Team Leader – Energy Transition Specialist

Project description

The overall objective is to: "Contribute to the successful implementation of the Just Energy Transition in South Africa"

•  Specific Objective 1: Policy & Regulation: Improved policy and regulatory framework for just energy transition
• Specific Objective 2: Capacity development: Strengthened institutional capacity to implement the just energy transition
• Specific Objective 3: Investment promotion: Increased public and private investments in the just energy transition

 The specific objectives will be delivered across three result clusters:

1.  Energy and Electricity, focusing on institutional reforms, renewable energy planning, incl. green hydrogen production, storage and distribution, energy efficiency, electricity market, transmission systems (incl. SF6-free switchgears), energy infrastructure Investment. This is central to the JETP and essential to attract investment, integrate renewables, ensure a reliable, inclusive, and sustainable power system, and improve the effectiveness of climate policy instruments including Carbon pricing. 
2. Climate Governance, supporting the implementation of the climate law across different policy sectors and through effective carbon pricing. An adequate governance framework is key to the success of South Africa's Just Energy Transition, enable investments in clean energy and clean tech industries, strengthen South Africa's trade competitiveness and readiness to carbon border adjustment mechanisms, as well as incentivise emission reductions aligned with South Africa's Nationally Determined Contribution.
3. Green Hydrogen, opening opportunities for domestic markets through green industrialisation and decarbonisation of energy intensive industries as well as for export markets and regional cooperation in particular with Namibia.

Job description

The proposed Team Leader will:

• Provide overall strategic direction, technical leadership, and managerial oversight of the Technical Assistance Facility.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with the EU Delegation, South African counterparts, and other donors and stakeholders.
• Ensure coordination, coherence, and quality across all workstreams of the Facility, aligning with the objectives of the JET-IP and EU development cooperation frameworks.
• Oversee the preparation and delivery of project outputs and documents such as (but not limited to) including Implementation Strategy, Annual operational work plans, Rolling plans for the deployment of key and non-key experts, M&E Framework, Terms of Reference for experts, Selection of experts and Reports as well as knowledge products, and capacity-building initiatives.
• Manage and support the team of non-key experts, ensuring timely delivery and compliance with EU visibility and communication requirements.
• Ensure that cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability are mainstreamed throughout project activities.

Qualifications

Qualifications and Skills:

• At least a Master's degree in energy, climate policy, environmental sciences, economics, public administration, or a directly related field. (In the absence of a Master's degree, a Bachelor's degree and an additional 5 years of relevant professional experience will be accepted.)
• Strong leadership, organisational, and coordination skills, particularly in multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral environments.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to engage effectively with senior government officials, civil society, and development partners.
• Full professional proficiency in English (written and spoken); Knowledge of local South African languages will be considered an asset.

General Professional Experience:

• At least 12 years of professional experience in the energy, environment, climate change, or sustainable development sectors.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in managing or coordinating large-scale technical assistance programmes or international donor-funded projects, ideally within the context of energy transition or climate finance.
• Proven experience in team leadership, project coordination, and Performance monitoring in complex, multi-stakeholder programmes.

 Specific Professional Experience:

• At least 6 years of experience working directly on energy transition issues, including areas such as coal phase-out strategies, renewable energy deployment, or energy sector governance.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with Just Energy Transition approaches, including social inclusion, community engagement, labour reskilling, and Economic diversification in carbon-intensive regions.
• Experience working in the Southern African region, with a solid understanding of national institutions, energy policy frameworks, and socio-economic development priorities.
• Advantage: Familiarity with South Africa's Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP), national climate commitments (e.g., NDCs), and international cooperation mechanisms. Knowledge of other Just Energy Transition Partnerships would be an asset.
• Experience implementing or managing EU-funded programmes or working under EU procedures (PRAG) will be considered a strong advantage.
• Proven ability to lead the development of deliverables such as technical reports, policy briefs, capacity-building materials, and visibility outputs.

Contact person

Neha Khurana neha.khurana@gfa-group.de