Commercial Manager - Power/Energy Trade

Key Accountabilities

• Identify, originate, and develop power trading opportunities with independent power producers (IPPs), utilities, mining companies, industrial customers, and other eligible market participants.
• Identify opportunities to expand the company's trading portfolio, customer base, generation partnerships, and geographical footprint in existing and emerging electricity markets.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with utilities, IPPs, mining companies, industrial customers, project developers, financiers, and other key market participants to secure new business and strengthen existing commercial partnerships.
• Monitor developments in regional power markets, including the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), to identify cross-border trading opportunities, optimize power flows, and expand the company's regional market presence.
• Represent the company in industry engagements, negotiations, conferences, and stakeholder meetings to strengthen its market presence and develop strategic commercial relationships.
• Support the identification, evaluation, structuring, and commercial development of power generation projects, including renewable energy, thermal, and other viable generation technologies.
• Develop and implement regional power trading strategies to maximize profitability, optimize trading positions, and achieve commercial performance targets across local and regional electricity markets.
• Negotiate and manage power purchase agreements (PPAs), electricity supply agreements, and related commercial arrangements to secure competitive pricing, reliable supply, and sustainable trading margins.
• Lead commercial negotiations and oversee the execution, performance, renewal, and termination of PPAs, PSAs wheeling agreements, and other relevant commercial contracts.
• Develop commercially viable power supply and trading structures, incorporating generation costs, transmission and wheeling charges, market fees, contractual obligations, and other relevant cost components.
• Undertake commercial assessments, feasibility reviews, financial modelling, and due diligence for prospective generation assets, power supply arrangements, and strategic infrastructure investments.
• Conduct market research and analyze electricity demand, supply availability, generation costs, market prices, regulatory developments, and competitive dynamics to inform trading and investment decisions.
• Monitor revenue, trading margins, costs, profitability, and overall commercial performance across power trading, electricity supply, and generation-related activities, implementing measures to improve returns.
• Monitor power trading positions, contractual obligations, price exposure, counterparty risk, and portfolio performance in collaboration with risk management, finance, and operations teams.
• Work closely with regulatory and legal teams to ensure compliance with applicable electricity market regulations, trading licenses, power market rules, contractual requirements, and cross-border trading frameworks across all PPAs and PSAs.
• Undertake any other relevant duties consistent with the position and the company's strategic objectives.

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Engineering, Energy Management, Supply Chain Management, or a related discipline.
• A postgraduate qualification or relevant professional certification in energy markets, finance, project development, or commercial management will be an advantage.
• Minimum of 10 years' relevant professional experience in commodity trading, energy trading, power markets, commercial management, or a related field, preferably within an international trading house, utility, energy company, or brokerage.
• Demonstrated experience in electricity trading, power procurement, IPP negotiations, PPAs, or electricity supply agreements.
• Experience supporting or managing power generation development projects, including commercial structuring, project evaluation, or investment assessments, is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of electricity market structures, regional power trading, transmission and wheeling arrangements, and relevant regulatory frameworks.
• Knowledge of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) and cross-border electricity trading will be an advantage.
• Proven experience in commercial negotiations, contract management, portfolio optimization, and financial performance management.
• Understanding power generation technologies, project economics, and the commercial drivers of generation investments.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong commercial acumen, strategic thinking, and a results-oriented approach.
• Exceptional analytical, financial modelling, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to structure commercially viable power trading and supply arrangements.
• Strong negotiation, stakeholder management, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to assess market opportunities, commercial risks, and investment returns.
• Sound understanding of pricing mechanisms, trading margins, counterparty exposure, and contractual risk.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple commercial initiatives across different markets and jurisdictions.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to coordinate cross-functional teams.
• High levels of integrity, accountability, initiative, and professional judgement.
• Ability to operate effectively in a dynamic, international energy trading environment.