Job Description

Role Overview

Energy Africa Recruitment is representing an established international independent power producer that develops, invests in, builds and operates renewable energy plants.

The business has a long presence in South Africa. It has wind and solar plants in operation, more wind, solar and battery storage projects under construction, and a strong pipeline of new projects.

Each project sits in its own project company. The Project Director is the chief executive of that company. You lead it from financial close, through construction and commissioning, to handover to the asset management team. You protect the approved investment case and you deliver the project safely, on time, within budget and to the required quality.

This is a general management role. You run the company, its board relationship, its stakeholders and its team. You bring strong technical and project delivery experience, and you use it to lead the technical team and to challenge the contractors. On large projects a construction director leads the work on site and reports to you. On smaller projects you may lead construction yourself.

This is a permanent position. You join the business's group of Project Directors. You may take over a project that is already under construction, or lead a new project from financial close.

Reports to:  The Board of Directors of the project company, with a functional reporting line to the Chief Operating Officer of the Southern Africa business.

Location:  Office based in Cape Town, with time on project sites and travel across South Africa.

Appointment:  Permanent.

What You'll Do

Lead the project company

• Run the project company as its chief executive, within the authority the Board gives you.
• Set up the project organisation: the team, who decides what, the meeting schedule, the management processes and the reporting.
• Lead the project team. Depending on the project, your direct reports may include construction, commercial and contracts, finance, health and safety, quality, engineering, planning and cost control, commissioning, and stakeholder and economic development managers.
• Report to the Board and to its finance and technical committees. Prepare the decisions the Board needs to take, and keep the business case, budget and long-term plan up to date.
• Make sure the company meets its duties under the shareholders' agreement and the project governance rules.

Manage the stakeholders

• Build and keep strong working relationships with shareholders and partners, lenders and their advisers, the Independent Engineer, Eskom, the Independent Power Producer Office, the buyer of the power, the grid operator, government authorities, municipalities and local communities.
• Resolve serious issues and disputes with shareholders, partners, contractors and subcontractors, and raise them through the governance structure at the right time.
• Make sure the project delivers its economic development, black economic empowerment, local content and community commitments.

Deliver the project

• Hold the contractors to account. Where one main contractor builds the whole plant, you own that relationship. Where several contractors each build a part, you make sure their work fits together and nothing is missed between them.
• Own the schedule, the costs, the risks and the changes. Keep the project on track for its commercial operation date and act early when a contractor falls behind.
• Lead the contract management and the claims strategy: variations, extensions of time, penalties for late delivery, performance shortfalls and calls on guarantees.
• Make sure the company meets its obligations under the implementation agreement, the power purchase agreement, the financing agreements, the grid connection agreements, and its permits and licences.
• Keep good relationships with the lenders, the Independent Engineer and the insurers, and make sure the company meets its financing conditions.

Safety, handover and operations

• Act as the accountable executive for health and safety, including the duties under section 16(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act where you are appointed. Set a visible safety culture for the company, its advisers and its contractors.
• Lead commissioning and the connection of the plant to the grid, with clear rules, authority and acceptance criteria.
• Prepare the operations team, and hand the plant over to asset management with complete records, open risks, warranty and claims status, and lessons learned.

What We're Looking For

• A relevant degree, for example in engineering, commerce, finance or law.
• At least 15 years of experience in power, infrastructure, construction or project investment, with at least 10 years on large power or infrastructure projects. Renewable energy experience is preferred.
• Proven experience as the accountable executive of a large project or project company, from financial close through construction and commissioning to handover.
• Experience reporting to a board and working with shareholders, lenders and their advisers.
• A solid understanding of project finance: how lenders, financing agreements, financing conditions and insurance affect decisions on a project.
• Strong knowledge of construction contracts, including claims, variations, extensions of time, penalties for late delivery and guarantees.
• South African citizen or permanent resident.

Strong advantages

• Experience of the South African power sector and the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, including work with Eskom, the Independent Power Producer Office, grid connection and permits.
• Wind, solar or battery storage experience. Hydropower experience is a bonus.
• Experience of both models: managing one main contractor, and managing several contractors whose work must fit together.
• A management qualification in project management, governance or business, or membership of the Institute of Directors in South Africa.

How you work

• You lead through influence, with shareholders, advisers and contractors who do not report to you.
• You show visible leadership on safety.
• You use sound judgement and you act with integrity and accountability.
• You communicate clearly and briefly. You challenge when it is needed and you follow through.
• You work well in an international group with many cultures, and you are willing to travel.

What We Offer

• A permanent executive appointment as the chief executive of utility-scale power projects.
• A direct line to the project company Board and to the Chief Operating Officer of the Southern Africa business.
• A strong project pipeline across wind, solar and battery storage.
• The backing of a large international energy group, with great stability.
• A competitive package in line with the seniority of the role.

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