Municipal Market Development Lead

Job Title : Municipal Market Development Lead

Location : Cape Town, Tyger Waterfront office (preferably office based with optional, 2-days per week remote work policy)

About NOA
NOA is an integrated renewable energy independent power producer, established to provide its customers with innovative and flexible solutions on their journey towards 'Net Zero' emissions and low-cost clean energy – by wheeling the energy generated by utility scale solar and wind generation facilities, augmented by battery energy storage systems.

To achieve this, NOA has assembled several critical building blocks:

1. A strong balance sheet with secured and disbursed equity funding from blue chip shareholders (the Old Mutual group, via the Ideas Managed Fund and the AIIF 4 Fund, both managed by AIIM) with long standing commitment to the renewable energy space in Africa.
2. An innovative capital and operational structure backed by a top-tier South African commercial institution.
3. Development partnerships with several of the most successful project developers in South Africa, with successes in both the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Program (REIPPP) and the Commercial and Industrial (C&I) space.
4. An aggregation entity (NOA Group Trading) aimed, in part, at disrupting the conventional project finance model that has characterised the C&I space to date, which has recently obtained its trading licence from NERSA.
5. Demonstrated track-record through some of the first private wheeling transactions to enter construction (including 30MW currently in operations for a listed mining company) and more than MW of wind and solar generation facilities in the financial close process.
6. An agile group of energy sector veterans committed to making a major contribution to the low-carbon energy transition – both in South Africa and across the rest of the African continent – who have been assembled to realise a mission of delivering more than 10GW of clean energy generation in the next 10 years.

About the Role
The Municipal Market Development Lead is responsible for unlocking sales opportunities within South Africa's municipal energy market, both by securing direct energy sales to municipalities and enabling sales to municipal-connected customers.

This role requires a blend of business development, advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and lobbying to drive regulatory alignment and commercial success.

The incumbent will work to position the company as a strategic energy partner for municipalities, ensuring compliance with national energy regulations while promoting alternative energy supply and wheeling solutions.

Reporting to the Head of Sales, you will:

1. Develop and execute strategies to grow NOA's municipal footprint.
2. Refine the MESA (Municipal Energy Supply Agreement) contract template with legal.
3. Lead commercial engagements and contract negotiations.
4. A key priority is aligning NOA's wheeling products with municipal energy needs, regulations, and market trends.

This role requires strategic business development, sales expertise, and strong stakeholder engagement to drive municipal-focused energy solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Market & Opportunity Analysis: Develop and implement a go-to-market strategy for breaking into the municipal energy sector. Research municipal energy needs, procurement processes, and regulatory frameworks to identify opportunities.
2. Business Planning & Strategy Development: Develop business plans that outline financial, operational, and strategic feasibility for municipal energy solutions.
3. Stakeholder & Partnership Engagement: Establish and strengthen relationships with municipal decision-makers, energy managers, procurement officers, and regulatory bodies. Engage with Eskom, NERSA (National Energy Regulator of South Africa), SALGA (South African Local Government Association), and other industry stakeholders to navigate regulatory hurdles and advocate for policy changes. Drive awareness and buy-in for wheeling frameworks, third-party energy supply models. Represent the company at industry forums, municipal energy conferences, and public sector engagements.
4. Product & Solution Development for Municipalities: Identify key municipalities for partnership opportunities and secure agreements for energy trading, wheeling, and direct supply. Build a pipeline of municipal-connected customers who could benefit from alternative energy supply models. Work closely with the product team to develop tailored offerings for municipalities and their customers.
5. Regulatory & Compliance Management: Monitor legislative changes, municipal energy procurement policies, and regulatory developments that impact private-sector participation in municipal energy markets. Advocate for pro-business energy policies that enable municipalities to diversify their energy supply mix. Work with internal legal and policy teams to shape proposals and submissions to regulatory authorities.
6. Sales & Business Development Execution: Develop proposals for municipalities interested in purchasing energy directly or enabling private-sector wheeling. Lead contract negotiations with municipalities and structure Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) where viable.
7. Performance Tracking and Reporting: Track engagement progress, regulatory milestones, and signed municipal agreements. Provide senior leadership with insights on market access challenges, competitive positioning, and revenue potential. Regularly report on sales conversion rates, advocacy efforts, and stakeholder feedback.
8. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with NOA's product development, legal, and trading teams to align energy solutions with strategy.
9. Innovation & Industry Best Practices: Research global and regional trends to drive innovation and optimize municipal renewable energy solutions.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Business, Public Policy, Energy Economics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. Postgraduate qualification (e.g., MBA, Public Administration, or Energy Law) is advantageous.

Experience: 7–10+ years of experience in business development, public sector engagement, regulatory affairs, or energy sales. Strong understanding of municipal energy procurement processes, Eskom's supply structure, and South Africa's regulatory landscape. Proven ability to navigate public sector negotiations, stakeholder management, and policy advocacy. Experience in developing and closing large-scale energy contracts, PPPs, or municipal service agreements. Strong strategic business development and sales acumen. Deep understanding of municipal governance, energy regulations, and local government procurement. Excellent stakeholder management, lobbying, and advocacy skills. Ability to simplify complex regulatory issues and influence decision-making. Strong problem-solving and negotiation skills, with the ability to navigate complex municipal procurement processes. Exceptional verbal and written communication, including experience in public speaking and industry representation. A collaborative mindset, capable of working across teams to drive product and sales success. A passion for renewable energy and a commitment to helping municipalities transition to sustainable energy solutions.

To apply for the role, email your resume to email@example.com together with a cover letter that highlights your relevant work experience and achievements that make you an ideal fit for the role, and what motivates you to join the NOA mission.