Senior Business Development Manager

Set Consulting; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Set Consulting in Cape Town seeks an experienced Business Development Manager to drive renewable energy project development from opportunity identification through permitting and construction readiness. You will lead stakeholder engagements, coordinate consultants, and manage landowner negotiations across wind and utility-scale solar PV.

The role requires a degree in a related field, 7+ years in renewable energy development, and at least 1 year of team leadership.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Environmental Engineering or Law required.
• 7+ years' renewable energy project development experience.
• Experience leading or managing a team (1+ year).
• Experience across wind and/or utility-scale solar PV, and knowledge of permitting and regulatory processes.

Responsibilities

• Identify and assess new renewable energy development opportunities across wind, solar PV and other technologies.
• Engage with stakeholders and manage site visits, feasibility assessments and regulatory engagements.
• Lead projects through full development lifecycle from site identification to construction readiness.
• Negotiate with landowners, co-development partners and stakeholders.
• Coordinate external consultants for engineering, environmental and technical studies.
• Oversee environmental authorisations, permitting and land-related processes.
• Maintain relationships with authorities, municipalities, communities and partners.
• Support investment decisions with commercial analysis and project assessments.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to progress projects toward financial close.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Landowner relationships

Adaptability

Problem solving

Project coordination

Leadership

Regulatory/commercial navigation

Education

Degree in Engineering, Environmental Engineering or Law

Job description

Business Development Manager – Renewable Energy

Cape Town | Permanent Role

Role Purpose

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Business Development Manager to join a leading renewable energy developer and play a key role in the development of utility-scale renewable energy projects.

This is a senior development position suited to a commercially astute renewable energy professional with strong project development, stakeholder management and permitting experience across wind, solar PV and related renewable technologies.

The successful candidate will take ownership of projects across the full development lifecycle, from initial site identification and opportunity assessment through permitting, investment approval and construction readiness.

Key Responsibilities

Identify and assess new renewable energy development opportunities across wind, solar PV and other technologies.

Conduct site visits, feasibility assessments and engagements with key project stakeholders.

Manage renewable energy projects through the full development lifecycle, ensuring milestones, budgets and technical requirements are achieved.

Lead negotiations and agreements with landowners, co-development partners and other relevant stakeholders.

Coordinate and manage external consultants responsible for engineering, environmental and technical studies.

Oversee environmental authorisations, permitting, land-related processes and other regulatory requirements.

Build and maintain strong relationships with government authorities, municipalities, landowners, communities, consultants and private-sector stakeholders.

Prepare and coordinate documentation required for permits, approvals and project development submissions.

Support internal investment and divestment approval processes through commercial analysis, project assessments and recommendations.

Work closely with technical, legal, environmental, commercial and project delivery teams to progress projects toward financial close and construction.

Support the transition of projects into construction and coordinate closely with the Project Manager to ensure development obligations and permits are fulfilled.

Ensure all permits, licences, authorisations and development requirements are completed ahead of project commissioning.

Lead, mentor and support members of the business development/project development team.

Qualification and Experience

Degree in Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Law or a related discipline.

Additional renewable energy, project development, environmental or permitting experience will be highly advantageous.

Minimum 7 years' experience within renewable energy project development, infrastructure development or a closely related environment.

At least 1 year of experience leading or managing a team.

Demonstrable experience developing renewable energy projects, ideally across wind and/or utility-scale solar PV.

Strong experience engaging landowners, authorities, municipalities, consultants, development partners and other project stakeholders.

Practical understanding of renewable energy project permitting, environmental approvals and administrative processes.

Knowledge of engineering, environmental legislation and the broader renewable energy sector.

Strong understanding of project planning, development schedules, budgets, risk management and construction readiness.

Experience assessing project feasibility and supporting investment decisions.

Technical Skills

Candidates should be comfortable working with:

We are looking for someone who combines strong commercial judgement with excellent relationship-management skills.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong negotiation and commercial ability
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement
• Confidence dealing with complex or challenging landowner relationships
• Ability to adapt communication to different stakeholders
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making ability
• Resilience and persistence within lengthy project-development processes
• Strong project coordination and organisational capability
• Leadership and team-management skills
• Ability to navigate regulatory, technical and commercial challenges effectively

Additional Requirements

High level of English proficiency.

Willingness and availability to travel as required.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced renewable energy development professional looking to take ownership of significant projects and contribute to the continued growth of the renewable energy sector.