Permanent - Renewable Project Manager - Johannesburg - South Africa

Position Overview

The Project Manager will be the go-to person for everything involving our projects’ organisation and timeline. This role will focus on developing detailed project plans, ensuring resource availability and allocation, and delivering every project on time within budget and scope.

The Project Manager’s primary focus will be on solar initiatives both in the South African and international markets. Substation, lines, and grid projects will form part of the responsibilities of the Project Manager. This role requires a background in business skills, management, budgeting, and analysis. The Project Manager should be an excellent communicator and comfortable managing multiple tasks, be a team player and have problem-solving aptitude.

The Project Manager will provide technical insight about deployment and implementation, putting the value proposition into practice. The Project Manager will work on impactful projects contributing to sustainable energy solutions.

Key Responsibilities and Skills

As a senior position, this role will be to manage from conception to commissioning of a 1MW PV Solar Farm project, on behalf of our client based in the DR Congo, which will entail the following responsibilities:

 Coordinating tasks, ensuring the project’s success.

• Plan, execute and manage the projects from conception to completion, adhering to timelines, quality standards and budget constraints.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including design engineers, contractors, suppliers and stakeholders, to ensure project alignment with established goals and industry regulations.
• Attend site visits, and conduct site assessments, and technical evaluations to determine optimal solutions for the construction of the solar farms.
• Take part in the FAT on behalf of the client when required.
• Monitor project progress, identify potential risks, and implement strategies to mitigate issues that could impact project delivery.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards, environmental regulations, and industry best practices in power, solar and energy-related projects.
• Provide training to a team of Junior Engineers who will be part of the project and will be reporting to you.

Apart from managing the above project, you will also be required to:

• Tender for various types of projects, including power projects.
• Identify opportunities in the power sector.
• Identify opportunities to supply our services to the IPPs in South Africa.
• Attend site visits as well as meetings related to the above.
• Plan, execute and manage solar energy projects as well as transmission and distribution power infrastructure projects, from conception to completion, adhering to timelines, quality standards, and budget constraints.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including engineers, contractors, and stakeholders, to ensure project alignment with established goals and industry regulations.
• Conduct feasibility studies, site assessments, and technical evaluations to determine optimal solutions and design approaches for solar energy as well as transmission distribution power infrastructure construction and installation.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance on solar energy systems, transmission and distribution power infrastructure systems, equipment selection, and design optimisation to enhance project performance.
• Monitor project progress, identify potential risks, and implement strategies to mitigate issues that could impact project delivery.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards, environmental regulations, and industry best practices in power, solar and energy-related projects.

Qualification, Knowledge and Skills

Qualifications and Experience:

• Degree in Electrical Engineering (minimum National Diploma in Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, or similar)
• Project Management certification advantageous
• Registration with a relevant professional body (ECSA, SAIEE, SACPCMP, etc.)
• Minimum 8+ years’ experience in a similar role
• Proficiency in project management tools, such as MS Project, and experience with CAD software for solar system design.
• Fluent spoken English (French advantageous).

Knowledge and Skills:

• Solid technical background, with understanding or hands-on experience in the power and energy sector.
• Excellent understanding of the Electrical Engineering environment.
• Familiarity with permitting processes, utility interconnection requirements and commissioning procedures for solar installations.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of national and international ISO | IEC | SANS | BS electrical engineering standards.
• Good understanding of business acumen, i.e., numeracy, generation of profit and loss, margins, etc.
• Excellent knowledge of Electrical Engineering and Project Management policies, systems, processes and procedures.
• Excellent knowledge of health and safety regulations.
• Clear and concise communication skills, written and verbal.