Portfolio Project Manager

Job Purpose:

The Portfolio Manager – Solar Projects is responsible for owner-side leadership, governance and hands-on delivery assurance across a defined portfolio of utility-scale Solar PV projects in South Africa, including integrated BESS where applicable.

The role supports projects starting from the transaction phase through execution, commissioning, handover and the Defects Liability Period. It works with the Transactions Team and the PTFC team (“Projects To Financial Close”) within PCM to support construction readiness and, where applicable, to define, negotiate, execute and project manage Early Works in line with Company procedures, project agreements, lender requirements, statutory obligations and stakeholder expectations.

The incumbent often acts as the owner’s representative on assigned projects and portfolios, coordinating delivery strategy, governance, reporting, risk management and practical execution support across Development, Transactions, PCM, Engineering & Commissioning, Strategic Procurement, Finance, Legal, SHSEQ and Asset Management.

The role is primarily portfolio-focused but may also directly perform project management responsibilities for selected projects where required, including transition from transaction into execution, onboarding of project and site management resources and direct coordination of key delivery activities of project(s) during Construction. The role may include a mix of formal line management and functional coordination of Project Managers, as well as direct Project Management of projects depending on the organisational structure and project allocation.

1. General:

• Use reasonable endeavours to remain abreast with market and technological developments and to identify new technologies that may contribute towards the development of the Business and improvements in the Company;
• Foster and lead a corporate culture that promotes sustainable ethical practices, encourages individual integrity and fulfils social responsibility objectives and imperatives;
• Recommending policy and procedure improvements;
• Ensuring overall compliance to all the internal Policy and Procedures of the Company (IMS: Integrated Management System), including compliance with Corporate ESMS (Environmental, Social, Management System), IFC Standards and Equator Principles;
• Carry out duties in a proper, loyal and efficient manner to the best of their ability and at all times act in good faith and use their best endeavours to properly conduct, improve, extend, develop, promote, protect and preserve the business interests, reputation and goodwill of the Company and not do anything or engage in any activity which is or may become harmful or contrary to such interests;
• Immediately disclose to the Employer any information which comes to their knowledge, and which does, or may, lead to them not being lawfully able to perform their duties or responsibilities.
• Ensure a clear and consistent, approach is in place to manage risk across the project portfolio.

2. Development and Transaction Phase

• Support Business Development (Development and Transaction teams) to identify construction and operations risks in the early stage of the project development;
• Responsible for Budgeting and Scheduling to define the main technical assumptions that will be part of the financial model of the Owner;
• Support Transaction team during the financing due diligence, including responsibility for technical due diligence (Lender Technical Advisor, etc.);
• Ensure a project budget, incorporating the necessary soft and hard costs, is developed and agreed with the Owner’s shareholders;
• Support the Strategic Procurement team with procurement of contractors (EPC Contractor / BOP Contractors / Equipment Suppliers / Design Consultants / etc. as the case may be for IPP and EPC roles) during the Transaction phase. This includes generation of Requests for Proposal (RFPs), with the necessary technical and commercial schedules; evaluation of proposals with SP Team, PTFC Team and E&C Team; negotiation of commercial terms; and finalisation of contracts for execution supported by the Legal team;
• In coordination with E&C Team and other relevant members of PCM Team, manage preparation of technical documents, plans and applications, including in relation to grid connection (e.g. Budget Quote), environmental approvals and preliminary project designs.
• Procure and manage early works on the project site during the Transactions phase;
• Align relevant assumptions, strategies and details across different projects within the portfolio of responsibility defined by the Head of PCM – Solar.

3. Execution Phase (Construction)

• During the Execution Phase, the Portfolio Project Manager is either directly (as Project Manager) or indirectly (as Portfolio Manager) responsible and accountable for managing the following aspects of a project or a portfolio of projects in an integrated manner to achieve project objectives: scope, schedule, cost, quality, resources, procurement, risks, communication, and stakeholder engagement.
• For projects in the defined portfolio, supervise and coordinate all responsibilities of allocated Project Managers and ensure management, decision-making and escalation in accordance with Company policies and procedures.
• When required, undertake all responsibilities of the Project Manager role as outlined below in case project management responsibilities are not allocated to dedicated Project Managers.
• Ensuring overall compliance to the Corporate ESMS (Environmental, Social, Management System) IFC Standards and Equator Principles as well as applicable laws of relevant jurisdictions, including South Africa.
• Ensure that effective Health, Safety and Environmental process and systems are in place.
• Support the Asset Management team, when required, on other signed agreements (i.e.: CTA Agreement with the banks, etc.) and particularly to ensure the project obligations in terms of the loan agreement (CTA) are monitored and managed to ensure it remains fulfilled on an ongoing basis.
• Respect compliance of the Economic Development obligations under the Project Agreements.
• Manage the project team (Project Manager/s, Project Engineer, Construction Manager, Site Superintendent, Health and Safety Manager, Environmental Manager, Quality Manager, Commissioning Manager, etc.…) before, during, and after the construction phase.
• Direct internal operations to achieve project budgeted results and other financial criteria, and to preserve the capital funds invested in the project.
• Ensure that all the relevant insurances, permits and contracts remain in full force during the construction of the facility.
• Ensure that the project is going to be designed and built-in in accordance with the applicable legislation and all relevant permits (EIA, EMPr, water authorization, building permits, etc.….).
• Ensure that the relationships with landowners and the local community is properly managed.
• Perform on-site inspections for quality of workmanship, quality of materials, conformity with plans & specifications, code compliance, on-site safety, project schedule vs progress, and general progress of the construction project.
• Attend, or conduct, periodic construction progress meetings with the contractors. These meetings should include discussions with respect to potential or pending change orders, problems, schedule, budget, requests for information, and any other areas of interest.
• Ensure all lien/claim releases are executed.
• Monitor the project schedule (“Programme”) throughout the process, report deviations and variances, and assist in developing alternate methods for corrective action.
• Assess impacts to the critical path and near-critical activities and report to the project team and shareholders.
• Assist and coordinate with the Asset Manager the management of the Management Services Agreement to ensure the Company an