Owner’s Engineer & Project Management Consultant (PMC) Lead – Energy (Associate Director

Arup; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading independent consultancy in Johannesburg is seeking an experienced OE & PMC Lead to manage innovative energy infrastructure projects. The role involves building and leading a specialized team, ensuring successful project delivery, and maintaining strong industry relationships. Ideal candidates will have a degree in engineering, extensive experience in energy projects, and excellent leadership skills.

Benefits

Medical aid and hospital gap cover

Provident fund and life insurance

Access to continuous learning opportunities

Qualifications

• Deep experience in large-scale energy infrastructure projects.
• Proven track record in leading multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of Africa’s energy sector and regulatory environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team in executing energy infrastructure projects.
• Build and maintain client relationships within the industry.
• Guide project delivery and ensure successful outcomes.

Skills

Technical leadership

Client relationship management

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Project management qualification

Job description

Overview

Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

Arup is an independent multi–disciplinary firm of Designers, Planners, Engineers, Consultants and Technical Specialists, working across every aspect of today’s-built environment. Together we help our clients solve their most complex challenges – turning exciting ideas into tangible reality as we strive to find a better way and shape a better world.

The Opportunity

Our South Africa team is seeking a strategic, experienced OE & PMC Lead to join our dynamic team working on innovative and exciting energy infrastructure projects in Africa. This is a rare opportunity to build and lead a team in a high-priority growth area for Arup, with strong backing from global and regional leadership.

This position is based in Johannesburg or Cape Town.

You will have deep experience in one or more technical areas – such as leading multi-disciplinary teams in winning and delivery of energy projects – and a proven track record of cultivating long-term client relationships, securing impactful work, positioning an energy business for strategic growth and delivering projects successfully. Build and maintain client relationships with IPPs, Mining Companies, public agencies, and contractors.

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas.

You will have the opportunity do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

Is this role right for you?

We are looking for people with the following skills

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering. Masters would be an advantage. Professionally registered with ECSA (Pr.Eng).
• Project management qualification would be preferred.
• Proven years of experience in large scale energy infrastructure, with significant experience in Owner’s Engineer, Design (utility scale renewable energy plants or transmission (>132kV) and PMC roles).
• Proven track record in leading large-scale energy projects (e.g., renewables, transmission, hybrid systems). Strong understanding of Africa’s energy sector, regulatory environment and delivery models.
• Have built and maintained strong relationships in Energy industry.
• Excellent technical leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Not ready to apply just yet, or have some questions? Please email Karin Spies at [e-mail]. Please note, to ensure we remain GDPR compliant do not send your CV directly to us via this email.

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

An environment that will give you freedom to design with a purpose, focus on your skills to deliver quality work to our clients, opportunity to learn and share knowledge openly. You will have the opportunity to utilise your technical expertise to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in the communities in which we live and work through Arup's community engagement programme.

You'll have access to lots of learning opportunities and ongoing training through Arup university and other learning programmes.

Beyond a competitive guaranteed annual salary package, core benefits include medical aid and hospital gap cover; as well as provident fund covering retirement savings, life insurance and income protection in the event of disability. Core benefits form part of your guaranteed annual package.

Different people, shared values

At Arup, we believe when talented people collaborate, great things are possible. Arup hires people with proven skills and open minds. We are taking deliberate action to create an inclusive culture that is grounded in our purpose to shape a better world.

At Arup, we welcome candidates from all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), disability, neurotype or mental health, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup.

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact Karin Spies [e-mail] to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.

Our Application Process

To understand what to expect next, please visit: https://www.arup.com/careers/recruitment-process/

Stay safe online – Arup will never ask for your bank details as part of our recruitment process.

Recruitment Agencies – We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted partners to assist us when required and do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on the list.

Closing Date: 30 August 2025