Job Description

An established renewable energy investment group is looking for a Senior Business Developer to drive new business growth across the commercial and industrial solar PV and battery storage market in South Africa and the broader SADC region.

This is a highly sales-driven role suited to someone with a strong “hunter” mentality — someone who can proactively open doors, build trusted relationships, identify bankable opportunities, and drive long-cycle deals through to contractual close.

The successful candidate will take ownership of opportunities from initial engagement through to financial close, working closely with internal technical, commercial, financial, and legal teams to structure viable renewable energy solutions for clients.

This role is ideal for a commercially astute business developer who understands how to engage senior stakeholders, position funded energy solutions, and convert opportunities into long-term projects.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Deal Origination

• Proactively identify and originate new business opportunities in the C&I renewable energy market.
• Build and leverage strong industry networks to develop a sustainable deal pipeline.
• Conduct targeted outreach, including cold calling, strategic networking, and direct client engagement.
• Identify high-potential clients and opportunities across South Africa and the broader SADC region.

Opportunity Development & Deal Execution

• Own opportunities from initial engagement through to contractual close.
• Lead client discussions, needs assessments, solution positioning, and commercial conversations.
• Develop and present compelling value propositions aligned with client requirements.
• Progress opportunities through internal approval processes and ensure alignment with investment criteria.

Commercial Structuring & Negotiation

• Support the structuring of commercial solutions, including PPAs, EPC contracts, and hybrid structures.
• Lead or support commercial negotiations with clients, partners, and key stakeholders.
• Ensure opportunities are developed in a way that supports project bankability and financial viability.
• Understand and communicate key commercial drivers, savings models, tariffs, and risk allocation.

Internal Coordination

• Coordinate with internal technical, legal, financial, and project development teams to move deals forward.
• Ensure timely delivery of feasibility studies, proposals, and tender submissions.
• Act as the central point of accountability for deal progress and resolving bottlenecks.

Pipeline Management & Reporting

• Maintain accurate pipeline tracking, deal status updates, and reporting.
• Provide regular market feedback, client insights, and opportunity trends.
• Prioritise high-probability, high-value opportunities and manage multiple deals simultaneously.

Stakeholder & Partner Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, developers, partners, and industry stakeholders.
• Support strategic partnerships that improve market access and competitiveness.
• Represent the business professionally in all external engagements.

Market Intelligence & Strategic Input

• Stay up to date with market trends, regulatory developments, and competitive activity in renewable energy.
• Provide input into business development strategies, go-to-market approaches, and potential new market segments.
• Identify new products, structures, or commercial models that could unlock growth opportunities.

Requirements

• Minimum 3–5 years’ experience in business development, sales, or deal origination.
• Proven track record of generating new leads and closing commercial opportunities.
• Strong network within the South African commercial and industrial sector.
• Renewable energy experience is highly advantageous, particularly solar PV and/or battery storage.
• Ability to manage long and complex sales cycles from early-stage engagement to contractual close.
• Experience with PPAs, EPC contracts, or similar commercial agreements would be advantageous.
• Strong senior stakeholder engagement and client relationship management skills.
• Commercially minded, with the ability to understand value propositions, financial drivers, and risk allocation.
• Basic understanding of solar PV, battery storage, PPA structures, tariffs, and savings models is advantageous but not essential.
• Strong internal coordination skills, with the ability to work across technical, finance, legal, and development teams.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Strong reporting discipline and ability to manage pipeline tracking and forecasting.
• Proficiency in MS Office; CRM experience would be advantageous.

Personal Attributes

• Strong hunter mentality with the confidence to initiate cold outreach and open new doors.
• Resilient and persistent, with the ability to maintain momentum through long sales cycles.
• Results-driven and focused on closing deals.
• Highly accountable, with strong ownership from origination through to financial close.
• Commercially sharp and solution-oriented.
• Confident communicator with the ability to engage credibly at senior and executive level.
• Self-motivated, energetic, and able to work with minimal supervision.
• Strong relationship builder who can develop long-term trust with clients and partners.
• Organised and able to manage multiple opportunities at different stages of the pipeline.

Why This Role?

This is an opportunity to join a growing renewable energy business focused on delivering long-term, sustainable energy solutions to the commercial and industrial market. You will play a key role in expanding market presence, originating high-quality projects, and contributing directly to the company’s growth strategy.

The role offers the opportunity to work across solar PV, battery storage, and funded PPA solutions, while engaging with senior decision-makers and shaping commercially viable energy projects from the ground up.