Sustainability Manager: Projects at Growthpoint Properties

Job Description

The role is responsible for the identification, motivation, and implementation of projects supporting the organizational targets for sustainable solutions for the business across all sectors. The incumbent will ensure that appropriate solutions to meet organisational targets are developed and implemented and also anticipate future business trends and needs in order to support strategic initiatives including technical innovation and market leadership positioning.

Duties and responsibilities

Sustainability Projects: Scope

• Scope of projects to be undertaken includes all environmental sustainability and green building focus areas identified as part of the company ESG strategy. This includes but is not limited to energy, water, waste, IEQ, biodiversity and the full range of green building initiatives which contribute towards sustainable built environments.
• Projects to be delivered to all sectors within the business and on a national basis.
• Ensure all Energy projects are in line with the standards set for each sector.

Sustainability Projects: Identification

• Project initiation by means of identifying buildings through all sectors and regions initiatives within the buildings, establishing capital expenditure costing and returns on investment.
• Assess the results of energy, water, and waste audits in order to act on identified performance improvement opportunities, enhance identified opportunities to assist external stakeholders (tenants) and Growthpoint in meeting their ESG (Environmental Social and Governance) targets and to reduce building operational costs.
• Green building initiatives to be identified on all new Trade & Development projects.
• Sizing potential solar plants for internal and external stakeholders to be used for initial business case development, cost analysis and quality control.
• Assessing technical specifications, costing models, and operating requirements for the full range of green building initiatives identified above

Sustainability Projects: Implementation

• Project manage initiatives from feasibility phase to implementation and monitoring period.
• Develop a project progress report for distribution as well as intermittent verbal updates with heads of SBU.
• Work closely with the procurement department in terms of strategic sourcing. RFPs and appointments and vetting of potential and existing service providers in line with procurement policy and standards and demonstrated performance capabilities.
• Provide ongoing and constructive critique when reviewing proposals and quotes. Using specialised methodology i.e., system size, material specification, technology applications and business case development to Asset, Property and External stakeholders. Assist with decision making on further investigations or alternative approaches.
• Develop a database of preferred service providers

Sustainability Projects: Ongoing management, monitoring, verification, and reporting

• Direct the contracted parties to ensure accurate reporting with regards to initiatives in the building during implementation as well as establishing ongoing monitoring and verification systems for reporting purposes as required by the business.
• Generate reports on the full range of green building initiatives identified above with regards to generation/ yield and performance post hand over.
• Manage maintenance and operations contracts for all existing solar plants based on performance, frequency of maintenance and yield generation including renewals, new appointments, and penalty implementation
• Train employees for online and manual project monitoring solutions at sites in order to identify issues and address them accordingly to minimise down time and operational inefficiencies.
• Assist with CDP and ESG Reporting for the Growthpoint portfolio with regards to data inputs on energy, water, and renewable energy and other ESG indicators from a generation and consumption and efficiency aspect.

Strategic Initiatives and Innovation

• Assist with the establishment of an energy generation, transmission, distribution and trading focused entity within the Growthpoint REIT structure
• Assist with the implementation of technologically innovative green building innovations and strategies for all sectors in the business on a national basis.
• Participate in cross-functional assignments for internal and external stakeholders
• Identify areas of improvement within the business in the sustainability and utilities department for rapid project roll out, management and tracking.
• Specialist projects: research and development of new and existing sustainability initiatives
• Industry representation and event attendance
• Assist with related ad-hoc requirements as required by the Head of Sustainability and Utilities

Experience

• Minimum five years working experience in Project Management focused on sustainability initiatives, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water projects.
• Knowledge of the GBCSA rating tools and workings.

Qualifications

• BSc (Property Studies) with electives (Sustainability & Environment) and/or (BSc or BTech) Engineering studies – Mechanical or Electrical.
• A post graduate qualification would be advantageous
• Project Management (property industry)

Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong presentation skills
• Strong organizational abilities and accuracy
• Attention to detail
• People management skills
• Financial modelling
• Performance, monitoring, and verification reporting
• MS Project / Gannt projects
• Excellent MS Office Suit