Senior Procurement Specialist at NOA · Cape Town

About NOA:

Established in 2022, NOA is a leading renewable energy independent power producer (IPP) and energy trader, licensed by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa. We empower commercial and industrial companies to reach their net-zero goals while securing long-term energy savings. Backed by R3.9 billion in equity capital from Old Mutual’s African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), we currently have 600 MW of owned generation capacity under construction, and another 300 MW of capacity under construction by IPPs where we are the off takers.

At NOA, we believe that energy is life; it is the pulse that powers our industries, empowers our communities, and builds our societies. We are currently at a unique, once-in-a-generation moment in South African history, similar to the birth of the gold industry or the mobile revolution. It is a mission-critical time, and we have the right partners and expertise to shape the creation of an entirely new energy landscape.

What truly sets us apart is The NOA Way—our intentionally crafted culture and roadmap for excellence. We aren't just a utility; we are a tight, high-functioning team of "all-in" problem solvers who lean into complexity to find original solutions. We speak simply, act big, and step forward to own the changes our nation needs.

Our impact is immense: we are here to solve the immediate energy crisis, fuel the growth of the South African economy, and create a global blueprint for a decarbonised future. We are building a phenomenal team to do something magnificent together, and we make sure to savour the journey along the way.

Role Purpose:

Lead and execute EPC and equipment procurement across NOA’s portfolio of utility-scale renewable energy projects – Solar PV, Battery Energy Storage (BESS), Wind and Grid infrastructure – with immediate ownership of live tender processes and NOA’s cost leadership initiative.

The Senior Procurement Specialist will drive NOA’s cost reduction agenda together with the Head of Procurement, developing and maintaining an EPC cost benchmark database across all technologies and reporting on cost leadership initiatives at Exco level. The aim is to ensure value for money, cost-competitive projects and compliance with policies and regulations.

The role carries end-to-end responsibility for live procurement processes, including the technical and commercial evaluation of contractor proposals, ownership of the clarifications and addenda process, support of EPC contract negotiations through to signature, and leadership of upcoming contractor procurement processes. It further includes supplier engagement on major equipment (modules, inverters and grid equipment) and the assessment and management of NOA’s free-issue equipment strategy.

This is a senior, delivery-focused role requiring strong interpersonal skills and the ability to lead, coordinate and manage internal stakeholders across Engineering, Construction, Legal, Finance, Sustainability and Operations and Maintenance, ensuring procurement outcomes are well governed, auditable and aligned with project financial models and timelines. Availability to travel is a key requirement of the role.

This position reports directly to the Head of Procurement.

Key accountabilities

Cost Leadership

• Lead NOA’s cost reduction initiative in partnership with the Head of Procurement. This involves coordination with various stakeholders on tariff reduction activities and modelling.
• Develop, maintain and continuously update an EPC cost benchmark database across Solar PV, BESS, Wind and Grid technologies
• Identify, quantify and track cost reduction opportunities across the project portfolio, translating benchmark insights into negotiation strategies and target pricing for live tenders
• Prepare and present cost leadership progress, insights and recommendations at Exco level

Equipment Procurement and BESS RFP

• Lead supplier engagements on major equipment, including PV modules, inverters and grid equipment
• Assess, recommend and manage NOA’s free-issue equipment strategy (owner-supplied versus EPC-supplied equipment)
• Present risk vs reward at an Exco level to the business together with the Head of Procurement
• Monitor equipment market and supply chain trends (pricing, lead times and logistics) and advise on procurement timing and strategy
• Lead the Commercial and Contracting Strategy of Key Equipment and BESS Procurement
• Plan and manage the end-to-end procurement programme – RFP release, clarifications, evaluation, negotiation and award
• Ensure alignment of the procurement programme with the project schedule and financial close requirements
• Lead the RFP Evaluation on the technical and commercial side, with support from various stakeholders
• Own the contractor query log end-to-end across all live RFP processes
• Manage the preparation, review and issue of addenda and technical clarification responses in conjunction with engineering
• Ensure clarifications are handled consistently and fairly, within tender timelines, with a complete audit trail maintained
• Work closely with the project engineering team to ensure technical adjudication is complete
• Prepare commercial comparisons, evaluation reports and shortlist recommendations for governance approval

Financial Model Inputs

• Provide accurate, current and defensible cost data and procurement assumptions to project financial models
• Work closely with the project finance and technical team to ensure procurement inputs are benchmarked and support bid-stage and investment decisions
• Support sensitivity analyses and pricing decisions with market intelligence

