Asset Director renewable energy

SET Recruitment Consultants; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment consultancy seeks an experienced Asset Director in Gqeberha to oversee a portfolio of utility-scale renewable energy assets. This role involves ensuring optimal performance and profitability, managing compliance, and leading cross-functional teams. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in engineering and over 10 years' experience in asset management within the renewable energy sector. The position offers a market-related salary package and opportunities for strategic leadership.

Qualifications

• 10+ years’ experience in asset management, operations, or project management within renewable energy or utility sector.
• Proven experience managing utility-scale renewable projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams to maximize asset performance and profitability.
• Ensure compliance with PPAs, O&M agreements, and other contractual obligations.
• Maintain relationships with government, regulators, landowners, and shareholders.

Skills

Asset management expertise in renewables

Financial acumen (P&L, budgeting, forecasting)

Strong contractual and regulatory knowledge

Risk management

Operational performance expertise

HSE compliance knowledge

Strategic thinking

Excellent communication skills

Leadership of cross-functional teams

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related engineering field

Master’s degree in engineering or related field

Job description

Asset Director

Market-related Package

Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth

Position Overview

We are seeking a seasoned Asset Director to oversee a portfolio of utility-scale renewable energy assets, ensuring optimal performance, profitability, and compliance. This strategic leadership role will manage all commercial, contractual, regulatory, and operational activities while driving continuous improvement. Reporting to the Chief Asset Operations Officer and functionally to the Boards of Directors of the project SPVs, you will ensure each project meets financial, operational, and stakeholder expectations.

Key Responsibilities

Asset Management Leadership

• Lead cross-functional teams (Asset Performance, Asset Coordination, Sustainability, Legal, Finance) to maximize asset performance and profitability.

• Drive operational and financial improvements while ensuring compliance with technical management agreements.

• Monitor and optimize asset performance against forecasted returns.

Financial Management & Reporting

• Full P&L responsibility for the portfolio.

• Develop and manage annual budgets, track variances, and provide variance analysis.

• Oversee cash flow management, financial modelling, and investor reporting.

Regulatory & Contractual Compliance

• Ensure compliance with PPAs, O&M agreements, land leases, financing agreements, and other contractual obligations.

• Manage and resolve contractual disputes in collaboration with legal teams.

Stakeholder & Relationship Management

• Maintain relationships with government, regulators, off-takers, landowners, and shareholders.

• Present quarterly board packs and project updates to SPV Boards.

Risk Management & HSE Compliance

• Identify and mitigate operational, financial, regulatory, and environmental risks.

• Enforce health, safety, and environmental policies and oversee incident reporting and corrective actions.

Operational Excellence

• Drive performance optimization initiatives to minimize downtime and improve asset profitability.

• Lead strategic improvement projects, including plant upgrades and cost-reduction initiatives.

Reporting & Governance

• Ensure timely and accurate financial and operational reporting.

• Oversee audits and compliance reviews.

Qualifications & Experience

• Must-have: Bachelor’s degree in a related engineering field; 10+ years’ experience in asset management, operations, or project management within the renewable energy or utility sector.

• Preferred: Master’s degree in engineering or related field; proven experience managing utility-scale renewable projects.

Key Competencies

Technical: Asset management expertise in renewables, financial acumen (P&L, budgeting, forecasting, modelling), strong contractual and regulatory knowledge, risk management, operational performance expertise, HSE compliance knowledge.

Behavioural & Leadership: Strategic thinking, results orientation, problem-solving and decision-making skills, excellent communication and stakeholder management, leadership of cross-functional teams, high ethical standards, resilience under pressure.