Key Expert: Project Management (m/f/d)

Job Posting Organization:
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a state-owned organization that operates globally in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. Established to support sustainable development initiatives, GIZ has a significant presence in various countries, providing expertise and services to international clients. GIZ International Services (InS) is a key division that leverages the organization's extensive experience and regional know-how to offer economic and result-oriented services. The organization is currently preparing for the EU-funded tender titled 'Technical Assistance Facility – Support to South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET South Africa)', which aims to facilitate the successful implementation of the Just Energy Transition in South Africa. GIZ's mission includes improving policy and regulatory frameworks, strengthening institutional capacities, and promoting investments in the energy transition sector.

Job Overview:
The Key Expert in Project Management will play a crucial role in providing high-level technical advice and analysis on the regulatory, legal, and financial frameworks necessary for implementing South Africa’s Just Energy Transition. This position requires collaboration with government counterparts to align legislation and policy instruments with the objectives of the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP) and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). The expert will be responsible for developing and reviewing financing models, investment plans, and de-risking mechanisms that encourage public and private sector participation in energy transition initiatives. Additionally, the role involves identifying regulatory and legal barriers to implementation and proposing actionable reforms. The Key Expert will also contribute to capacity building within public institutions regarding energy regulation, green finance, and institutional governance, ensuring an integrated approach to legal and financial advice across sectors. Stakeholder engagement with ministries, regulators, development finance institutions (DFIs), and the private sector will also be a key aspect of this role.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Key Expert will be tasked with the following duties and responsibilities:

• Provide high-level technical advice and analysis on regulatory, legal, and financial frameworks necessary for the implementation of South Africa’s Just Energy Transition.
• Support government counterparts in aligning legislation and policy instruments with JET-IP and JETP objectives, including necessary regulatory reforms and enabling frameworks.
• Develop and review financing models, investment plans, and de-risking mechanisms that facilitate public and private sector participation in energy transition initiatives.
• Identify regulatory and legal barriers to implementation and propose actionable policy and legal reforms to overcome these challenges.
• Contribute to the capacity building of public institutions on energy regulation, green finance, and institutional governance.
• Collaborate closely with other Key Experts to ensure an integrated, cross-sectoral approach to legal and financial advice under the Technical Assistance Facility.
• Support stakeholder engagement processes, particularly with ministries, regulators, DFIs, and the private sector to foster collaboration and alignment on energy transition initiatives.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires the following qualifications and skills:

• A Master’s degree in law, public policy, energy economics, finance, or a relevant field. A Bachelor’s degree combined with an additional 3 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree.
• Strong analytical skills with a demonstrated capacity to interpret complex legal, regulatory, and financial frameworks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; knowledge of local regulatory and legal terminology in South Africa is considered an asset.
• A minimum of 6 years of professional experience in the energy, legal, regulatory, or public finance sectors.
• At least 3 years of experience working on legal or regulatory reform, energy sector governance, or infrastructure/energy finance.
• Experience with donor-funded technical assistance projects or policy advisory roles at national or regional levels is essential.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess at least a Master’s degree in law, public policy, energy economics, finance, or a relevant field. Alternatively, a Bachelor’s degree along with an additional 3 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of energy regulation and policy development.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 6 years of professional experience in the energy, legal, regulatory, or public finance sectors. Candidates should have at least 3 years of experience specifically focused on legal or regulatory reform, energy sector governance, or infrastructure/energy finance. Additionally, experience with donor-funded technical assistance projects or policy advisory roles at national or regional levels is highly valued.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, with excellent written and verbal communication skills required. Knowledge of local regulatory and legal terminology in South Africa is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to navigate the local context effectively.

Additional Notes:
This position is suited for full-time employment and is allocated to band

• The assignment period is from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031, spanning a total of 60 months. It is important to note that applications can only be accepted and processed through the E-recruiting system. Candidates are advised to check their spam or junk mail folders regularly after submitting their applications, as emails from the recruiting system may be classified as spam by some email providers.