Manager: JET Portfolios (JET PMU)

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 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 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.

The Manager: JET Portfolios is responsible for managing, overseeing, guiding, supporting and resourcing the work of the Portfolio Leads in the JET PMU, ensuring alignment across all Portfolios, and driving the capacitation of the Lead Institutions to manage their JET roles for the long-term. This role ensures the effective execution of the JET Implementation Plan (JET IP) by providing strategic direction, leadership, and operational oversight across the six Portfolios (Electricity, NEVs, GH2, Skills, Municipalities, and Mpumalanga). The incumbent will manage the work of the JET PMU’s Portfolio Leads to ensure that each Lead Institution is properly aligned and capacitated to perform their roles in driving investment in priority programmes and projects, working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders. The incumbent is also responsible for ensuring that there is timely, accurate, and analytical monitoring, reporting and evaluation of progress in all the JET Portfolios.

This role will be seconded to the JET PMU and will report to the Head: JET PMU. The JET PMU will be responsible for managing, engaging with, and overseeing the Manager: JET Portfolios responsibilities and deliverables.

Key Deliverables:

Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Management

• Provide strategic oversight for all JET Portfolios, ensuring alignment with the JET Implementation Plan (JET IP) and national energy policies.
• Guide Portfolio Leads in the planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of JET initiatives.
• Develop integrated strategies that ensure cross-sectoral collaboration among the Portfolios.
• Develop plans and resourcing to capacitate the Lead Institutions for their long-term JET responsibilities.
• Lead efforts to scale up key JET programmes and projects, ensuring alignment with government and private sector initiatives.

Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination

• Act as the primary liaison between JET PMU leadership, government departments, industry bodies, and international partners in respect of the six JET Portfolios.
• Support the establishment of partnerships with funding institutions, investors, and research organisations where appropriate.
• Work with the Manager: JET Financing to mobilise financing for the JET Portfolios, aligned to the development of JET project pipelines.
• Represent the JET PMU in high-level forums, policy discussions, and global climate platforms when required.

Financial & Resource Management

• Work with the Manager: Operations to oversee the allocation and utilisation of JET PMU funds across JET PMU Portfolios, ensuring efficient budget management.
• Work with the Manager: Operations and Portfolio Leads to secure additional operational funding from public and private sector sources for the JET PMU and the Portfolios’ Lead Institutions.
• Monitor financial performance and compliance with donor requirements and regulatory frameworks.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Develop and implement KPIs to track progress, impact, and sustainability of the JET Portfolios.
• Provide data-driven insights to optimise and improve Portfolios’ implementation.
• Provide regular reports to the Manager: Operations and suggest improvements based on feedback and performance metrics.

Policy Advocacy & Risk Management

• Support Portfolio Leads to develop risk mitigation strategies for technical, financial, and social risks associated with the energy transition.
• Ensure compliance and reporting with relevant national and international resourcing agreements.

Functional Leadership and Portfolio Coordination

• Act as the primary point of coordination for the JET Portfolios, responsible for directing the tasks and deliverables of other Independent Contractors to maintain alignment with JET PMU objectives. This includes proactively managing delivery risks and implementing remediation strategies to ensure Portfolio continuity and the successful achievement of deliverables.

Candidate Profile: What You Bring

Education

• Master’s Degree: Public Policy, Engineering, Economics, Business Administration (MBA), or a related field.

Experience

• 10+ Years in Energy/Development: Extensive experience in energy transition, economic development, or large-scale project management.
• 10+ Years in Grant & Team Management: A proven track record of managing significant grant portfolios and leading high-performing teams.
• Proven Impact: Documented success in policy development, investment facilitation, and high-stakes stakeholder engagement.

Core Competencies

• JET Framework Expert: In-depth knowledge of South Africa’s JET IP, renewable energy policies, and green economy regulations.
• Financial Architect: Expertise in overseeing large-scale budgets, structuring investments, and managing donor compliance.
• Strategic Risk Manager: Ability to identify and mitigate technical, financial, and social risks across multiple portfolios.
• Data-Driven Strategist: Proficiency in using performance indicators and impact assessments to guide executive decisions.
• Leadership & Influence: The ability to inspire Portfolio Leads and guide diverse stakeholders toward a common goal.
• Resilience & Adaptability: A steady hand while navigating complex political, economic, and environmental landscapes.
• Collaborative Partnership: Mastery in building partnerships across the public and private divide.

Start date: Position available immediately

Location: South Africa

Contract duration: 12 months, consisting of 2 x 6-month renewable contracts

Closing date: 23 February 2026

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

Should you not hear back from us by 31 March 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 collection, processing, and storage of your personal information for recruitment-related activities only. The ACF is committed to safeguarding your privacy and maintaining the trust you place in us.