Business Development Manager - Renewable Energy at GIBB Engineering and Architecture

The purpose of the role:

HGR-GIBB is seeking an experienced business development manager to lead its deal office in Johannesburg/Cape Town. Candidates should have relevant experience in pipeline development, soliciting and developing electricity off-take opportunities directly, bid transaction services and client relationship management. Candidates must have a strong network and track record of successfully managing renewable energy deals and must be entrepreneurial. Experience in originating electricity off-take deals and a strong network to draw on for deal origination will be an advantage. The individual will be involved in sourcing off-take opportunities and pipeline development, which will be supported by secured renewable generation sites and origination by senior management. HGR-GIBB will provide legal, investment committee, Backoffice support, project administration, due diligence, financing, marketing, and portfolio management support. Initially the individual would primarily be tasked with managing and closing opportunities for PPAs and BESS. The remuneration will be market related with the ability to earn a discretionary performance bonus/s based on projects that have reached financial close.

Key Performance Areas

• Found and lead the new business development office focused on securing and managing electricity off-take contracts as well as managing and building a pipeline of opportunities for electricity sales,
• Secure route to market for projects via corporate PPAs, primarily through direct negotiations as a primary strategy, and then through government auctions,  
• Develop and maintain relationships with a variety of centres of influence to assist in managing, closing and originating transactions, 
• Build deep relationships with executives and business owners,
• Lead the pipeline development of long-term new-build-asset-backed PPAs and BESS agreements (both offsite and onsite),
• prepare commercial offers, lead the commercial negotiations, and secure PPAs,
• Manage the bidding process,
• Manage customer and third-party quality verification (KYC – Risk Credit),
• Support all levels of direct negotiations and bid process lifecycle, 
• Maintain bid documentation and act as a single point of contact for bid teams,  
• Manage contract negotiation with corporate entities with close support from the management and support teams,
• Manage a pipeline of opportunities from origination to deal close, 
• Network directly with business owners in industries of interest,
• Drive business development efforts and marketing strategies,
• Develop and Implement sales reporting and pipeline statistics. 

Requirements

Job Requirements

• Minimum 10 years related work experience and 5 years in the renewable sector
• Strong performance history with a postgraduate degree in finance, business, accounting, economics, engineering, or other quantitative-focused field of study, 
• Strong commercial understanding, insight into project economics and value drivers for investors and stakeholders alike,
• Experience in REIPPP procurement process in South Africa an advantage, but is not a requirement,
• Exposure to PPA negotiations, corporate PPA experience (direct approaches, structuring, tendering, contracting, and management),
• Passionate about renewable energy investments and strong intellectual curiosity, 
• Proven ability to build relationships with business owners to source investment opportunities, 
• Passionate about building relationships and networking at a professional and personal level, 
• Ability to work on many ad hoc projects concurrently and demonstrated ability to manage a large workload,
• A strong work ethic, moral compass, intellectual curiosity, responsive, and deep sense of accountability,
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, 
• Strong interpersonal skills and verbal persuasion skills; sales experience a plus
• Willing to travel.