Principal Social Performance Manager

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:

Principal Social Performance Manager

Market-related Package

Gqeberha, Eastern Cape

About the Role

A leading international renewable energy and low-carbon infrastructure business is seeking a Principal Social Performance Manager to lead and oversee the full Social Performance (SP) function across a large portfolio of renewable energy projects spanning development, construction, and operations.

The role is accountable for ensuring the consistent delivery of social commitments, community investment programmes, lender obligations, and governance requirements across multiple assets, while strengthening execution systems, risk management, and stakeholder outcomes.

This is a senior leadership position responsible for driving impact at portfolio level, leading a growing team, and ensuring alignment between business strategy, community outcomes, and compliance frameworks.

Key Responsibilities Social Performance Strategy & Execution

• Lead execution of Social Performance commitments across the full project portfolio
• Develop and maintain Social Performance implementation plans and delivery roadmaps
• Translate sustainability and economic transformation priorities into actionable programmes
• Monitor execution performance, identify risks, and implement corrective actions
• Ensure portfolio readiness through structured planning, controls, and reporting systems
• Drive continuous improvement in delivery models and execution efficiency

Community Investment & Programme Delivery

• Oversee Enterprise Development (EnD), Socio-Economic Development (SED), and related community programmes
• Manage implementing partners and external service providers
• Guide beneficiary identification, programme design, and delivery approaches
• Ensure alignment with approved plans, community needs, and strategic social commitments
• Support development of impact measurement frameworks and performance tracking systems
• Review and strengthen contracts, governance, and implementation controls

Cross-Functional Coordination & Governance

• Partner with Operations, Finance, Legal, Environmental Performance, and Project teams
• Ensure alignment of social delivery requirements across business functions
• Escalate material risks and dependencies impacting execution
• Present Social Performance updates at governance forums (including Board and Social & Ethics structures)
• Strengthen integrated decision-making within the sustainability function

Operational Asset Oversight

• Oversee EnD and SED programmes across operational renewable energy assets
• Manage external implementing agents and internal programme administrators
• Ensure robust internal controls, compliance, and reporting mechanisms
• Review quarterly Economic Development reporting and forecast delivery against obligations
• Support community trust governance structures and distribution mechanisms

Project Development & Construction Support

• Support social performance readiness during construction-to-operations transition
• Lead socio-economic assessments, community consultation, and needs analysis processes
• Ensure implementation readiness plans are in place prior to operational phase
• Embed social requirements into construction execution and project governance systems

Financial Close & Compliance Support

• Support compliance with lender requirements and social performance standards, including
  IFC Performance Standards
• Integrate social requirements into Environmental and Social Management Systems (ESMS)
• Ensure alignment with sponsor and regulatory social obligations

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop the Social Performance team across multiple levels
• Drive capability building, performance management, and succession planning
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and development of team members
• Manage external service providers and implementation partners

Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Sociology, Economics, Public Policy, Environmental Management or related field
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in socio-economic development or social performance roles
• Strong understanding of renewable energy, infrastructure, or development sectors
• Experience working with IFC Performance Standards and lender-driven compliance frameworks
• Working knowledge of South African socio-economic development frameworks (advantageous)
• Proven leadership and programme management experience in complex, multi-stakeholder environments

Core Competencies

• Programme execution and delivery discipline
• Governance, compliance, and reporting excellence
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Financial and commercial awareness
• Stakeholder engagement and relationship management
• Contract and service provider management
• Strong analytical and structured decision-making capability
• Ability to influence across multidisciplinary teams

Leadership Attributes

• Strong operational leadership across dispersed portfolios
• High-level stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills
• Ability to drive accountability across internal and external partners
• Strategic thinking with strong execution focus
• Continuous improvement mindset