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.