Contract Negotiations

• Support the contract negotiations through to contract signature,
• Coordinate inputs from Legal, Engineering, Construction and Finance during negotiations
• Track, manage and close out open commercial and technical items, maintaining negotiation registers and records of agreed positions

Stakeholder Leadership and Reporting

• Lead and manage internal stakeholders across Engineering, Construction, Legal, Finance, Sustainability and O&M throughout all procurement processes
• Report at Exco level on cost leadership initiatives and on procurement progress, risks and recommendations
• Provide weekly progress reporting to relevant stakeholders
• Communicate risk with the project stakeholders at its earliest stage to enable the project team to manage the risk effectively before the impact and probability of the risk escalates

Handover and Continuity

• Create and maintain a complete, well-organised repository for all procurement records, correspondence and evaluation documentation
• Plan and execute a structured handover and integration with the returning EPC Procurement Manager (October 2026), ensuring full continuity across all live processes
• Document lessons learnt throughout all procurement processes and share these across the business

Role requirements

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field
• Postgraduate qualification (e.g. MBA) or professional certification (e.g. CIPS) will be advantageous

Experience:

• 8 – 10 years’ experience in procurement, contracts or commercial roles within the power generation industry, preferably renewable energy (Solar PV, BESS, Wind and Grid)
• Demonstrated experience leading utility-scale EPC tender processes from RFP through to contract signature, including commercial evaluation and negotiation
• Experience engaging major equipment suppliers (modules, inverters and grid equipment) and supporting project-financed (IPP) transactions
• Proven experience preparing and presenting reports at executive / Exco level

Who we are looking for

Behavioural competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Proven ability to lead, coordinate and manage internal stakeholders across functions and at all levels of seniority
• Confident communicator, able to prepare and deliver Exco-level reporting and presentations with clarity and credibility
• Strong written and verbal communication, consultation and negotiation skills
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent tenders and prioritise tasks effectively under time pressure
• Methodical and analytical, with strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail
• Decisive, accountable and delivery-focused, with sound commercial judgement
• Flexible, with a positive attitude and the ability to work well as part of a team
• Availability to travel is a key requirement of this role – regular travel locally, internationally, and between the Johannesburg and Cape Town offices

Technical & functional competencies:

• Strong knowledge of EPC contracting models and contract forms (e.g. FIDIC) and of procurement requirements for project-financed IPPs
• Cost benchmarking, estimating and commercial analysis skills, with the ability to build and maintain cost databases
• Sound understanding of Solar PV, BESS, Wind and Grid technologies and the associated equipment supply chains
• Understanding of project financial models and how procurement inputs influence tariffs and returns
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and in procurement / project management software tools
• Legislation, Policies, Procedures and Standards

Why join NOA?

A Once-in-a-Career Mission:

Joining NOA is an invitation to be part of a growing team at the very forefront of the South African renewable energy industry. We are a dynamic, mission-driven organisation with strong financial backing and a deep commitment to unlocking a just energy transition for our nation. This is a unique moment in history—a chance to shape a new industry from its inception.

The NOA Way: Culture by Design

We don't leave our culture to chance; we have intentionally crafted a roadmap called The NOA Way to ensure our business is a remarkable place that houses your highest aspirations. We are "all-in" problem solvers who think big and move with speed to make a significant impact. We value "Performance Connections," the belief that through genuine collaboration, we can achieve results far greater than the sum of our individual parts.

Investment in Your Evolution:

We provide a world-class environment designed to help you thrive in a demanding sector:

• The Powerkit: Every new team member participates in a day-long offsite "experience" in Cape Town to master the skills needed to excel within the NOA system.
• Continuous Growth: You will benefit from a constant feedback loop through our "RAP" (Review, Analyse, Plan) cadence, alongside coaching resources and "lunch and learns" to own your career path.
• Supportive Wellbeing: We promote true work-life integration with flexible hours, hybrid work-from-home options, and wellness initiatives specifically designed to "refuel your tank".

Competitive Reward & Equity:

We recognise and reward exceptional performance with a framework that allows you to participate in our collective success:

• Market-Leading Compensation: We offer a competitive salary tailored to your experience level.
• Incentives for Impact: You will be eligible for a performance-related short-term incentive (STI) bonus.
• Ownership Culture: We offer meaningful equity investment exposure through our staff share scheme, ensuring you are truly invested in the future we are building.