Programme Manager-Mpumalanga Jobs and Energy Transition (MJET): (JET PMU)

12 Month Full time, Fixed-term Contract role

South Africa - Office in Rosebank, Johannesburg

• Background
• The African Climate Foundation (ACF) is the first and only African-led climate change re-granting organisation on the continent. Through a combination of grant making, fellowships, transformational research, technical assistance, coalition building and advocacy the ACF seeks to support interventions at the nexus of climate change, and development that have the greatest potential to deliver long-term socio-economic transformation and inclusive development.

The Just Energy Transition Project Management Office (JET PMU)

The JET PMU operates as a high-impact delivery unit, driving the Just Energy Transition (JET) through strategic coordination, agile execution, and results-driven implementation. Focused on accelerating project pipelines, mobilising resources, problem solving and fostering collaboration, the PMU bridges policy and action.

About the ACT Programme

The Accelerating Coal Transition (ACT) Programme is a flagship of the JET Investment Plan (2023–2027) and of South Africa's international partnerships supporting the Just Energy Transition. It is a multi-phase, multi-programme initiative valued at USD 2.9 billion, designed to responsibly manage the retirement of five coal-fired power stations in Mpumalanga — Camden, Grootvlei, Hendrina, Arnot, and Kriel — by 2030, in line with government's Integrated Resource Plan 2025.

The programme invests in renewable energy repowering projects at each site, the repurposing of facilities, and the development of economic opportunities and energy services in the at-risk communities of the municipalities where the power stations are located.

The JET PMU in the Presidency is responsible for managing the ACT Desk.

About MJET

The Mpumalanga Jobs and Energy Transition (MJET) programme is one of the flagship sub-components of the ACT Programme, focused specifically on protecting and creating jobs and economic opportunities in the Mpumalanga communities affected by coal-fired power station retirement. Delivering MJET requires close coordination across national departments and development finance institutions, including the DEE, DTIC, DBSA, and IDC, alongside a wide range of implementing agents, funders, and community stakeholders.

About the role

As part of the MOU signed between the African Climate Foundation (ACF) and the Just Energy Transition Projects Management Unit (JET PMU); the ACF agreed to provide resources to the JET PMU to enable the JET PMU to fulfil its mandate pursuant to the JET PMU’s terms of reference. This includes the secondment of technical experts across all relevant disciplines to support the agenda of the JET PMU.

MJET is where the ACT Programme’s national-level commitments meet the everyday economic reality of Mpumalanga’s coal communities — and that is exactly where this role sits. The JET PMU needs an experienced programme leader who can hold vision and delivery together: shaping programme governance, aligning a wide range of implementing agents and stakeholders around a single delivery plan, and making sure community voices genuinely shape where MJET investment lands.

This is a senior, multi-stakeholder role with real breadth — confirming delivery scope and funding arrangements with DEE, DTIC, DBSA and IDC in one conversation, resolving a resourcing conflict between implementing agents in the next, and facilitating a community engagement session on local investment priorities soon after. It suits someone who is equally comfortable in a government coordination meeting, a funder negotiation, and a community hall in Mpumalanga.

The Programme Manager: MJET is accountable for ensuring that MJET’s sub-components and projects work together to deliver cohesive outcomes, and reports into both the MJET Governance Committee and the ACT Programme Governance Committee.

This role will be seconded to the JET PMU and will work under the direction of the JET PMU Manager: Operations.

Key Deliverables:

Programme Planning & Governance

Define, for delivery execution planning, the MJET scope, goals, schedules, success criteria, implementing agents, funding, funding flow arrangements, and monitoring framework, in collaboration with the DEE, DTIC, DBSA, IDC and funders.

Establish MJET programme governance and ensure governance consistency across multiple implementing agents.

Prepare and operationalise the delivery execution plan for MJET and its sub-components.

Delivery, Risk & Quality Management

Manage dependencies, risks, and resourcing conflicts.

Monitor performance and oversee benefits realisation.

Undertake quality assurance at defined programme milestones.

Stakeholder Engagement, Community Participation & Reporting

Ensure the active participation of community organisations in the affected areas in determining local priorities and shaping where MJET investments, per sub-component, will achieve targeted outcomes.

Lead MJET stakeholder engagement across government, funders, community structures, civil society organisations, companies, and business associations.

Facilitate collaboration between stakeholders and problem-solve with them as issues arise.

Prepare and present programme performance reports to MJET governance and ACT governance structures and funders.

Manage public communications on MJET progress.

Who we are looking for

This role suits a senior programme management professional who can lead through influence, work fluently with government and funders, and stay genuinely connected to community priorities. Here is what we are looking for:

A strategic thinker who delivers

You can formulate the big-picture perspective for MJET while steering specific execution layers simultaneously.

Leadership without direct authority

You are experienced at guiding implementing agencies, in both distinct and cross-functional teams, without holding direct line authority over their staff.

Deep stakeholder networks, ideally in Mpumalanga

You can appreciate differing stakeholder perspectives, build collaboration, navigate competing interests, and take responsible steps to protect critical-path delivery.

A collaborative problem-solver

You can assess bottlenecks to delivery and find solutions with the people who own them, rather than around them.

Financial acumen

Strong budgeting, forecasting, negotiation, and analytical skills, comfortable using digital tools to support this work.

Programme management method

Competence in the professional use of programme management frameworks, with a demonstrated ability to apply them in practice, not just on paper.

Experience

At least 8–10 years of experience in programme management, successfully steering complex, multi-million dollar projects managed by multiple agencies.

Qualifications

Master's degree in Business Administration/Management or a related field. Certified training in programme or project management, management accounting, enterprise development, socio-economic impact analysis, and/or related fields.

Start date: Position available immediately

Location: South Africa - Office in Rosebank, Johannesburg

Contract duration: 12 months

Closing date: 11 October 2026

Application Details:

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the country.

For further information about the ACF, visit www.africanclimatefoundation.org .

Should you not hear back from us by 30 November 2026, please consider your application to be unsuccessful.

The ACF strives to be an equitable organisation with a team which reflects the diversity of Africa.

In compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), The ACF assures all applicants that any personal information provided during the recruitment process will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and used solely for recruitment purposes. Your privacy and data security are of paramount importance to us. By applying for this position, you consent to the collec