Project Manager - Renewable Energy

High-level Overview

Allied Talent Partners (ATP), a Three Cairns Group initiative, is a mission-driven, not-for-profit talent marketplace focused on solving the human capital bottlenecks slowing down sustainable development efforts in emerging economies, with an initial focus on Africa. ATP connects vetted, experienced, context-relevant professionals to high-impact opportunities in energy access and sustainable development – strengthening local capacity and fuelling economic vitality. We specialize in fixed-term, deliverable-driven engagements – from interim leadership and generalist projects to niche technical expertise – handling project scoping, talent vetting and matching, contracting, payroll, and compliance so that our clients can focus on impact.

The client is seeking a full-time Project Manager to lead the end-to-end development of three to five priority utility-scale renewable energy projects through financial close and into post-financial-close delivery. The role will integrate specialist workstreams, maintain disciplined project plans and governance, and drive the decisions and actions required to advance the portfolio efficiently.

The ideal candidate will bring a recognized professional project-management certification and a track record of leading complex capital projects through financial close. Post-close delivery, construction, or commissioning experience is advantageous. Renewable energy development or technical expertise will also be considered where the candidate demonstrates strong project-management discipline and can operate as a cross-functional integrator.

Role & Responsibilities

Role: Project Manager - Renewable Energy

Direct Report: TBC.

Candidates Required: 1

Deliverables

• Lead the end-to-end development and delivery of three to five priority utility-scale renewable energy projects through financial close and into post-financial-close execution.
• Own the integrated project plans, schedules, budgets, resources, dependencies, risks, issues, controls, and delivery cadence across the portfolio.
• Coordinate the project development workstreams required to produce a lender-ready project package, including finalized industrial contracting and procurement strategies; offtake, PPA and key project agreements; an investment-ready financial model with aligned technical, commercial and cost assumptions; and the packaging of existing land, permitting, environmental and grid documentation for due diligence.
• Drive due-diligence and financial-close readiness, coordinating project documentation, approvals, agreements, conditions precedent, lender requirements, and outstanding decisions.
• Lead the transition from financial close into project execution, ensuring that delivery plans, contracts, schedules, budgets, governance, risk controls, reporting, and handovers to the appointed construction and contract-management teams are in place.
• Implement and embed scalable project-management governance, reporting, systems, AI, and automation to strengthen portfolio oversight, decision-making, and workflow efficiency.

Requirements

Experience Required

• Track record of leading projects across the end-to-end development lifecycle through financial close; post-financial-close delivery, construction, or commissioning experience is advantageous.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent projects or a portfolio of complex priorities at different stages of development.
• Experience owning integrated project plans, schedules, budgets, resources, dependencies, governance, controls, risks, and reporting as a project-management professional.
• Experience coordinating development, technical, commercial, contracting, investment, financing, and legal workstreams through complex project processes.
• Experience leading project teams, subject-matter experts, and external advisors through clear accountability, decision-making, and escalation structures.
• Experience in renewable energy, power, infrastructure, engineering, or another complex capital-project environment.

Technical Requirements

• A recognized professional project-management certification, such as PMP, PgMP, PRINCE2 Practitioner, or an equivalent credential.
• Strong command of project planning, scheduling, budgeting, resource management, risk and issue management, change control, governance, and executive reporting.
• Ability to integrate technical, commercial, development, financial, procurement, and legal workstreams into a coherent project plan.
• Sound judgment in distinguishing project-management accountability from subject-matter-expert accountability.
• Confidence using modern project-management systems and a strong interest in applying AI and automation to improve project controls, reporting, and workflow efficiency.

Soft Skills

• Highly organized, disciplined, and consistent in maintaining delivery cadence.
• Able to influence senior stakeholders and specialist leads without relying on direct functional authority.
• Clear and concise communicator who can surface risks, slippage, decisions, and accountability transparently.
• Collaborative, with respect for specialist expertise and a willingness to work across functions.
• Pragmatic, adaptable, and comfortable operating while governance structures and standards continue to evolve.

Additional Information About Desired Profiles

The preferred candidate is a certified project manager with strong workstream-integration experience. Deep renewable energy development or technical expertise is advantageous. South African nationals or permanent residents preferred.

Working Arrangement

Location: Johannesburg or Cape Town, flexible hybrid operating model.

Travel Requirements: TBC.

Terms of Agreement

Required Start Date: Immediately (Negotiable)

Contracting Period:Proposed initial 12-month fixed-term engagement, with the option to convert to a permanent role, subject to client confirmation, fit, and business requirements.