Power Markets Project Leader (South Africa)

Key Responsibilities

• Develop a clear and detailed understanding of the client’s business and expectations, scoping projects and managing them to time and budget. 
• Oversee multiple projects simultaneously, providing both internal and external stakeholders with the orientation they need in critical project phases and situations. 
• Ensure optimal delivery on clients’ expectations, including collaborating with project teams to deliver a suitable approach, oversee complex problem-solving, ensuring independent, high quality, rigorous quantitative analysis, interpretation and communication of data insights.

• Contribute to building and growing close client relationships with key stakeholders across the market, ultimately becoming their trusted advisor.
• Acquire new clients and projects by collaborating with internal stakeholders to respond successfully to inbound requests for proposals.
• Good instinct in closing a sale and ability to identify key success factors including client use case and decision making processes, willingness to pay, etc. 
• Identify new commercial opportunities through deepening market knowledge and client relationships, and ability to translate client problems into Aurora solutions in real time with clients as well as after meetings.

• In leading our advisory work, you will have the ability to add a strategic filter to our analysis for clients, especially with regards to buy-side and sell-side transactions.
• Develop our models: leveraging your position of influence and proximity to clients, you will play an active role in honing and advancing Aurora’s power sector models, especially in South Africa and neighboring markets.
• Build an external profile and industry presence as a thought leader within the Southern African energy ecosystem. Over time, this will include representing Aurora in both public and private forums, such as:
  • Hosting the Energy Unplugged podcast 
  • Leading public webinars on topical research topics
  • Speaking at major conferences to share Aurora analysis

• Work with the Market Lead to help develop and execute the Advisory strategy in South Africa, including formulating appropriate responses to competitive threats, evolving our proposal offerings, and leveraging our software and research capabilities to capture new market value.
• Willingness to engage with the Market Lead on regional strategy discussions, including Research and Software strategy development, applying commercial Advisory insights strategically to unlock growth potential.

• Balance the delivery of projects with coaching and inspiring teams of analysts and energy modelers with the aim of optimising performance and developing potential.
• Contribute to team culture and development in Aurora’s South African office, as the most senior Advisory member.
• Willingness to take on responsibilities beyond your day-to-day role as and when the need arises (e.g., graduate programme oversight).
• Willingness to engage with the Market Lead on wider team management, with the ultimate aim of growing into a more senior market leadership role.
  
  

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Relevant experience in the electricity and energy sectors, either at a consultancy, government/regulatory body, or industry participant. 
• Demonstrated experience in using data to deliver electricity market insights.
• Strong project management skills to consistently ensure the management and delivery of clients’ projects exceeds their expectations.
• Have a proven track record of winning new business, both through writing compelling proposals in response to client requests, and through proactive business development
• Collaborative by nature and have an empathetic leadership style that demonstrates skill in inspiring, raising performance and developing your teams.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, both internally, with clients and on public platforms.
• High initiative and ambition to ultimately grow from the Advisory Project Lead position into the Market Lead position for the region; constantly looking for new opportunities and areas for improvement.
• Proven academic track record in high quality degree, typically in science, technology, engineering or mathematics subject, or equivalent professional experience.
• Proficiency in English (C1 level). 

What we offer

• The opportunity to substantially influence major decisions in the energy sector
• Direct engagement with clients through Aurora conferences, workshops and webinars
• The opportunity to grow into a publicly visible industry expert
• A fun, informal, collaborative and international work culture 
• A competitive salary package 
• Access to regular coaching and mentoring sessions and the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals
• Access to the Aurora Academy, our training programme offering a range of opportunities to develop your skills within the responsibilities of your role and within the wider context of the industry.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), offering a complete support network that offers expert advice and compassionate guidance 24/7/365, covering a wide range of personal and professional aspects