Utility Engagement Specialist (Energy Applications)

We’re looking for a Utility Engagement Specialist to manage utility relationships, and the submission and follow-up of grid-related applications with municipalities and utility providers. This field-based role is critical to ensuring project progress and compliance and will suit someone with integrity, initiative, and experience in navigating municipal processes. 

Position of the job in the organisation: the  Utility Engagement Specialist will report directly to The Grid Engineer  

Principal responsibilities: 

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders, including municipal officials, Eskom representatives, and other regulatory bodies. 

• Build credibility and trust through consistent, transparent, and professional engagement. 

• Navigate bureaucratic and political environments with tact, patience, and persistence to ensure project approvals and alignment. 

• Act as the bridge between technical teams and external stakeholders, ensuring collaboration and shared understanding 

• Submit and track all energy applications (including Use of System Agreements, Small-Scale Embedded Generation, Embedded Generation, and Grid Connection) in person and online with relevant municipal or utility departments. 

• Liaise directly and regularly with municipalities, utility representatives, and local government officials to build trust and ensure application processes are transparent and on track. 

• Track and update application statuses on Monday.com project boards to ensure internal teams have up-to-date visibility on all submissions. 

• Maintain and organise all related documentation (application forms, correspondence, approvals, permits) on SharePoint for easy access and audit-readiness. 

• Schedule meetings, inspections, or networking sessions with municipal and utility stakeholders to facilitate better communication and faster approvals. 

• Identify delays, risks, and recurring issues in specific municipalities, documenting patterns and escalating critical items to the Grid Engineer or senior leadership. 

• Support internal reporting by compiling progress updates, flagging risks, and recommending corrective actions based on field observations. 

• Represent the organisation in a professional and dependable manner when interacting with public officials and external stakeholders. 

• Stay informed on municipal processes, updates, or policy changes that may impact project timelines or application requirements. 

• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, project development, and compliance teams to align external application processes with internal project timelines. 

• Assist in designing and maintaining a municipal engagement database for knowledge continuity and future project efficiency. 

• Offer support and guidance to the Grid Engineer, particularly in areas related to internal systems, tracking, or field communication gaps. 

• Contribute to internal process improvements, suggesting better ways to standardise and speed up municipal and utility engagement.  

• Any other job duties associated with this role  

PERSON DESCRIPTION 

Experience: 

• 1–3 years of experience coordinating with electricity utilities, especially for solar or renewable energy projects 3+ years of proven experience in a municipal-facing or energy applications role 

• Proven track record engaging with South African municipalities, Eskom or other government/regulatory stakeholders. 

• Demonstrated success navigating complex approval processes, compliance requirements, and bureaucratic systems. 

• Hands-on experience with project registration, grid interconnection applications, and net metering processes 

• Familiarity with UoSA processes or similar application types 

• Valid driver's license and willing to travel 

Specific attributes: 

• Strong interpersonal skills: empathetic listener, persuasive communicator, patient negotiator. 

• Ability to handle pushback, conflicting requirements without losing momentum.  

• Excellent communication skills for continuous follow-ups with utility personnel and internal teams 

• Comfortable working independently and remotely 

Desirable attributes: 

• Prior Utility Engagement Specialist or similar role or grid permit experience 

• Political and cultural awareness: able to adapt style for different municipalities and stakeholders. 

• Exposure to project development in the energy sector 

• Ability to interpret technical drawings and grid connection layouts is an advantage 

What Does Success Look Like? 

By Month 3: 
I will have: 

• Built solid working relationships with at least 5 key municipal and utility contacts. 

• Shadowed the Grid Engineer in stakeholder interactions and internal reporting. 

• Familiarised myself with municipality-specific application requirements and submission processes. 

By Month 6: 
I will be: 

• Independently managing the full lifecycle of multiple application submissions from start to resolution. 

• Updating and maintaining SharePoint and Monday.com trackers with 100% accuracy. 

• Routinely following up with municipalities and escalating unresolved delays to the Grid Engineer. 

• Flagging trends or bottlenecks within specific municipalities and offering potential mitigation strategies. 

• Supporting weekly or monthly reporting on progress, risks, and turnaround performance. 

• Proactively scheduling meetings with external stakeholders to keep timelines on track. 

By Month 12: 
I can: 

• Confidently represent the company in external stakeholder meetings and municipal workshops. 

• Anticipate application risks early and implement process improvements to avoid delays. 

• Deliver clear reports that summarise municipal trends, turnaround times, and systemic inefficiencies. 

• Train or onboard new Utility Engagement Specialist or junior support staff in the organisation’s processes. 

• Lead efforts to standardise municipal engagement strategies across the business. 

• Serve as a trusted field advisor to the Grid Engineer and broader Engineering or Project Delivery teams. 

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.