Head of Operations & Maintenance (Renewable Energy)

Pty; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

A leader in renewable energy is seeking a Head of Operations & Maintenance to oversee utility-scale assets in South Africa. The role involves strategic leadership, ensuring safety compliance, and managing P&L responsibilities. Ideal candidates have 8–12 years of experience in renewables, strong knowledge of PV systems, and exceptional stakeholder management skills. A Bachelor’s degree in engineering is required, alongside leadership experience in multi-site operations.

Qualifications

• 8–12+ years’ experience in power/renewables operations & maintenance.
• At least 4–6 years in leadership of multi-site utility-scale assets.
• Strong understanding of PV plant systems and hybrid experience.

Responsibilities

• Set and execute the O&M strategy for South Africa.
• Manage O&M budgets and deliver P&L targets.
• Ensure compliance with the OHS Act and environmental regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Contract management

Safety compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Mechatronics/Industrial Engineering

Tools

CMMS

SCADA

Excel

Power BI

Job description

Introduction

Our client is a leading player in the renewable energy sector. They are seeking an experienced Head of Operations & Maintenance (O&M) to lead the O&M function across a portfolio of utility‑scale renewable assets (primarily solar PV; exposure to BESS and hybrid systems advantageous). You will be accountable for asset performance, safety, contractual compliance, customer satisfaction, and the commercial results of the O&M business.

Duties & Responsibilities

Strategy & Leadership

• Set and execute the O&M strategy for South Africa in alignment with group objectives.

• Build, lead and mentor a high‑performing multidisciplinary O&M team (engineering, site operations, HSE, scheduling, spares, reporting).

• Define departmental KPIs and drive a culture of ownership, continuous improvement and safety.

Asset Performance & Maintenance

• Own plant availability, performance ratio (PR), and yield targets across the fleet.

• Oversee preventive, corrective and predictive maintenance programmes, leveraging CMMS and condition‑based monitoring.

• Ensure robust spares management, tooling, and workshop practices; optimise turnaround times and mean time to repair (MTTR).

• Lead root cause analyses (RCA) and implement sustainable corrective actions.

Health, Safety, Environment & Quality (HSEQ)

• Ensure compliance with the OHS Act, Construction Regulations, Electrical Machinery Regulations and all site‑specific permits.

• Enforce Permit‑to‑Work, LOTO, and Safe Systems of Work; champion zero‑harm culture.

• Coordinate audits, inspections, incident investigations and close‑out actions.

Commercial & Contractual Management

• Manage O&M budgets, cost models and forecasts; deliver P&L targets.

• Administer O&M contracts, SLAs and LTSAs, including OEM warranties and performance guarantees; manage liquidated damages/bonuses per contracts.

• Oversee procurement and subcontractor agreements in line with company policies and B‑BBEE requirements.

Stakeholder, Client & Regulatory Interface

• Act as senior point of contact for asset owners and lenders; provide high‑quality reporting and performance reviews.

• Coordinate with EPC, engineering and grid teams for seamless handover, warranty/defect resolution, upgrades and repowering.

• Interface with Eskom/municipalities and grid operators as required; ensure compliance with grid codes and relevant standards.

Monitoring, Analytics & Reporting

• Oversee SCADA/monitoring systems, data integrity and analytics; track KPIs and energy yield variances.

• Prepare monthly/quarterly performance reports and board‑level presentations; drive data‑informed decision‑making.

• Standardise processes, work instructions and documentation across the fleet.

Emergency Response & Business Continuity

• Lead major incident response, escalation and stakeholder communication.

• Maintain contingency plans for severe weather, grid events and supply‑chain disruptions.

Desired Experience & Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Mechatronics/Industrial Engineering (or related discipline).

• 8–12+ years’ experience in power/renewables operations & maintenance, with at least 4–6 years in leadership of multi‑site utility‑scale assets.

• Demonstrated track record improving availability/PR, reducing downtime and delivering contractual KPIs.

• Strong understanding of PV plant systems (modules, inverters, MV/HV infrastructure, protection, transformers, substations); BESS/hybrid experience advantageous.

• Hands‑on experience with CMMS, SCADA and performance analytics; advanced Excel/Power BI (or similar) skills.

• Proven contract, vendor and subcontractor management; warranty claim and OEM interface experience.

• Solid HSEQ knowledge (e.g., SAMTRAC/NEBOSH advantageous); HV/LV switching authorisation an advantage.

• Familiarity with South African regulatory and grid environments; stakeholder engagement with utilities and municipalities.

• Excellent communication and client‑facing skills; ability to influence at executive and site level.

• Language: Professional proficiency in English (written and spoken). Additional South African languages (e.g., Afrikaans) advantageous.

• Other: Valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel

Key Competencies

• Strategic leadership and people development

• Commercial acumen and P&L ownership

• Results‑driven with strong analytical and problem‑solving ability

• Risk management and decision‑making under pressure

• Stakeholder management and negotiation

• Process orientation and continuous improvement mindset