General Manager

Our client in the Renewable Energy industry is seeking a General Manager to head up their Community Development Trust.

This role will report directly to the Board of Trustees.

Responsible for the day-to-day operations, performance, and management of the Trust in an effective and responsible manner.

To play a key role in the development of Trust.

To work with the Board of Trustees to ensure the organization meets all legal and governance requirements.

Stakeholder engagements and establishing and maintaining meaningful partnerships with stakeholders on behalf of the Trusts’ Trustees.

Identifying and managing risks for the Trust.

Providing leadership and direction for the Trust.

Qualification and Experience and required:

• Relevant tertiary qualification.
• Completed MBA would be an advantage.
• 10 years working experience at a management level.
• Experience gained in the renewable energy sector would be advantageous.
• Extensive financial experience - overseeing financial performance, investments, funding, and ventures.
• Experience in dealing with projects / project management.
• Experienced in legal contract practices.
• Experienced in leading negotiations and maintaining relationships with Stakeholders, Funders, Business Partners, Regulators and Community Leaders.
• Relevant experience in community development including practical / hands-on project management and implementation and stakeholder engagement would be highly advantageous.
• Compliance, risk management and corporate governance experience.
• Passion for community development.

Desired Attributes:

• Excellent communicator
• Must be process-driven
• Ability to manage work efficiently and effectively
• Always perform high quality of work
• Have a high work ethic
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills
• Effective internal and external relationship
• Good time management and priority setting skills
• Exceptional organizational and multitasking skills
• Proficient in English and Afrikaans
• Strong presentation skills (influence of audience)
• Ability to think strategically and creatively regarding the long-term development of an organization's public affairs work.
• Accountable.
• Community centric.
• Disciplined.
• Dynamic and energetic.
• Good people skills.
• Great attention to detail.
• Innovative.
• Methodical. 
• Proactive
• Well-spoken.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Stakeholder engagement and relationship management:

• Build sustainable and harmonious relations with the Trusts stakeholders and manage relationships for continuous Trust operations and delivery of community development programmes.
• Develop understanding of the Trusts stakeholders in terms of their interest in the Trusts decisions/actions and their degree of influence on decisions/actions.
• Ensure understanding of stakeholders' expectations / concerns / needs / views on regulatory issues, socio-economic development, social challenges, and the Trusts SED and business decisions / actions.
• Track stakeholder perceptions / opinions on issues related to / affecting the Trust
• Increase stakeholder understanding of the Trusts operations, processes and strategic priorities / agenda.
• Act as a point of contact for stakeholder queries.
• Participate in / represent the Trust in relevant stakeholder’s local authority / industry forums.

Community development:

• Understand local socio-economic environment.
• Engage local communities and municipality and oversee community needs.
• Identify SED and ED projects aligned to the community development plan, municipality's IDP, national development priorities and in collaboration with corporate community development.
• Identify and present opportunities for SED and ED to the Trustee’s.
• Monitor implementation progress of SED and ED projects.
• Ensure impact of projects is evaluated at set intervals.
• Communicate with stakeholders through all stages of SED and ED projects including outcomes and impacts.
• Coordinate / oversee site community development reporting.
• Participate in and represent the Trust at relevant internal / external community development forums etc.

Risk management:

• Identify, support, and manage risk management processes and systems for site stakeholder affairs.
• Proactively identify, anticipate, analyse, and flag key stakeholder risks and issues.
• Develop and implement actions to address and respond to stakeholder risks / issues / impacts and provide feedback to stakeholders.
• Utilise stakeholder engagement as a mechanism to identify and prevent issues from escalating.

Supplier management:

• Identify and contract SED/ED service providers required for site-specific projects, manage provision of services including costs, delivery, quality etc.
• Designing contracts (e.g., with service providers / projects) to protect the interests of the Trust and the beneficiary communicates
• Address performance issues to ensure seamless service delivery and adherence to the Trusts governance.
• Act as a point of contact for supplier queries.

General / Other Duties:

• Conducting due diligence on applications for funding.
• Designing and enforcing financial controls.
• Contract management.
• Risk mitigation.
• Manage trust compliance and audits as needed
• Engaging with a wide range of stakeholders (Trustees, local communities, government, NPOs, community organizations, funding recipients, other IPPs and Trusts, etc.)
• Ensuring the Trustees receive the information they require to make decisions and provide oversight.
• Coordinate Trust meetings.
• Development and implementation of strategic plans, vision, and goals.

If you are not contacted within two weeks of applying, please consider your application unsuccessful.