Technical Project Manager – Wind and Solar

Job Description

A leading and successful IPP is looking for a Technical Project Manager to join their Cape Town operations. This is a skilled position responsible for the overall work streams predominantly in the early phases of solar PV and wind projects up to financial close, including feasibility and front-end engineering studies, site studies, PV and HV technical preliminary design, and design specifications in contracts and procurement.

Minimum Requirements:

1. BEng/Meng Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
2. 5+ years’ experience in the renewable energy environment, incorporating both wind and solar.
3. Commercial mindset and experience with optimizing overall business from a technical design and execution perspective
4. Awareness and understanding of the relevant technical codes, regulations, and standards relating to the development of renewable energy projects.
5. Knowledge and experience of power systems.
6. Strong understanding of solar and wind EPC and O&M agreements.
7. Strong initiative and the ability to proactively identify required tasks.
8. An organised approach to working, task prioritisation, and time management.
9. Ability to handle pressure and meet deadlines.

Your Key Responsibilities Will Include:

1. Responsible for the general day-to-day technical project management of the relevant Projects.
2. Leading the technical interface between the various work packages (finance, legal, technical, permitting, grid connection, etc.) necessary to fully develop the Projects.
3. Lead the development of technical concepts and solutions of the projects, identifying optimal solutions from a technical, commercial, and execution perspective at an early stage including civil, mechanical, and electrical aspects of solar PV and wind plants, interconnection and high-voltage design and yield assessments.
4. Ensuring technical compliance with Project documents.
5. Coordinating and managing the procurement process of contractors to perform services under the relevant EPC and O&M agreements.
6. Coordinating the process of preparation, negotiation, execution, and conclusion of Project Agreements (including EPC, O&M, and PPA).
7. Ensuring comprehensive and well-drafted Employers Requirements/Specifications (and other contractual schedules) which are well integrated with the relevant EPC and O&M agreements.
8. Coordinating and managing the procurement of technical advisors (owner’s engineer, etc.).
9. Interfacing with owner’s engineer (OE), sponsors legal advisors, and lenders legal and technical advisors (LLA & LTA), contractors, Eskom/Grid Operator, Lenders, etc. during financial close process and construction.
10. Optimisation of design and pricing parameters.
11. Managing the process of procuring access to transmission and grid infrastructure with Eskom or such other Governmental Authorities.
12. Provide technical input for financial close of successfully awarded projects.
13. Maintaining the project time schedule.
14. Meeting tight deadlines and keeping within budget.
15. Liaising with client/off-taker.
16. Prepare management presentations and generate periodic reports with the progress status of the company's projects.
17. Such other duties that may be required from time to time within the general scope of the position.
18. The role description should develop along with the changing demands of the projects’ objectives and priorities.