Department: Operations
Location: South Africa
Description
Globeleq, as the lead Sponsor of the Red Sands BESS Project, intends to commence construction of a 153MW/712MWh battery energy project and associated grid connection which includes construction of a new Eskom Main Transformer Station, overhead lines and a Switching Station.
The Project is located in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa near the town of Groblershoop and is split across two main sites with the overhead line corridor connecting them.
The Project is well advanced in its development including contractor selection, planning permissions, site studies, land agreements, and financing and project agreements.
Financing is being arranged through South African commercial banks and sponsor equity.
A single EPC construction company will construct the Project under a bespoke turn-key EPC contract. The EPC contractor is expected to have multiple key subcontractors who specialise in electrical and civil works. The EPC contractor is also responsible for delivery of the battery which will be containerised lithium-ion technology.
Construction is expected to commence around June 2025 with a minimum construction period of 24 months.
We have partnered with AltGen for this recruitment, in case of any queries kindly reach out to the team by emailing redsands-recruitment@altgen.com
Main Purpose of Role
The Site Manager forms part of the Employer's construction management team which monitorsand enforces the construction contractors', and other parties' contractual obligations. The SiteManager shall lead the Employer's technical team to monitor, witness and enforce theconstruction contractor's contractual obligations. The Site Manager will have a team of personsto assist, including access to specialist engineers to ensure the project is successfully deliveredsafely, on-time and in accordance with the contractual obligations.
Key Responsibilities (this list is not exhaustive)
The Site Manager shall manage and coordinate the Employer's technical team, Site Supervisor(s), Owner's Engineer, and undertake the following activities:
General
- Manage the Employer's technical team resources,
- Assist the Employer's team in all aspects of construction monitoring activities, in particular in relation to site HSESS monitoring and enforcement,
- Assess, manage and update the technical inputs for the Employer's risk register,
- Monitor the quality of the Contractor's staff and subcontracted teams,
- Facilitate good communication between the Employer and Contractor's teams,
- Ensure the Employer's management team is fully appraised of all site activities such that issues can be quickly addressed.
- Prepare technical aspects of the internal reporting,
- Ensure the efficient and effective running of technical site meetings.
- Assist and guide the Contractor in the management and execution of site activities (not instructing or advising),
- Ensure all technical interfaces are identified and managed,
- Ensure the Contractor is undertaking all works in accordance with the contract, the specifications and the agreement management plans,
- Monitor site activities to ensure they are undertaken in a safe and controlled manner,
- Confirm all activities are being undertaken within the permitted site boundaries,
- Review and opine on construction and safety method statements or procedures.
- Manage the Owner's Engineering team and contract to ensure they are working efficiently and in accordance with the requirements,
- Support the Owner's Engineer site team in the witnessing of works progress and quality.
- Assist with the interface with the Independent Engineer, Clerk of Works and Lender's Technical Advisors.
- Assist with the design review process where necessary.
- Review and opine on the Contractor's quality management plan,
- Ensure the Contractor is executing the agreed quality management plans,
- Manage efficient attendance for hold points and tests witnessing to ensure no delays attributable to the Employer or other Stakeholders,
- Ensure all quality records are well maintained,
- Maintain a technical written and photographic record of the works undertaken.
- Ensure all testing and commissioning activities are witnessed by the relevant parties,
- Ensure grid code compliance tests are fully executed, documented and signed off by the grid operator.
- Work with the Engineering Manager to manage grid operator relationships, notice periods and other obligations,
- Ensure compliance with grid operators requests.
- Manage all technical inputs for the drawdown requests,
- Support for the approval of the Contractor's milestone and invoice applications,
- Support technical aspects of all claims, variations and other contractual mechanisms,
- Support any insurance claims with technical inputs,
- Ensure all contractual milestone obligations are delivered and certificates issued by the relevant parties.
In coordination with the Employer's Scheduler (if in place),
- Review and opine on the Contractors baseline schedules,
- Monitor all works against the baseline schedules and ensure the Employer is fully appraised of progress,
- Identification of potential delays and recommendations for resolution,
- Ensure the Employer's team is fully aware of all upcoming activities in order to effectively plan and resource.
- Ensure the defects list is maintained and up to date,
- Ensure all defects are assigned a cost,
- Ensure all defects are closed out and resolutions recorded,
- Participate in root cause analysis (or similar systems) for significant issues to ensure nor repeats.
- Ensure the Contractor has successfully integrated all control systems, including, grid interfaces,
- Ensure the Contractor's training plans are sufficiently for the thorough training of theoperations and maintenance teams.
- Ensure all warranty conditions are known, observed and are capable of being met.
- Ensure all H&S and O&M plans are complete prior to Taking Over,
- Confirm the handover of all stocks and spares from the Contractor,
- Ensure stocks are spares are correctly entered into the Employer's management systems.
Direct experience in the construction of power projects in emerging markets with a track record of delivery.
More specifically, the required experience and skill set includes;
- Minimum BS/MS engineering degree or substantial equivalent technical training and prior extensive experience in project and site management.
- 5 or more years' power construction site management experience in developing markets, with previous experience as the lead commercial/technical manager for the
- Owner with evidence of successfully concluding on time and within budget,
- Significant experience with the construction of HV power infrastructure, preferably for Eskom, with evidence of strong grid stakeholder and interface management,
- Experience with battery energy technology advantageous, while previous experience managing new tech grid integration is highly sought,
- Experience and familiarity with project financing documents,
- Broad background of previous exposure to various disciplines, civil, electrical, mechanical on construction projects and accumulated knowledge base of construction methods used in these disciplines,
- Direct experience in the management of EPC Contractors, subcontractors and Owner's construction management teams,
- Direct experience in establishing, monitoring and managing project construction budgets with direct experience in project drawdown processes,
- Extensive knowledge and familiarity with EPC contract terms and conditions, interrelationships of risks with respect to Company vs. Client risks and participation in the negotiation, management and handover of power projects,
- Working knowledge of and experience in development, managing and analysing project schedules, including use of Microsoft Project or similar CPM scheduling software,
- Ability to travel and live internationally; exhibit the personality and character composition to work with all nationalities and cultures that will be encountered.
- Confident in commercial, financial, legal, technical, negotiation and project management skills,
- Fluent in English (speaking & writing),
- Preference in Afrikaans,
- A strong team builder and leader with a good understanding of organisation design principles,
- Participative leader, capable of leveraging the input and experience of the broader team to analyse options and then make decisions as necessary,
- Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point, MS Projects and/or PrimaVera,
- Confident presenter, with previous experience in engaging with stakeholders from national and local govt, communities, technical and commercial partners and stakeholders, board and lenders,
- Strong communication skills particularly relationship management and negotiation skills,
- Creative and innovative,
- Cross-cultural awareness and ethical behaviour.
