Virtual Sales Executive

The Virtual Sales Executive will be responsible for identifying, developing, and closing sales opportunities related to Virtual power solutions for commercial and industrial (C&I) clients. The role requires a strong understanding of the South African electricity market, wheeling frameworks, and energy trading models.

Position of the job in the organisation: The successful candidate will report to the Head of Sales.

Principal responsibilities:

• Identify and develop a robust pipeline of new business opportunities for wheeling and large-scale energy supply agreements.


• Engage with key stakeholders, including corporate clients, municipalities, Eskom, and regulatory bodies.


• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and potential customers to promote SolarAfrica Energy’s Utility.


• Develop tailored proposals and presentations based on client energy needs and financial objectives.


• Negotiate and close complex energy supply agreements, ensuring profitability and long-term partnership value.


• Collaborate closely with technical, legal, and finance teams to ensure feasibility and compliance of proposed solutions.


• Monitor market trends, policy updates, and competitor activity to identify opportunities and inform strategy.


• Represent SolarAfrica Energy at industry events, conferences, and client meetings.


• Provide regular sales forecasts, reports, and pipeline updates to senior management.


• Support solution design and structuring for virtual PPA, aggregation, or energy trading propositions in alignment with regulatory limits and customer demand patterns


• Any other job duties associated with this role 

PERSON DESCRIPTION

Experience:

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in energy sales, renewable energy, or related infrastructure sectors.


• Proven track record of closing high-value deals in the energy sector (wheeling or PPA sales experience highly advantageous).


• Strong understanding of South Africa’s energy market, regulatory environment, and grid wheeling mechanisms.


• Proficient in MS PowerPoint, MS Word, Excel, and Microsoft Projects – software literate.


• Valid driver's license and willing to travel.

Specific attributes:

• Deep understanding of the South African electricity market, including Eskom and municipal frameworks.


• Knowledge of ERP/CRM/Software, ideally HubSpot Sales or Salesforce.


• Ability to use Google Maps effectively. 


• Strong commercial and financial acumen with the ability to build and interpret business cases.


• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.


• Highly driven, self-motivated, and results oriented.


• Ability to build and interpret financial models for virtual energy products, including cost of supply, margin, and risk pricing.

Desirable attributes:

• Experience working in wheeling or energy trading projects.


• Technical knowledge of renewable energy systems (solar PV, battery storage, grid integration).


• Understanding of market mechanisms underpinning aggregation and trading, including bilateral wheeling, balancing markets, and energy scheduling


• Experience or familiarity with virtual power platform tools, energy scheduling systems, or trading dashboards is advantageous

What Success Looks Like?

By 3 Months

• I will have a solid understanding of SolarAfrica’s wheeling products, regulatory frameworks, internal processes, and commercial offering.


• I will be able to clearly articulate the value proposition of wheeling to clients and stakeholders.


• I can identify and qualify key prospects across the commercial and industrial (C&I) sectors.


• I will have built initial relationships with potential customers, municipalities, and Eskom contacts.


• I can confidently navigate internal systems and work collaboratively with technical and legal teams.

By 6 Months

• I will be actively managing a qualified pipeline of wheeling opportunities at various stages of the sales cycle.


• I can present tailored proposals that meet client-specific needs and regulatory requirements.


• I will have advanced at least one high-value opportunity to the final negotiation or contracting phase.


• I will be able to identify and mitigate key risks in proposed deals, with support from internal teams.


• I will be viewed as a reliable commercial partner by both clients and internal stakeholders.

By 12 Months

• I will have closed multiple signed wheeling agreements that contribute significantly to sales targets.


• I will be able to demonstrate measurable growth in SolarAfrica’s wheeling market share.


• I can leverage market intelligence and client feedback to refine sales strategies and solution offerings.


• I will be known in the industry as a go-to contact for corporate Utility.


• I will be helping shape SolarAfrica’s long-term wheeling roadmap through market feedback and strategic insight.

Core Values:

We hire, reward, and recognise our team against these values. It is imperative that you believe in these values and demonstrate them consistently.

• We are passionate and proud of what we do.


• We communicate candidly, especially when it is difficult.


• We take the initiative, share our mistakes, and grow together.


• We are dependable and take accountability.


• No one person is bigger than the solution - no egos.