioning on live projects.
• A market-related package.