Business Developer - Renewable Energy

SUMMARY:
An established and growing renewable energy business is looking for an experienced Business Developer to drive new business within the commercial and industrial (C&I) solar market.

This is a consultative, solution-based sales role requiring someone with strong solar industry knowledge, an established network and a proven ability to generate and close new business.

The successful candidate will engage with senior decision-makers to understand their business, electricity usage and energy requirements, and work closely with the engineering team to develop tailored solar solutions and commercial proposals.

This is not a solar component sales role. The focus is on selling complete, bespoke commercial solar and energy solutions rather than individual products such as panels, inverters or batteries.

POSITION INFO:

Key Responsibilities

• Proactively identify, prospect and develop new commercial and industrial solar opportunities.
• Generate new business through an existing industry network, referrals, direct prospecting and cold outreach.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective commercial and industrial clients.
• Identify opportunities across commercial property, industrial, manufacturing, construction, property development and other energy-intensive sectors.
• Engage with business owners, executives, property owners, developers and other senior decision-makers.
• Understand clients’ energy requirements, electricity usage, load requirements, commercial objectives and key energy challenges.
• Identify appropriate renewable energy solutions based on each client’s specific requirements.
• Work closely with Design Engineers and technical teams to develop appropriate solar solutions.
• Collaborate with engineering to prepare accurate technical and commercial proposals incorporating system requirements, costs and expected performance.
• Present proposed solutions and clearly communicate their technical and commercial benefits.
• Manage client questions, objections and commercial negotiations.
• Take ownership of opportunities from initial engagement through proposal, negotiation and close.
• Build and maintain long-term client relationships.
• Identify additional renewable energy opportunities within existing client relationships.
• Maintain an understanding of the South African renewable energy and commercial solar landscape.
• Monitor industry trends, competitor activity and potential new market opportunities.

Minimum Requirements

• 5+ years’ business development and technical sales experience within renewable energy, specifically solar.
• Strong understanding of the commercial and industrial (C&I) solar market.
• Demonstrable track record of generating and closing new business.
• Experience selling complete solar/energy solutions rather than individual solar components.
• Ability to understand a client’s requirements and translate them into an appropriate commercial energy solution.
• Proven ability to engage confidently with senior decision-makers.
• Experience preparing and presenting technical and commercial proposals.
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with engineering and project teams.
• Valid driver’s licence.
• Own vehicle for local travel.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.

Advantageous

• Engineering qualification or electrical/technical background.
• Established network within the solar and renewable energy industry.
• Existing relationships within commercial property, property development, construction, manufacturing or industrial markets.

Ideal Candidate

• Proactive and self-motivated.
• Well connected within the solar/renewable energy market.
• Comfortable with cold prospecting and developing opportunities from scratch.
• Naturally curious about a client’s business and energy requirements.
• Consultative and solutions-focused rather than product-driven.
• Confident engaging with senior executives and business owners.
• Competitive, resilient and motivated by winning new business.
• Comfortable managing longer and more complex C&I sales cycles.
• Able to collaborate effectively with engineering and technical teams.

Important Distinction