Contracts Manager

Mulilo; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the renewable energy sector is seeking a Contracts Manager for its Operations & Maintenance (O&M) division. The successful candidate will oversee contract negotiations and performance management across a diverse portfolio of renewable energy projects in South Africa. This is a critical role that requires strong technical knowledge, legal understanding, and excellent interpersonal skills, offering competitive remuneration and opportunities for growth.

Benefits

Competitive total remuneration package

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in contract management in the energy sector.
• Proven experience managing complex O&M contracts in renewable energy.
• Solid understanding of South African regulatory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead the negotiation and administration of O&M contracts.
• Monitor contract performance and ensure compliance with KPIs.
• Identify and mitigate contractual risks throughout the project lifecycle.

Skills

Contract Negotiation

Commercial Analysis

Risk Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Postgraduate qualification in Law or Business Administration

Tools

Contract Management Systems

MS Office

Job description

About the Company

Since its establishment in 2008, Mulilo has grown into one of the leading Independent Power Producers (IPP) in Southern Africa. Mulilo is majority owned by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, the world’s leading private equity investor in renewable energy assets, through its New Markets Fund I. Mulilo has concluded numerous PPA's in both the Department of Mineral Energy's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP) and with several large corporate energy users. Mulilo currently operates 450MW of wind and solar PV projects and has a further 500MW of projects under financial close. Having adopted a strategy that aligns with the company's long-term vision, Mulilo has accumulated a pipeline of projects exceeding 25GW, and is now positioned as a key player in the renewable energy sector.

Mulilo places strong emphasis on its human capital and prides itself in providing a world class working environment for all its employees, thereby placing huge value on career progression and personal growth.

Mulilo is guided by strong ethical principles and adheres to its environmental, social and governance responsibilities.

About Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP)

Founded in 2012, CIP is the world’s largest dedicated renewable energy fund manager and a global leader in offshore wind. CIP currently manages over 30 billion Euro’s, with a target of having 100 billion Euros under management by 2030. The funds managed by CIP focus on investments in offshore and onshore wind, solar PV, biomass and energy-from-waste, transmission and distribution, reserve capacity, storage, advanced bioenergy, and Power-to-X.

About this role

The Contracts Manager – Operations & Maintenance (O&M) will be responsible for leading the negotiation, implementation, and administration of all O&M contracts across the company’s portfolio of renewable energy projects in South Africa, including Wind, Solar PV, and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). The role demands a unique blend of technical competence, commercial acumen, and legal understanding to ensure optimal outcomes and risk mitigation for the company as asset owner and operator.

Key responsibilities

Contract Negotiation & Structuring

• Lead the negotiation of O&M contracts, long-term service agreements (LTSAs), performance guarantees, and warranties.
• Develop contract strategies aligned with the company’s risk profile, performance objectives, and operational requirements.
• Coordinate with internal teams (legal, engineering, asset management, procurement) to develop negotiation positions and resolve technical and commercial issues.
• Ensure all contracts meet legal and regulatory compliance standards in South Africa.

Contract Administration & Performance Management

• Oversee the lifecycle management of O&M contracts from execution to termination/renewal.
• Monitor contract performance, ensuring service providers meet agreed KPIs and contractual obligations.
• Manage amendments, extensions, and claims processes.
• Develop and maintain contract summaries, obligations matrices, and compliance trackers.

Risk & Compliance Management

• Proactively identify and mitigate contractual risks, especially in relation to plant performance, availability, and liability.
• Ensure proper documentation of all contractual interactions to protect the company’s legal position.
• Work closely with the Legal and HSE teams to ensure O&M practices comply with legal, safety, and environmental regulations.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the key interface between the company and O&M contractors.
• Build strong relationships with service providers to promote a collaborative and performance-driven environment.
• Provide guidance and training to internal teams on contract interpretation, obligations, and risk management.

Support Strategic O&M Development

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of O&M strategies, including contract templates, procurement models, and cost optimization.
• Benchmark service terms and commercial conditions across technologies and projects.

Required skills, experience and education background

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, or Industrial), or a related technical field.
• Postgraduate qualification in Law, Contract Management, or Business Administration is advantageous.
• 7+ years of experience in contract management or commercial roles in the energy or infrastructure sector.
• Proven experience managing complex O&M contracts in renewable energy (Wind, Solar PV, or BESS).
• Solid understanding of South African regulatory and legal frameworks applicable to energy operations.
• Strong technical foundation with the ability to engage on detailed engineering and operational matters.
• Excellent negotiation and commercial analysis skills.
• Deep understanding of legal terms, liabilities, and risk allocation in service contracts.
• Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple contracts and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in contract management systems and MS Office tools.

Desirable attributes

The ideal candidate would have a passion for the Renewable Energy sector and personality traits would include a high level of diligence, attention to detail, clear communicator, and ability to prioritise.

Mulilo is an employer of choice and is offering an extremely competitive total remuneration package for this position.

Additional Information

Able to work overtime according to operational needs.

The position is based at the offices of the company, but travel may be required occasionally.