THE PROJECT AND POSITION:
Umoyilanga is an innovative renewable project which will provide reliable and dispatchable energy to the grid. The project is split over two locations, Avondale in the Northern Cape, and Dassiesridge in the Eastern Cape.
- On Avondale, a 115MWp PV plant and a 30MW x 3 hours Battery Energy Storage System
- On Dassiesridge, 67MW 63MW of wind capacity and a 45MW x 3 hours Battery Energy Storage System.
The entire project will be controlled by a virtual power plant controller which will enable to Project to be fully dispatchable according to the requirements of the programme.
Construction is expected to start by Q2 2023 and shall last around 18-20 months.
The Construction Contracts Manager is dedicated to the Umoyilanga Project and the role is located at EDF Renewables Offices in Cape Town. It will require travel to the sites as and when required.
The Construction Contracts Manager shall be responsible for advising and assisting Umoyilanga Project Management teams in the execution of purchasing and selling contracts related to the Power Purchase Agreement and the contractual elements of the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning phases of the Project, from the Financial Close phase until the Final Acceptance date defined by the EPC Contract.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:
The Construction Contracts Manager role reports directly to EPC Co Director and functionally to the Head of Project Implementation.
THE ROLE OF THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS MANAGER:
The Construction Contracts Manager is responsible for contractual administration of the Project contracts and their associated documents.
Under EPC Co Director supervision, the Construction Contracts Manager will provide Avondale and Dassiesridge Project Managers and Umoyilanga Engineering Manager with oversight and advisory input into project specific contract management activities during implementation, and act as a focal point for contract related matters throughout all phases of projects.
For that objective, its role comprises of, inter alia:
• Before Financial Close, ensure that the relevant clauses in the various contracts are aligned, and advise before contract signature how to optimise efficiency in the implementation phase
• Lead and direct all contractual aspects of executing the project including risk assessment.
• Having detail knowledge of the Power Purchase Agreement, EPC Contract, O&M Agreement and various Project Agreements/permits/consents and manage the stakeholders effectively in line with the contracts.
• Participate in the upstream contracting process to ensure an optimum adjustment of contractual commitments, and incentives on quality, deadlines, milestones, costs, risks and opportunities; in particular, challenges the scope and the target market value.
• Ensure that the schedule, deliverables, terms and conditions and technical limits contained in the contractor’s commitment scope are clear and shared with the contractors and contribute to the identification of the Project risks and opportunities related to the activities.
• Enforce the contract provisions (application of contractual mechanisms, compliance with mutual obligations, etc.) contributing to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the contract and exercises ongoing due diligence as regards any related risks.
• Contribute jointly with Work Package Leaders to steering the physical progress, based on a reporting mechanism and indicators previously agreed with the contractor, and to a periodic re-estimation of work remaining to be done to secure the cost on completion.
• Manage any potential changes in the contractor’s commitment scope. Processes and ensure the traceability of exchanges and contract-related events for the purpose of anticipating any necessary adaptations of the contract and compiling evidence to defend the company’s interests as needed in case of claims.
• Be effective in responding to the correspondences from various counter parties and ensure the interest of the Project is protected.
• Actively monitors the project progress in line with the contract schedule and ensure the parties adhere to the program.
• Draft the execution assessment report and organise the sharing of lessons learned from the contract.
• Verify the progress payment claims of the contractors along with the Owner’s Engineer and process the payments.
QUALIFICATION, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:
• Degree in Engineering and/or Construction Law is desirable.
• Minimum 7 Years of Experience working with large complex projects in the Renewable Energy industry, preferably in the REIPPPP.
• Professional Certification in Contracts Management is recommended.
• Demonstrate knowledge and experience in all facets of Contract Management within a project.
• Ability to understand and analyse the details of non-contractual matters such as engineering, cost control, planning and construction in order to provide relevant contractual support.
• A collaborative, solutions-oriented approach and strong communication skills is required.
• Be a team player, yet be able to work independently and duly manage the workload and priorities.
Should be available and accustomed to travel on site on a regular basis.
Must be able to work extended hours in line with the project requirements.