AI Tools and Process Specialist

Smart4 Energy; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Part time

Job summary

Smart4 Energy in Johannesburg seeks an AI Tools & Process Specialist to own AI-enabled tools, workflows and digital ways of working across the renewable energy group. You will manage end-to-end lifecycle from research to implementation, staff adoption and continuous improvement.

This hands-on role spans across departments, turning AI capabilities into practical, scalable solutions that enhance productivity and quality, while ensuring governance, security and responsible AI use.

Qualifications

• Hands-on AI tool implementation across functions.
• Experience with process design and workflow mapping.
• Ability to document SOPs and knowledge libraries.
• Experience rolling out digital tools and user onboarding.
• Stakeholder engagement across senior levels.
• Governance, data handling and risk awareness.

Responsibilities

• Research, evaluate and implement AI tools across workflows.
• Manage AI tools lifecycle including licensing and onboarding.
• Monitor tool adoption, costs and performance.
• Collaborate with vendors and escalate issues.
• Champion AI and promote productivity improvements.
• Map current workflows and document processes.
• Identify bottlenecks and opportunities for automation.
• Redesign workflows to incorporate AI tools.
• Develop SOPs, process maps and templates.
• Build SharePoint process library and governance.
• Lead rollout and adoption of AI tools.
• Design onboarding materials and training videos.
• Provide user support and performance reporting.
• Track adoption and report to leadership.
• Develop AI usage governance and data-handling guidelines.
• Ensure confidentiality and data security.
• Identify risks related to data, models, vendors.
• Maintain documentation and controls.

Skills

Claude / Anthropic

Generative AI tools in business

Business process mapping

SOPs / process documentation

Implementing digital tools

User adoption & training

Stakeholder management

Governance & structured ways of work

Tools

Microsoft Copilot

Power Automate

Power Apps

Power BI

Microsoft 365

Monday.com

n8n

Job description

Location: Johannesburg | Contract: 12-Month Fixed-Term Contract Sector: Renewable Energy / Investment / Professional Services

Role Purpose

An exciting opportunity exists for an AI Tools & Process Specialist to join a growing renewable energy group and take ownership of the organisation’s AI-enabled tools, operational processes and digital ways of working.

Sitting at the intersection of technology, AI and business operations, this role will be responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of AI tools - from researching and evaluating solutions through implementation, configuration, staff adoption and continuous improvement.

Equally important will be the ability to understand how the business currently operates, map existing workflows and translate them into clear, scalable and repeatable processes supported by effective technology.

This is not a traditional IT support or pure Project Management position. The successful individual will be hands-on, comfortable working across departments, and able to turn AI capabilities into practical solutions that improve the way people work.

Key Responsibilities

AI Tools & Digital Enablement

• Research, evaluate and recommend AI tools suited to workflows across renewable energy development, project finance and broader business operations.
• Take ownership of the implementation and ongoing management of approved AI tools.
• Support procurement, licensing, configuration and secure onboarding of new platforms.
• Maintain visibility of tools in use, including purpose, users, costs and renewal requirements.
• Monitor tool performance, adoption and user feedback.
• Manage relationships with technology vendors and elevate technical or service issues where required.
• Continuously assess emerging AI capabilities and recommend opportunities for improvement, replacement or expansion.
• Act as an internal AI champion, helping teams understand where AI can genuinely improve productivity and quality.

Process Design & Improvement

• Work closely with business stakeholders to understand and map current operational workflows.
• Document processes across areas including deal origination, project development, project finance, reporting and compliance.
• Identify inefficiencies, duplication, manual processes and opportunities for automation.
• Redesign selected workflows to incorporate AI and digital tools where these can meaningfully improve speed, quality, consistency and visibility.
• Translate business requirements into practical workflows and technology solutions.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, process maps, playbooks, templates and how-to guides.
• Build and maintain a centralised SharePoint-based process and knowledge library.
• Establish appropriate document governance, version control and review cycles.
• Partner with functional leaders to identify and prioritise continuous-improvement initiatives.

AI Adoption, Training & Change

• Lead the rollout and adoption of new AI tools and digital processes across the organisation.
• Design and deliver practical onboarding and refresher training.
• Develop accessible user materials including quick-start guides, worked examples, SOPs and short training videos.
• Provide ongoing support to employees using AI-enabled tools.
• Act as the primary internal point of contact for AI tooling queries.
• Track adoption, usage and effectiveness and provide meaningful reporting to leadership.
• Identify adoption barriers and implement practical interventions to improve engagement.
• Support broader change-management initiatives associated with new systems and ways of working.

Governance, Data & Risk

• Help establish and maintain appropriate governance around organisational AI usage.
• Develop and maintain AI acceptable-use and data-handling guidelines.
• Ensure employees understand appropriate handling of confidential or sensitive information when using AI platforms.
• Identify potential risks relating to data security, model reliability, vendor dependency and inappropriate AI usage.
• Support responsible AI adoption aligned with POPIA and applicable organisational and sector requirements.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and controls around approved AI platforms.

Candidates must demonstrate practical, hands-on experience with:

• Claude / Anthropic - essential
• Generative AI tools and their application within real business workflows
• Business process mapping, process improvement and workflow design
• Developing and maintaining SOPs, process documentation, playbooks or knowledge libraries
• Implementing or rolling out new digital tools, systems or platforms
• User adoption, onboarding, training and change enablement
• Working with multiple business functions and senior stakeholders
• Governance, documentation and structured ways of working

Experience with tools such as Microsoft Copilot, Power Automate, Power Apps, Power BI, Microsoft 365, Monday.com, n8n or similar workflow/automation platforms would be highly advantageous.

Ideal Background

The successful candidate could come from a range of backgrounds, including:

AI Enablement | Digital Transformation | Business Process Improvement | Business Analysis | Modern Workplace | Power Platform | PMO / Process Governance | Operational Excellence | Technology Adoption | Systems & Process Consulting

Previous exposure to renewable energy, project development, investment/project finance or professional services would be advantageous but is not essential where the candidate demonstrates strong AI, process and systems capability.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who can operate comfortably between people, processes and technology.

The right person won't simply recommend an AI tool. They will be able to understand the business problem, evaluate the appropriate solution, help implement and configure it, redesign the supporting workflow, document the process, train the users and then measure whether it is actually improving the way the organisation works.

They should be naturally curious about emerging technology while remaining highly structured, commercially aware and conscious of governance, security and responsible AI use.

The key combination is: Claude + SharePoint + AI adoption + process improvement + documentation + training.