Senior Project Lead

Recruiter:

MECS Africa

Job Ref:

JHB012460/MT

Date posted:

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Location:

Johannesburg, South Africa

SUMMARY:
Senior Project Lead Engineer– Pyrolysis & Turning Waste-to-Energy Development
Location: Flexible: Cape Town/Gauteng preferred (hybrid/remote with regular site travel)

Overview
We’re building multiple next-gen waste-to-energy plants and need a hands-on execution expert to make it all real. This role owns pyrolysis plants at once, from early concept and permits to construction-ready handover. If you love complex projects, tight timelines, and real-world impact, this one’s for you.

Responsibilities:

Own projects end-to-end: concept, approvals, build-ready, commissioning support
Run the critical path, schedule, risks & milestones
Lead EIAs, rezoning, waste & water licences, and regulator wrangling
Drive offtake, feedstock, equipment, and O&M contracts to signature
Manage key relationships between engineers, consultants, regulators, partners, and investors
Closely involved in all phases with high attention to detail

POSITION INFO:
Requirements

Engineering degree (Chemical, Mechanical, Process, or similar)
8+ years delivering complex energy or infrastructure projects
Solid experience navigating South African permitting & EIAs

Calm under pressure, ruthless about delivery
Pyrolysis, biofuels, waste-to-energy, or chemical processing experience
Contract negotiation
ESG, traceability, or carbon markets exposure

Strong autonomy and real decision-making power
Projects that actually matter: cutting pollution, creating jobs, scaling fast
Funded sites, signed offtake momentum, and a serious growth pipeline
Fast, impact-driven culture where execution wins

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