Senior Legal Advisor Trading

Noa Group; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in renewable energy is seeking a Senior Legal Advisor to join their dynamic team. This role focuses on negotiating and drafting Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to support the procurement of energy from Independent Power Producers. With a strong commitment to the energy transition in South Africa, the company offers a unique opportunity to work on impactful projects that contribute to sustainable energy solutions. The ideal candidate will possess in-depth knowledge of legal frameworks, exceptional negotiation skills, and a passion for renewable energy. Join a mission-driven team and make a significant difference in the energy landscape.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Short-term incentive plan

Dynamic work environment

Mission-driven company

Strong financial backing

Opportunity for growth

Qualifications

• 4-5 years of relevant banking and finance, corporate and project experience.
• At least 3 years of experience on PPA transactions.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate and draft Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Independent Power Producers.
• Lead legal review and negotiation of project documents and finance documents.

Skills

Contract drafting

Legal negotiation skills

Research and analysis skills

Knowledge of PPAs

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Law

Job description

ABOUT NOA

NOA is an integrated renewable energy independent power producer, established to provide its customers with innovative and flexible solutions on their journey towards ‘Net Zero’ emissions and low-cost clean energy – by wheeling the energy generated by utility scale solar and wind generation facilities, augmented by battery energy storage systems.

To achieve this, NOA has assembled several critical building blocks:

• A strong balance sheet with secured and disbursed equity funding from blue chip shareholders (the Old Mutual group, via the Ideas Managed Fund and the AIIF 4 Fund, both managed by AIIM) with long standing commitment to the renewable energy space in Africa.;
• An innovative capital and operational structure backed by a top-tier South African commercial institution; and
• Development partnerships with several of the most successful project developers in South Africa, with successes in both the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Program (REIPPP) and the Commercial and Industrial (C&I) space.
• An aggregation entity (NOA Group Trading) aimed, in part, at disrupting the conventional project finance model that has characterised the C&I space to date, which has obtained a trading licence from NERSA.
• Demonstrated track-record through some of the first private wheeling transactions to enter construction (including 30MW currently in operations for a listed mining company) and more than 625MW of wind and solar generation facilities in the financial close process
• An agile group of energy sector veterans committed to making a major contribution to the low-carbon energy transition – both in South Africa and across the rest of the African continent – who have been assembled to realise a mission of delivering more than 10GW of clean energy generation in the next 10 years.

PURPOSE

The Senior Legal Advisor in Trading will be responsible to negotiate and draft PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements) whereby NOA will procure energy from Independent Power Producers. A draft PPA and Heads of Terms do exist, but the Senior Legal Advisor will need to tailor these to be fit for purpose.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supporting on the implementation of various transactions and bringing renewable energy project transactions to close through the negotiation, preparation and review of all legal agreements
• Leading the legal review, negotiation and approval of different Project documents (Power Purchase Agreements) and finance documents
• Leading the legal due diligence process on project acquisition targets
• Supporting the structuring of transactions and negotiating financing and related transaction documents
• Coordinating with other departments to meet timelines and deliverables
• Supporting the team in the acquisition of secondary market opportunities
• Supporting the development team on tender/RFP submissions, if required
• Assisting on the negotiation with project sponsors & lenders
• Managing the drafting of various notices and obtaining various consents in accordance with the lender’s CP Checklist
• Managing the Conditions Precedent (CP) Checklist; and leading the legal review on the preparation and implementation of transaction documents as required

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s Degree in law
• 4-5 years of relevant banking and finance, corporate and project experience
• At least 3 years of experience on PPA transactions
• Renewable energy Project experience is highly advantageous

TECHNICAL COMPETENCE

• In-depth knowledge of PPAs
• Research and analysis skills
• Contract drafting
• Legal negotiation skills
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation
  

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCE

• Strong written and verbal communication
• Strong negotiating ability
• Commercially and solutions driven
• Ability to work under pressure and to manage a number of complex transactions
• Flexible, with positive attitude and ability to work well as part of a team
• Methodical and analytical
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to build and maintain good relationships with key stakeholders
  

BENEFITS

• Competitive salary in line with experience and short-term incentive plan
• Opportunity to work in a dynamic, mission-driven company with strong financial backing and a deep commitment to help unlock the just energy transition in South Africa.
• Be part of a growing team at the forefront of the South African renewable energy industry.