Job Advert Summary

The Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank) is South Africa’s only specialist agricultural bank established in 1912, the bank’s sole objective is to serve South African commercial and emerging farmers and bring specially designed financial services within their reach. These services enable farmers to finance land, equipment, improve assets and obtain production credit. The Land Bank provides financial services that have moved with the times and continues to provide services to agri-business and constantly reviews its offerings to ensure that they match the needs of an industry. As change has swept across the sector in South Africa the socio-economic makeup of agriculture has altered, bringing new entrants from historically disadvantaged backgrounds on to the land, these new farmers, facing the challenges of establishing sustainable agri-businesses across the agricultural value chain, Land Bank has been a commercial lifeline offering appropriately designed financial products that facilitate personal and commercial viability in a sector that is vital to the sustainability of South Africa and its people.
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB
To develop and review renewable energy governance documents and due diligence assessment tools for efficient implementation in the credit value chain of the bank.
To oversee the environmental review and compliance for renewable energy projects, ensuring their technical and financial viability while aligning the bank's profitability with sustainability goals and determining the relevant compliance requirements are included in the terms and conditions for the funding.
To monitor and report how the bank’s funding contributes to the Energy Sector Decarbonisation Pathways for net-zero carbon of the country. Furthermore, track pre and post-disbursement conditions on funded projects in consultation with Banking and Risk Management.

Key Performance Areas

1. Develops and Reviews Renewable Energy Framework, Policy and Procedures

• Develops and reviews renewable energy framework, policy, procedures and tools used for the assessment of transaction proposals.
• Standardize the process for evaluating the technical, financial, and environmental aspects of renewable energy projects.
• Develops and reviews the checklist to ensure projects meet all regulatory and permitting requirements.
• Establishes procedures for ongoing monitoring and reporting of ESG performance.
• Conducts training sessions for relevant staff to ensure they understand and can effectively apply the new frameworks, policies, and procedures.

2. Evaluation and Analysis of Renewable Energy Solutions for Funding

• Evaluates the technical feasibility of renewable energy projects, including the design, technology, and engineering aspects.
• Works with engineers and technical experts to understand project specifications and potential issues.
• Analyzes project budgets, cost estimates, and revenue projections.
• Determines the optimal capital structure and funding sources for each project.
• Assesses the financial viability through detailed cash flow analysis, return on investment (ROI), and internal rate of return (IRR) calculations.
• Uses financial models to support investment decisions and present findings to the banking team and credit committees.

3. Stakeholder Relationship Management

• Builds and maintains relationships with key stakeholders, including project developers, investors, government agencies, and industry experts.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for clients and provides ongoing support throughout the project lifecycle.
• Offers expert advice to internal teams on project structuring, financing options, and market trends.
• Guides clients/internal teams in navigating regulatory and permitting processes where required.
• Collaborates with internal teams such as credit, risk, compliance, and legal to ensure smooth project execution and adherence to internal policies.

4. Sustainability and ESG Integration

• Promotes and implements sustainable finance practices within the organization.
• Ensures projects comply with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria.
• Measures and reports on the environmental and social impact of renewable energy investments.
• Provides regular updates to stakeholders on the performance and impact of the renewable energy portfolio.
• Advocates for policies and regulations that support renewable energy development and financing.

5. Market Research and Strategy

• Monitors industry trends, technological advancements, and policy changes in the renewable energy sector.
• Conducts market research to identify emerging opportunities and threats.
• Identifies and evaluates new investment opportunities in renewable energy.
• Stays informed about new technologies and business models that could impact the sector.
• Develops and implements strategies to expand the bank’s presence in the renewable energy market.

Preferred Minimum Education and Experience

• Postgraduate level degree in science, engineering, finance, economics, environmental science or equivalent areas.
• Experience in the renewable energy sector - 5 years.
• Experience in at least two of the following areas: energy efficiency, energy sector economics, energy sector policy and regulation, energy and climate policy, renewable energy, transmission and distribution infrastructure, utility financial analysis and/or utility reform, and power pools - 5 years.

Critical Competencies

• Relevant product knowledge
• Renewable energy technologies and markets
• Financial modeling
• Regulatory frameworks
• Incentives for renewable energy
• Microsoft Excel
• Business writing skills
• Client Service Management
• Microsoft Powerpoint
• Business Acumen
• Principles of project management
• Risk Management Processes and Frameworks
• Financial Accounting Principles
• Research skills

Additional Requirements

• Extended hours as and when required.
• Travel as and when required.