Transaction Lead

Our client is a growing renewable energy business focused on developing and delivering utility-scale renewable energy and BESS projects across Southern Africa. The business operates across multiple regional energy markets, with a strong focus on project execution, commercial transactions and bringing energy projects through to financial close. Duties & ResponsibilitiesJob Description The Transaction Lead will take ownership of renewable energy and BESS transactions from PPA negotiation through to financial close, coordinating the legal, technical, financial and commercial workstreams required to successfully complete each transaction. Key Responsibilities • Manage renewable energy and BESS transactions through to financial close. • Lead PPA negotiations with customers, utilities and offtakers. • Coordinate legal, technical and financial workstreams and transaction timelines. • Work with project development teams to ensure land, permitting and other requirements are ready for financial close. • Manage transaction budgets, milestones and key deliverables. • Support debt financing processes and liaise directly with lenders through to fulfilment of Conditions Precedent. • Work closely with technical teams on project timelines, pricing and design. • Review financial modelling outputs and engage with financial modellers on key assumptions. • Manage external legal advisers, consultants and other transaction stakeholders. • Lead transaction due diligence and identify key commercial and execution risks. • Prepare transaction materials and presentations for investment committee and senior management. • Maintain strong relationships with lenders, funders, offtakers, advisers and public-sector stakeholders. • Support participation strategy relating to SAWEM and SAPP. • Coordinate multiple workstreams to ensure transactions remain on track and progress efficiently towards financial close. Experience & Qualifications • Minimum 2 years' renewable energy experience, with direct exposure to PPA negotiations and/or financial close on utility-scale projects. • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Engineering, Law, Economics, Commerce or a related field. • Strong understanding of project finance and renewable energy transactions in South Africa. • Experience working with financial models and modelling outputs. • Strong understanding of the South African energy market and regulatory environment. • Knowledge of SAWEM and SAPP advantageous. • BESS transaction experience advantageous. • LLB candidates with strong commercial and transactional experience are encouraged to apply. Key Skills • Transaction and project management • Commercial negotiation • Stakeholder management • Project finance • PPA negotiation • Financial close • Due diligence • Financial modelling • Risk management • Strong commercial judgement • Excellent communication and coordination skills • Ability to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines simultaneously Desired Experience & Qualification The ideal candidate is a commercially astute transaction professional with experience in the renewable energy sector and a strong track record of managing complex transactions through to financial close. They will be comfortable coordinating legal, technical and financial workstreams, negotiating with counterparties and engaging directly with lenders, offtakers, advisers and senior stakeholders. Candidates may come from an IPP, project finance, infrastructure finance, transaction advisory or commercial legal background. An LLB with strong commercial and transactional experience would be well suited to the role. The successful candidate will be ambitious, highly organised and commercially driven, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver transactions against demanding timelines. Package & RemunerationThe role is based in Johannesburg and requires regional travel across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini and Zambia. The successful candidate will work closely with senior stakeholders, lenders, offtakers, advisers and project teams throughout the transaction lifecycle.