SA - Junior Project Development Executive

Summary of Role:

The Junior Development Executive will be responsible for assisting the Development Team with completing the project development lifecycle from project inception to the start of construction. The successful candidate will be involved in wind, solar photovoltaic and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects. Activities will cover all aspects of development including environmental impact assessment studies, management of met mast and solar station installations, permitting, consents and authorisation applications, engineering, landowner and other stakeholder engagement, site selection and visits, interaction with relevant stakeholders and a number of private sector permissions. The Junior Development Executive will also be part of Mainstream’s bidding efforts in the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) and other Private Opportunities; and will assist in bringing Preferred Bidder projects to Financial Close, as well as supporting other Mainstream teams/ departments as and when required.

What will you do:

• Assist the Development Team with project development related activities.
• Deliver assigned tasks and activities on time, on schedule, and within budget to agreed quality.
• Assist the Development team to ensure that projects are identified (greenfields/brownfields), developed and executed in line with Mainstream´s corporate values, development goals, objectives and processes.
• Other tasks include but are not limited to:

Health & Safety (H&S)

• Follow all Mainstream health and safety (H&S) procedures, including development and maintenance of Development Projects H&S Plans.

Site Selection & Visits

• Assist the Development Team by utilising Mainstream’s site selection criteria and evaluating new opportunities.
• These can include both greenfield and brownfield sites.
• Undertake site visits for greenfields/brownfields opportunities and existing pipeline projects as and when may be required.

Environmental Assessment

• Review and analyse specialist reports, manage environmental impact assessments, management programmes etc. and legislation interpretation and implementation.

Engineering

• Assist the Senior Development Executive, Development Executive and Engineering team with the development and review of preliminary engineering, geotechnical, traffic, transportation and hydrogeology studies amongst others that may be required.

Layout Design

• Assist the Senior Development Executive, Development Executive, Geographic Information System (GIS), Energy Analysts and Engineering teams with layout design considering environmental and other permitting constraints.

Project Management

• Assist the Development Team with the management of various projects and project related activities.
• Assist the Development Team in preparing projects for government and private project bidding efforts, ensuring accurate documentation, and filing of documents etc.
• Assist the Development Team with drafting proposals for specialised services, appointment and management of specialists;
• Assist the Development Team in documenting and administering all project related information, as required.
• Assist the Development Team in preparing required documentation to engage Eskom (for example, Cost Estimate Letters) in securing grid access.
• Assist the Development Team with internal and external Stakeholder engagements and management.
• Assist the Development Team with general database and SharePoint management and updates.

Permitting

• Assist with the preparation, submission of various permitting, consent and authorisation applications and follow-up on the status of the applications.

Reporting

• Assist the Development Team with due diligence, site visit, asset review, project review reporting and project status updates.

Logistics

• Assist the Development Team with travel logistics, safety equipment and accommodation planning and management.

Communication

• Interdepartmental liaison and liaison with various competent authorities.
• Assist the Development Team in arranging landowner meetings. design and issue landowner newsletters; gain familiarity with the full land agreement processes and all involved parties, including land agents, landowners, Mainstream employees, local recording offices, etc.
• Assist the Development and Energy Analysis Group (EAG) Team with management of met mast, lidar and solar station installations including external service providers.

Budgets

• Assist with the development and management of project budgets; invoice management and purchase order/request creation and management).
• Assist the Development Team to ensure projects remain within budget.

Document Control & Management

• Assist with general document labelling in line with document naming convention.
• Assist with the management and upload of Development Team project documents onto SharePoint.
• Provide inputs regarding suggestions for system improvements.

Other

• Carrying out other related tasks as and when required.
• Assist the Development Team in EIA public participation processes as well as community engagements if and when required.
• Participation in Mainstream public and community outreach programmes.
• Be involved in relevant industry bodies’ committees and initiatives.

What Mainstream require:

• Educational background in the Environmental Science / Management Related Discipline.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of environmental impact assessment experience is essential. In addition candidates with 2-3 years’ experience in project identification, development and management would be preferred.
• Relevant knowledge of and experience in the renewable industry (specifically wind and solar photovoltaic) will be an advantage.
• A valid Driver’s license.
• Candidates should:
• Have excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills and be comfortable presenting to management at all levels.
• Be able to liaise with all project stakeholders.
• The ability to use Microsoft software packages such as Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint is essential and the ability to use specialist software packages e.g., GIS, MS Project, SharePoint is an advantage.
• Well-organized, self-motivated, punctual, detail-oriented, enthusiastic, respectful, have high integrity and confidence.
• Ability and willingness to work effectively in a team environment and also independently.
• Ability and willingness to travel.
• Ability to multi-task, work under pressure, prioritise, and meet reporting deadlines.
• A "can-do" attitude that demonstrates hands-on accountability for their work and good team player.
• Able to think conceptually, strategically, critically and creatively.
• Able to anticipate problems, effectively seek out pertinent information which identifies the cause(s) of a problem and select the correct solution.
• Able to maintain the respect and confidence of team members and have a courteous and helpful manner.

What we offer:

We offer you the opportunity to work in a dynamic and entrepreneurial organisation, to be part of a diverse workplace with regards to gender, age and cultural background in the most exciting industry in the world today. You will receive a very competitive total benefits package including an excellent base salary, bonus scheme and share options.

Career development

• Excellent training (an average of 54 hours a year)
• Secondment and relocation opportunities
• Career progression (16% promotions across the Group in 2021)
• Self-paced online learning portal for micro courses across a range of functional and inter personal skills

Shared financial success

• A competitive, industry benchmarked and cost-of-living linked salary, reviewed annually
• Annual bonus
• Share options
• Salary contribution to your pension fund

Work/life balance

• WFH in a hybrid working arrangement
• Generous annual leave, plus a community or charity work day each year
• Paid maternity, parental, adoptive and bereavement leave
• Parental transitional coaching
• Allowance for WFH set up

True diversity & inclusion

• Equal opportunity targets
• GWEC Women in Wind and Mainstream Women in Renewables programmes
• You can be you, whatever your gender, colour or sexual orientation

Care for health & wellbeing

• Generous health insurance subsidy
• Income protection insurance
• Life cover
• Free Employee Assistance Program