Construction Project Manager: Solar PV & BESS

Noa Group; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work-from-home options

Equity exposure

Competitive compensation

Job summary

NOA is seeking a seasoned Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract Manager to lead contract management, schedule, cost, procurement and quality for large-scale renewable energy projects in South Africa. You will coordinate with EPC contractors, consultants, lenders, and project teams to deliver on time, within budget and to high HSE standards.

Based in Cape Town with hybrid work options, you will mentor the construction team, manage risk, and ensure compliance with contract terms

Qualifications

• Engineering, QS or Construction Management degree required.
• Project management qualification (PMP) advisable.
• Renewable energy experience in SA preferred.

Responsibilities

• Contract management: lead the contract management team and ensure compliance with obligations.
• Project schedule management: review EPC/O&M schedules and identify critical path items.
• Cost management: manage milestone payments and contractor claims; forecast expenditure.

Skills

Contract management

Project management

Risk management

Stakeholder communication

Education

Engineering, QS or Construction Management degree

Job description

Overview

About NOA: Established in 2022, NOA is a leading renewable energy independent power producer (IPP) and energy trader, licensed by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa. We empower commercial and industrial companies to reach their net-zero goals while securing long-term energy savings. Backed by R3.9 billion in equity capital from Old Mutual’s African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), we currently have 600 MW of owned generation capacity under construction, and another 300 MW of capacity under construction by IPPs where we are the off takers. At NOA, energy is life; it powers our industries, communities, and societies. We are at a moment in South African history to shape a new energy landscape.

What truly sets us apart is The NOA Way—our culture and roadmap for excellence. We are a tight, high-functioning team of problem solvers who lean into complexity to find original solutions. We speak simply, act big, and own the changes our nation needs. Our impact is to solve the energy crisis, fuel the SA economy, and create a blueprint for a decarbonised future. We are building a phenomenal team to do something magnificent together.

Role Purpose

Management of the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contractor, Operations, Project Documents and third-party consultants in accordance with contract terms, ensuring construction projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with contract requirements, scope of work, quality, Health Safety and Environmental requirements.

Key Accountabilities & Associated Activities

Contract Management:

• Manages the contract management team to ensure Company and EPC Contractors comply with all contractual obligations. Drafts contractual notices and communications to ensure required notices are issued on time, including content addressing issues per contract terms.
• Assists Head of Construction and Legal Counsel in disputes and arbitration matters.

Project Schedule Management:

• Reviews and analyzes the EPC and O&M Contractors’ project and maintenance schedules for correctness. Identifies critical path items with the EPC and develops solutions to prevent or minimize delays.

Cost Management:

• Manages milestone payments by liaising with the construction team, owners engineer and lenders engineer to ensure payment milestones are achieved in accordance with the EPC contract.
• Manages contractor claims by obtaining approval for additional spend where applicable.
• Manages expenditure forecasting with the Project Finance Team to ensure on-time debt and equity drawdowns during construction.
• Establishes earned value versus paid-to-date to ensure the EPC Contractor is not over- or under-paid.

Procurement:

• Lead procurement activities with contractors and third-party consultants during construction, in accordance with company procurement policies and procedures.

Quality Management:

• Reviews EPC Contractors’ project quality plans to ensure the highest international quality standards are implemented in accordance with EPC and O&M contracts.
• Ensures the Contractors’ quality plan is implemented during all phases of the EPC contracts.
• Reviews executed quality inspection sheets for payment milestones, mechanical completion and taking over during construction.
• Manages quality audit action items identified by the construction team to address potential risks.

Health, Safety and Environmental Management:

• Monitors HSE by liaising with the project HSE team to identify HSE risks and address these risks with the EPC Contractors from contractual and legislative perspectives.

Reporting:

• Ensures timely submissions and issuance of EPC contractor, consultant, and company reports.
• Writes reviews and analyses reports in the agreed format, ensuring accuracy and quality for stakeholders including project SteerCo, lenders, project company board, NOA board, Eskom, owners engineer, lenders engineer, etc.

Construction Team Management:

• Supports Head of Construction in identifying and recruiting resources to meet company obligations for construction projects.
• Supports efficient management of the construction team to ensure resources are utilized correctly.
• Assists in construction team development by identifying skill shortages and informing the Head of Construction.
• Takes a leadership role in EPC contractual issues within the construction team.

Risk Management:

• Identifies, evaluates, and prioritises risks related to health, safety, monetary, time, quality and environmental impact.
• Communicates risk with project stakeholders early to enable effective risk management.

Internal Communication:

• Project Company Board, Project SteerCo, Head of Assets, Head of Engineering, Head of Construction, Construction team, ESG project team, Finance and Project Finance, Legal Counsel.

External Communication:

• EPC Contractors, Third Party Consultants (Owners Engineer & Lenders Engineer), Power Utilities (Eskom), Suppliers, Permitting and Statutory Government bodies.

Qualifications

• Engineering, QS or Construction Management related Degree
• Project management qualification (PMP) or equivalent advisable

Experience

• 5 - 10 years' experience in the Construction industry
• 2-5 years' experience as a Project Manager in the power generation industry. Renewable energy experience in the South African market preferred
• Risk management and/or change management experience
• Proficiency in project management software tools

Why join NOA?

Joining NOA is an invitation to be part of a growing team at the forefront of the South African renewable energy industry. We are a dynamic, mission-driven organisation with strong financial backing and a commitment to unlocking a just energy transition for our nation. This is a unique moment in history to shape a new industry from its inception.

The NOA Way: Culture by Design

We deliberately crafted a roadmap called The NOA Way to ensure our business is a remarkable place that houses your highest aspirations. We are an \\"all-in\\" problem-solving team that thinks big and moves with speed to make a significant impact, valuing performance connections through collaboration.

Investment in Your Evolution

We provide a world-class environment to help you thrive in a demanding sector:

• The Powerkit: Every new team member participates in a day-long offsite experience in Cape Town to master the skills needed to excel within the NOA system.

• Continuous Growth: Benefit from ongoing feedback through our RAP cadence, coaching resources, and lunch-and-learns to own your career path.

• Supportive Wellbeing: We support work-life integration with flexible hours, hybrid work-from-home options, and wellness initiatives.

Competitive Reward & Equity

We recognise and reward exceptional performance with a framework that allows you to participate in our collective success:

• Market-Leading Compensation: A competitive salary tailored to your experience level.

• Incentives for Impact: Eligibility for a performance-related short-term incentive (STI) bonus.

• Ownership Culture: Meaningful equity exposure through our staff share scheme.