Site Manager - De Aar (NC)
Globeleq
People & HR, Operations
South Africa
Posted on May 20, 2025
For more than 20 years, Globeleq has been a long-term investor, developer, owner and operator of diversified power projects in Africa, where the company is one of the largest Independent Power Producers., With nearly 1500MW of generation capacity in operation across 16 power plants in 7 countries, 488MW of new power projects in construction and >2,000MW in development, Globeleq is one of the largest independent power producers solely focused in Africa. Globeleq is 70% owned by British International Investment and 30% by Norfund, the development finance institutions of the UK and Norway, and has a proven track record for supporting the ongoing development of the African power sector.
Globeleq’s various generation technologies include gas, wind, solar PV, battery energy storage (BESS), and geothermal. The company is also actively pursuing new opportunities which are emerging from the energy transition, including desalination projects powered by renewables, as well as green hydrogen and ammonia projects. In South Africa, Globeleq owns and operates several renewable energy (RE) power plants across the country, in both wind and solar power.
In this role, the Site Manager is vital in overseeing the operational plans at the plant level, handling daily decisions related to maintenance, facilities management, human resources, and health, safety, and environment (HSE). This position also involves compliance and performance management. Additionally, the Site Manager will support the optimization of energy generation within the plant’s design parameters by collaborating with the Engineering team and ensuring maximum availability of the generation system.
Globeleq’s various generation technologies include gas, wind, solar PV, battery energy storage (BESS), and geothermal. The company is also actively pursuing new opportunities which are emerging from the energy transition, including desalination projects powered by renewables, as well as green hydrogen and ammonia projects. In South Africa, Globeleq owns and operates several renewable energy (RE) power plants across the country, in both wind and solar power.
In this role, the Site Manager is vital in overseeing the operational plans at the plant level, handling daily decisions related to maintenance, facilities management, human resources, and health, safety, and environment (HSE). This position also involves compliance and performance management. Additionally, the Site Manager will support the optimization of energy generation within the plant’s design parameters by collaborating with the Engineering team and ensuring maximum availability of the generation system.
- Application Deadline
- June 09, 2025
- Department
- Operations & Maintenance
- Employment Type
- Permanent - Full Time
- Location
- South Africa
- Workplace type
- Onsite
- Reporting To
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Support:
- Assist in the development and continuous improvement of the GSAMS Asset Management System (AMS)
- Ensure compliance with policies, procedures, and systems
- Implement and manage a ‘line-of-sight’ vision across the assets under management
- Participate in risk management and provide input for the plant’s Annual Operating Plan (AOP)
- Provide input into budgeting process for plant’s Annual Operating Plan (AOP)
- Lead projects aimed at enhancing the plant's sustainability and reducing its environmental impact
- Facilitate support from shared services to review plant performance and trigger corrective actions
Health and Safety:
- Ensure site-wide compliance with company health, safety and environment (HSE) systems and procedures
- Act as GMR 2.7 as appropriate, ensuring compliance with HSE policies and procedures
- Manage safety protocols to provide a safe working environment in accordance with relevant legislation, including but not limited to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the National Environmental Management Act
- Manage prescribed authorisation and competency matrices
- Implement emergency response plans to address incidents and equipment failures effectively
- Ensure compliance with local, regional, and national regulations, including grid connection standards and environmental laws
Plant Operations:
- Implement daily operations and maintenance in accordance with Maintenance Plan to protect production and manage costs
- Ensure mechanical, electrical and instrumentation equipment is maintained and is in a safe, reliable and efficient operating condition
- Optimize plant power production while ensuring operational efficiency
- Execute maintenance plans and corrective actions, managing resources effectively
- Assist in the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and ensures all work is performed in accordance with these SOPs
- Plan and schedule maintenance tasks, ensuring compliance with safety standards
- Manage procurement and engage with suppliers for maintenance and operations
- Support and participate in company-wide asset improvement projects and develop site-specific performance improvement initiatives
- Participate in management of change processes
- Assist with developing, implementing and improving the GSAMS asset management system (AMS)
- Monitor plant performance metrics and conduct data analysis to optimize energy output and efficiency, utilizing relevant software tools
People Management:
- Manage relevant plant staff and contractors on site/s
- Align plant team goals with organisational objectives, providing input into staff planning, recruitment, and performance management
- Foster a collaborative team environment, providing mentorship and leadership to build a high-performing team
- Coordinate technical and other relevant training for direct and indirect reports
- Assist with recruiting, selecting and appointing site staff
Financial Management:
- Manage costs, risks, and performance as per the Annual Operating Plan and other Globeleq procedures
- Prepare and verify plant budgets, ensuring compliance with procurement policies and managing site-related expenses
- Responsible for revenue generation and financial oversight of the plant
- Ensure compliance with procurement policies
- Responsible for first level approval of all site-related expenses and for verification of all consumable expenses
Commercial Management:
- Identify the scope of work, procure, and manage contractors, ensuring fulfilment of performance standards
- Manage insurance claims and stakeholder relations, serving as the first point of contact for site-based stakeholders
Reporting:
- Provide weekly reports against plant KPIs, risks, and deviations
- Provide Monthly KPI report
- Ensure GSAMS management is informed for appropriate decision-making
- Ensures company ERP system (IFS) is used effectively for plant management, consistent with company policies and guidelines
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Skills / Competencies:
- Strong technical understanding of major plant equipment, systems and processes
- Solid experience in plant maintenance, operations, and resource allocation
- Very high attention to detail
- Strong safety ethic
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, without supervision, and continue thoroughly with repetitive tasks
- Good people management skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing
- Good change management skills
- Well organised and responsive in all communication
- Results-orientated and able to make calculated decisions
- Ability to inspire and motivate teams, fostering a positive work culture
- Experience in planning, executing, and overseeing projects to ensure timely completion and adherence to budgets
- Proficiency in identifying issues and implementing effective solutions promptly
Experience, Knowledge & Qualifications:
- Minimum of a National Diploma in electrical or mechatronic engineering; BTech preferred (or NQF equivalent)
- Proven knowledge of solar power plant management (or similar industrial plant) is required, including:
- Demonstrated knowledge of solar plant systems and operations
- Able to read and understand technical drawings
- Exposure to/knowledge of SCADA Systems, HV and MV power systems, transformers, solar PV system (inverters and PV panels)
- Experience in switching LV and MV systems
- Working knowledge of power system protection
- Demonstrated experience in the maintenance of LV and 33 kV cable systems including fault location and diagnostics
- Ideally, two years’ supervisory experience
- Able to read and understand technical drawings
- Proven excellent safety record
- General ERP/CMMS experience is an advantage
- Demonstrated competence in the use of Microsoft Office packages including Outlook, Word and Excel is required. Competence in PowerPoint is an advantage
- Valid Code B driver’s license is a requirement
About Globeleq
We develop, own and operate power plants utilising various technologies across the African continent. With many years of international industry experience, the support of committed shareholders, and long-standing project, technology, finance and government partnerships, we have the financial strength, management and operational expertise to power Africa to realise its potential.
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