SA - Senior Commercial Associate: Energy Marketing and PPAs

Summary of Role:

The Senior Commercial Associate will support the Energy Marketing & PPAs team, focusing on new business opportunities, revenue streams, and innovative technology integration (wind, solar, batteries, hybrids). The role spans sales, marketing, business development, account management, CRM, tender structuring, stakeholder engagement, and support for bidding and financial close processes.

What you will do:

Key Objectives

Business Development and Sales

• Lead proactive sales initiatives to secure new customers and grow revenue streams.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of prospects, ensuring consistent lead generation and conversion.
• Develop scalable service offerings that are competitive in the South African renewable energy market.
• Implement structured sales administration processes, including CRM tools, to track performance and customer interactions.
• Provide regular reporting on sales activities, pipeline health, and achievement against monthly and annual targets.
• Negotiate contracts and commercial terms with clients, ensuring alignment with company objectives and risk frameworks.

Marketing and Brand Awareness

• Strengthen Mainstream's brand presence in the renewable energy sector.
• Collaborate with corporate branding teams to design and execute marketing campaigns.
• Conduct market research and competitor analysis to inform product positioning and pricing strategies.
• Develop marketing collateral, manage digital channels (social media, website), and contribute to thought leadership content.
• Represent the company at trade shows, conferences, and industry events to build visibility and credibility.

Core Responsibilities:

Business Development and Sales

• Sell renewable energy solutions (wind, solar, hybrid systems, battery storage) to medium and large enterprises.
• Engage directly with senior executives (CEOs, CFOs, CTOs) to pitch tailored offerings.
• Identify new business opportunities, strategic partnerships, and innovative sales channels.
• Analyse customer requirements and collaborate with the commercial team to design solutions that meet technical and financial needs.
• Prepare proposals, quotes, contracts, and presentations that clearly articulate value propositions.
• Provide clients with technical, regulatory, and financial information to support decision‑making.
• Monitor competitor activity and market trends to ensure Mainstream remains ahead in product and service offerings.
• Travel regularly to client sites for meetings, presentations, and relationship building.

Account and Relationship Management

• Manage long‑term customer relationships, including contracted energy partnerships.
• Oversee onboarding and offboarding processes for clients.
• Respond promptly to customer inquiries, billing queries, and service requests.
• Develop automated processes to streamline client management and improve retention.
• Foster positive relationships across internal departments to ensure seamless customer service delivery.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including Eskom, IPPs, regulators, municipalities, and private offtakers.
• Represent Mainstream in industry forums and stakeholder consultations.
• Ensure compliance with licensing, registration, and connection requirements.

Internal Team Support

• Collaborate with the wider commercial team on bidding processes and financial close activities.
• Share market insights and customer feedback to inform product development and strategic planning.
• Contribute to a culture of innovation, efficiency, and continuous improvement within the commercial team.

What we require:

• Bachelor's degree in business management, marketing, or technical background (engineering), with sales experience.
• Minimum 5 years' Sales/Business development Experience
• Track record of meeting and exceeding sales targets.
• Understanding of energy stakeholders (Eskom, IPP, Offtakers)
• Understanding of licensing, registration, connection and PPAs
• Understanding of key sales points (pricing, decision makers, lead times, benefits, BEE requirements)
• Successfully implemented a client acquisition strategy
• Eager to build a professional energy sales team
• Open to travel and one-on-one client negotiations
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Energetic, Self-starter and problem solver;
  • Motivated to succeed, comfortable being challenged and growing as an individual
  • Lateral thinker, continuously improving the business model
• Collaborative team player;
• Strong MS Office skillset (Excel, PowerPoint and Word) a must
• Existing client and municipal network is a bonus.

What we offer:

We offer you the opportunity to work in an innovative and entrepreneurial organisation, to be part of a diverse workplace with regards to gender, age and cultural background in the most exciting industry in the world today.

Career development 

• Individual training budget
• Career progression
• Leadership development

 Shared financial success

• A competitive, industry benchmarked and cost-of-living linked salary, reviewed annually
• Performance bonus
• Salary contribution to your pension fund and private medical cover

 Work/life balance 

• Hybrid, flexible working arrangement
• Generous annual leave, plus a community or charity work day each year
• Paid maternity, parental, adoptive and bereavement leave
• Parental transitional coaching

 True diversity & inclusion 

• Equal opportunity targets
• You can be you, whatever your gender, colour or sexual orientation

 Care for health & wellbeing

• Life cover
• Free Employee Assistance Program for you and your family