Power Procurement Project Manager at SARAO - South African Radio Astronomy Observatory

Purpose of the Role

• The SKA-Mid Power Project Manager will manage the procurement and delivery of the Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) for the SKA-Mid telescope. The PPA will need to meet the technical requirements set by the Observatory, which requires the appointee to work closely with the Observatory Power Engineer and Electrical Engineer.
• Delivery of power for the Observatory is a function of the Operations group. This role will be part of the Operations team with the SKA-Mid Deputy Senior Project Manager as the reporting manager and the SKA-Mid Head of Engineering Operations as the line manager. The role will also be part of the SKAO Project Management Group, which holds the project management and control expertise within the Observatory.
• During construction, the Project Managers procure and deliver their assigned parts of the SKA-Mid and SKA-Low telescope facilities by managing a portfolio of contracts and work packages. The Project Managers form the primary managerial link between SKAO as the client and the selected contractors and are responsible for delivery of their scope within the agreed budget and schedule, managing change, risks and issues and performing regular reporting and variance analysis.
• Within the SKA Observatory, the successful applicant will work closely with other project managers, the project control team, procurement specialists, operations staff and the site management team. The SKA-Mid Power Procurement Project Manager Power will lead and co-ordinate efforts across the organisation to procure the delivery of the PPA, and then advise and support the contractors. They will ensure that the deliverables from these contracts and the work of the internal team are integrated into the project level tools and systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Power Purchase Agreements contract management and project management
• Stakeholder management
• Domain matter support
• Project/Financial Management

Key Requirements

Qualification

• B.Eng or BHons in Electrical Engineering or equivalent qualifications coupled with 8+ years’, OR
• BTech/BSc in Electrical Engineering or equivalent qualifications coupled with 10 years’ experience, AND
• PMP (or equivalent; OR Project Management Qualification), AND
• ECSA Professional registration or eligibility for ECSA professional registration as a professional engineer or technologist (advantageous)

Experience

• Proven experience in the project management and delivery of contracts from tender to completion within a large/complex construction project.
• Systems Engineering best practices
• Project and Program Management
• Government procurement processes
• Supplier Management
• ISO9001 Quality System
• Work methods, designs, policies and processes related to their program

Knowledge

• Knowledge of and experience in power generation and distribution.
• Knowledge of national and international standard where applicable
• Knowledge of and experience in Power Purchase Agreements

Related Skills

• Establish and manage a team (through negotiation with functional managers) that will be able to deliver on projects under their control
• Exercise within their program a degree of independent professional responsibility and discretion
• Manage multi-disciplinary projects
• Monitor and report on financial, schedule and technical status of their Programs
• Budget for projects under their programs and monitor and control of expenditure against allocated budgets
• Manage deliverables
• Set quality and professional standards and ensure quality assurance is maintained on their programs
• Facilitate effective communication and work flow both internally and externally
• Handle multiple tasks
• Communicate effectively in English (both written and verbally)

Deadline:30th November,2025