Director of Engineering

Application Deadline: 26 April 2026

Department: Engineering

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: South Africa

Reporting To: Managing Director of Construction

Description

Globeleq is a leading owner, operator, developer and investor of a diversified energy portfolio in Africa, delivering tailored energy solutions and supporting the region’s energy transition. Since 2002, Globeleq has built a diverse portfolio of independent power plants generating 1,850 MW across eight countries, with 665 MW under construction and more than 2,000 MW in development. Globeleq is owned by British International Investment and Norfund, the UK and Norwegian development finance institutions.  More details: www.globeleq.com  

To support the company’s growth and existing construction and operations across Southern and East Africa, Globeleq is now seeking to recruit a Director of Engineering.

The Director of Engineering is a senior leadership role responsible for owning and leading the engineering function across the full project lifecycle—from early‑stage development through construction execution and into operations support.

Historically, the engineering function was primarily development‑focused. As the company’s portfolio matures and its geographic focus consolidates around Southern and Eastern Africa, this role is critical in ensuring technical continuity, rigour, and value optimisation across all phases of asset delivery and operation.

The Director of Engineering will provide strategic technical leadership across a diversified technology portfolio including wind, solar PV, battery energy storage (BESS), hydro, geothermal and selected CCGT projects, ensuring projects are technically robust, bankable, constructible, operable, and aligned with long‑term asset performance objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead, develop, and mature the Engineering function as a centre of technical excellence supporting development, construction, and operations. 
• Define and implement engineering standards, governance frameworks, and technical assurance processes across the portfolio. 
• Act as the senior technical authority within the organisation, providing clear and defensible engineering recommendations to ExCo, Investment Advisory Committees, lenders, and partners. 
• Build a high‑performance, engineering team in South Africa, with support from Globeleq UK office with appropriate use of external advisors.
• Monitor, forecast and manage engineering budgets within approved limits.

Development Phase Leadership

• Provide senior technical oversight during project origination and development, ensuring early‑stage decisions optimise long‑term value and risk profile.
• Oversee resource assessments, concept design, technology selection, yield analysis, grid integration studies, contracting strategy and cost estimates.
• Support commercial and business development teams with technically robust inputs to financial models, PPA negotiations, procurement and bid submissions.
• Lead or oversee technical due diligence for acquisitions, joint ventures, and project financing.

Construction Phase Oversight

• Provide engineering leadership and governance during project execution, working closely with Project Directors, Project Engineering Managers and Owner’s Engineers.
• Ensure engineering designs are fit‑for‑purpose, constructible, and compliant with contract, lender, and regulatory requirements.
• Support EPC procurement strategies, technical specifications, tender evaluations, and contract negotiations.
• Act as senior escalation point for complex technical, interface, and design‑related issues during construction.

Operations & Asset Performance Support

• Ensure engineering decisions made during development and construction translate into safe, reliable, and optimised operational assets.
• Oversee the engineering hand-over between construction and operations.
• Support Operations & Asset Management teams with technical expertise on performance optimisation, defect resolution, life‑extension strategies, and major modifications.
• Drive lessons‑learned feedback loops from operations into future project development and execution.

Risk, Governance & Stakeholder Interface

• Own the technical risk framework across the project lifecycle, ensuring risks are identified early and actively managed.
• Interface with lenders’ engineers, independent engineers, OEMs, EPC contractors, regulators, and shareholders.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes, standards, environmental and social requirements, and good international industry practice (GIIP).

Skills / Competencies

• Strong communication and relationship management
• Decisive, ethical, and diversity-minded leadership
• Planning and organizing with technical depth
• Commercial acumen and achievement focus
• People management and mentoring capability
• Presentation and executive communication skills

Experience, Knowledge & Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Civil or similar). 
• Professional registration (Pr Eng or equivalent) strongly preferred. 
• 15+ years’ experience in power generation engineering, with demonstrable exposure across development, construction, and operations. 
• Significant experience in renewable energy projects (wind, solar, BESS, hydro), with exposure to thermal generation advantageous. 
• Proven leadership in senior engineering roles within IPPs, utilities, EPC contractors, or engineering consultancies. 
• Extensive experience working on projects in Africa, preferably Southern and/or Eastern Africa, including greenfield and complex execution environments. 
• Strong track record supporting project finance, lender due diligence, and investment decision‑making.
• Deep understanding of EPC contracting models (FIDIC and similar), OEM frameworks, and owner’s engineering responsibilities.