Team Leader - South Africa's Just Energy Transition (JET) (m/w/d)

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a state owned organisation. We work worldwide in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. GIZ International Services (InS) is an integral division of GIZ. We offer the experience, the regional and technical know-how of GIZ in the global market and provide international clients with expertise in terms of economic and result-oriented services.

GIZ International Services is preparing for the EU-funded tender: „Technical Assistance Facility – Support to South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET South Africa)". The Overall Objective (Impact) of this Action is to promote a just and sustainable energy transition in South Africa.

The Specific Objectives (SO) of this action are to:

1. Improve policy and regulatory framework for a just energy transition.

2. Enhance the effectiveness of the TVET system in matching skills to just energy transition, with a particular focus on those most affected by the transition.

3. Enhance the effectiveness of financing instruments for the creation, transition, upscaling and development of SMMEs active in green economy value chains or willing to invest in low carbon production processes.

The Team Leader will oversee and coordinate all aspects of the Technical Assistance Facility, providing strategic direction and ensuring the effective delivery of capacity-building, regulatory, and policy-support activities that advance South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET). 

Required criteria: 

Qualifications and Skills:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent professional qualification with at least 10 years’ relevant experience) in Public Administration, Development Studies (planning or finance), International Relations, Environmental Policy, or related disciplines.
• Proven coordination skills, with demonstrated capacity to manage multidisciplinary teams working across climate change, social policy, and economic transformation.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders from diverse sectors and backgrounds.

General Professional Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years’ professional experience in Public Administration, Development Planning, Development Finance, or related fields (preferably 10 years).
• Track record of managing complex, technical assistance focused, multi-stakeholder projects in middle-income or developing countries.

Specific Professional Experience:

• Proven experience working with institutions such as think tanks, academia, NGOs, businesses, government bodies, and media on climate, energy transition, or sustainable development initiatives.
• Expertise in institutional capacity-building for government departments, particularly in policy, planning, and implementation of low-carbon transition strategies.
• Demonstrated experience in integrating social equity considerations into large-scale economic or environmental programmes, including reskilling, job creation, and community engagement.
• Experience managing EU-funded projects, with knowledge of EU sectoral policies, external cooperation instruments, and climate-related financing mechanisms.
• Experience in regions undergoing coal phase-out or significant structural economic change.

Desirable criteria: 

• Familiarity with the South African governance and policy context, particularly in climate and energy sectors, is highly desirable.

• Understanding of financing models and investment frameworks for renewable energy, green industries, and just transition-related infrastructure is an asset.

This job is suited to a full or a part-time position.

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Your professional and personal development is important to us. At GIZ, you will be offered global work opportunities and an atmosphere that is characterised by diversity, respect and genuine equal opportunities. Gender equality promotion is a matter of course for us. Our benefits are also impressive in terms of work-life balance and family friendliness. Flexible working hours that fit your life situation, comprehensive onboarding and internal health management are an integral part of our corporate culture, along with the opportunity to use childcare facilities and parent/child offices.

GIZ is a signatory of the Diversity Charter. Recognition, appreciation and inclusion of diversity in the company are important to us. All employees shall be valued - regardless of gender and gender identity, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, social background, age or sexual orientation.

We support equal opportunities and welcome applications from people with disabilities.