Chief Commercial Officer

Smart4 Energy; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 600 000 - 750 000; Full time

Job summary

A forward-looking independent power producer in South Africa is seeking a Chief Commercial Officer to lead its commercial strategy. You will be responsible for securing power purchase agreements and managing key stakeholder relationships. The ideal candidate has over 15 years of experience in Commercial and Sales, with significant leadership experience in project finance. This hybrid role is based in Cape Town or Johannesburg.

Qualifications

• Over 15 years of professional experience in Commercial and Sales.
• Minimum of 10 years in senior leadership roles.
• Experience in project finance within capital-intensive industries.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Commercial and Sales strategy to secure Power Purchase Agreements.
• Negotiate complex structured finance and offtake contracts.
• Build relationships with key stakeholders, including regulatory bodies.

Skills

Commercial and Sales leadership

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder relationship management

Innovation in contracting

Education

Graduate degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or Management

MBA

Job description

Our client is a rapidly scaling Independent Power Producer (IPP) and licensed energy trader in Southern Africa, focused on delivering private renewable energy solutions.

Backed by two highly reputable global industrial and finance partners, the company is actively executing a strategy to deliver a multi-gigawatt renewable energy portfolio by

With a significant initial capacity already under construction, this organisation is at the forefront of the region's private energy market transition. We are seeking a Chief Commercial Officer to join the management team, providing the vision and leadership necessary to secure all requisite offtake agreements and build the commercial function.

Based in a major metropolitan hub (Hybrid / Flexible), Cape Town or Johannesburg, you will be the commercial architect responsible for accelerating the company's growth and market presence.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and lead the Commercial and Sales strategy to successfully secure Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for the project pipeline.
• Lead all high-stakes commercial negotiations for complex structured finance and offtake contracts.
• Establish the internal market integration capability to manage energy trading obligations and ensure compliance with the evolving regulatory framework.
• Build and nurture high-level relationships with key external stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, the national utility provider, financial institutions, and government.
• Drive continuous innovation in contracting and product offers to optimize the project portfolio and assess new commercial opportunities.
• Scale and mentor the Commercial and Sales department, fostering a high-performance culture aligned with business objectives.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• 15+ years' professional experience in Commercial and Sales, with a minimum of 10 years in senior leadership roles.
• Graduate degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Management, or a related field (essential); an MBA is highly preferred.
• Extensive experience in project finance and structured finance within capital-intensive industries (Energy, Infrastructure, or Mining).
• Knowledge of SAWEM and NTCSA requirements.
• Proven success in securing complex commercial offtake agreements (PPAs, EOAs, trading obligations) and driving significant revenue growth.
• Established relationships within the Southern African financial and regulatory ecosystem.