Contract Manager

Who We Are:

Gransolar Group is an innovative leader in solar photovoltaic energy and battery storage systems. With over 20 years of industry expertise, we operate globally across the renewable energy value chain. From development and construction to designing, tracker manufacturing, and operations & maintenance (O&M), our projects power a cleaner, greener future.

At Gransolar Group, we are guided by our values and ethical principles. We foster positive community impact while providing our team with opportunities for professional growth, encouraging every employee to feel like an integral part of our journey towards sustainability.

The Role:

We are looginf for a Contract Manager to ensure and resolve difficulties that may arise in the management and administration of major contracts.

Main Functions

1.           General

•             Providing contractual expertise during the pre-contract, and project delivery stages across all business units.

•             Provide commercial and legal input into the Bid Strategies.

•             Ensure tenders, quotations and contracts include contract terms and conditions which suitably protect GRS interests and are in accordance with GRS’s policies, procedures and guidelines.

•             Provide direction on co-ordination & review of legal position and compliance matters.

•             Providing guidance on Rights and Obligations.

•             Provide lead guidance & coordination of the negotiation and finalization of Contract terms and conditions, consistent with bid risk profile. 

•             Completion of regular audit of contract compliance / risk controls, review of risk profile of major Contracts.

•             Effectively resolving Contractual disputes.

2.           Once assigned to a specific project, your duties will include:

EPC Contracts

•             To manage and co-ordinate EPC Contract and all related contracts, licenses, permits etc from start to finish in such a manner to protect GRS interests.

•             To prepare a comprehensive list of EPC Contract obligations with details of such obligations, deadline, etc.; and to manage and monitor the fulfilment of such obligations.

•             To assist in the preparation of first drafts of the (i) subcontracts for services with local subcontractors, (ii) supply contracts for the equipment of the Plant (both equipment to be purchased within South Africa, and outside South Africa), in back-to-back conditions with respect to the EPC Contract.

•             To assist the procurement team with the negotiation (including meetings with the counterparties, etc.) and closing of such contracts.

•             To assist the Project Director with the general management of the Project, and the Project Team in all issues regarding the achievement of NTP (including all CPs) and day-to-day management of the project.

•             To assist the Project Director in the study and analysis of the daily issues that may arise in the execution of the Project: insurance, subcontractors, client’s requests, correspondence to be issued by the EPC Contractor.

•             To assist the Project Director in the preparation and regular update of a comprehensive risk matrix of the EPC Contract and main subcontracts, identifying main risks of the Project. This risk matrix should be elaborated with input received by all members of the Project Team so that it may be a complete risk matrix.

•             Analysis of applicable law to the EPC Contract and of the EPC Contract itself and liaison with local Lawyers, when necessary, with a view to:

i.             Identify any issues of a legal nature that may affect GRS or any of its related entities that may arise in the execution of a Project.

ii.           Assist in the management of variations orders, claims, etc. that may arise in the execution of the Project, including briefing external legal advisors where legal opinion is required.

iii.          Surveillance over the adherence of the EPC contractual obligations to all subcontracts and suppliers. Establishing action protocols.

iv.           Follow-up and request of contractual documentation from suppliers where appropriate.

v.            Monitoring of financing instruments (bonds, guarantees, etc.) and insurance under the EPC Contracts and subcontracts.

•             Provide oversight and assistance to the Project team for the accomplishment of the contract conditions for quality, work schedule, and budgets.

•             Observance of contractual Governing Law, local law requirements in terms of HSE and local content and permitting.

•             Change orders and claims management process and procedure: assessment of the potential and effective modifications to the EPC scope and requirements in close coordination and team working with the Project Team (Engineering, Purchasing, Construction, Project Control, HSE, Quality etc.); drafting all correspondence to the Client related to potential change orders, change orders and claims; preparation of notification of changes to the Client and coordination of the impacts (time & cost) evaluation executed by the Project Team; management of Change Orders with Client and or Subcontractors; preparation of claims’ dossiers: contract analysis for entitlement, impact assessment, support documents, etc

•             Surveillance and support to claims under judicial or arbitration proceedings, assisting the appointed legal counsels.

•             Assist in meetings with the Client.

•             Planning and design of the contractual management strategy together with the Project Director.

•             Report to the Project Director and participate and attend the Legal Committee’ meetings, delivering reports in advance identifying main issues with respect to the execution of the Project.

•             Surveillance over the requirements for the finalization of the Contract (required information for the Final Acceptance and the Final Certificate, follow-up of final payments, release of bonds and guarantees, etc) with respect to the Client and subcontractors or suppliers.

•             Managing the finishing and the economic settlement of the contract (“close-out”).

       O&M Contracts

•             Develop contractual obligations matrix and monitor contractual obligations:  drafting, execution, communication, close-outs/extensions/renewals.

•             Identify critical performance areas and enforce.

•             Manage remedial intervention and subsequent breach if applicable.

•             Review policy and process where applicable ensuring conformance to applicable legislation and best practice.

•             Assist with drafting HR and LR formal communications for each GRS Business unit in South Africa.

•             Develop & Maintain Annual Plan for contracts management across various units.

Skills & Experience Required:

•             Economics, Business Administration, Law or Engineering degree.

•             Advanced English C1 level.

•             2 - 3 years of experience performing similar functions.  Preference to be given to candidates with experience and proven track record in the renewable energy space.

•             Legal & Contracts, EPC Project Director and Construction Manager, Business Development, Operational Heads etc. departments.

•             Knowledge of Contracts.

•             Understanding of operational and financial risks.

•             Knowledge of Purchasing and Manufacturing.