About the position
Postion Summary:
The Environmental Specialist will form part of the Operations Team reporting to the Senior SHEQ Consultant during the construction and operations of activities at all different sites and will be primarily responsible for the development, implementation, tracking and compliance of Environmental Management plans, reports, policies and procedures for all sites.
Key Responsibilities:
- Developing and implementing an Environmental Management Plan, policies and procedures for all sitesEnsuring organizational compliance to environmental legislation, policies, plans and construction licenses in South AfricaDeveloping Key Performance Indicators and track targets for Sustainability for all sites in line with United Nations Sustainability GoalsImplementing programmes associated with these KPIs and reporting operational performance to the EXCO and the National Research Foundation
- (This includes water consumption and conservation, energy usage, waste management amongst others)Acting as the Sustainability Champion and gather inputs from staff to identify sustainability activities already underway, and new initiatives
- Developing, implementing and updating the Environmental Legal Register in compliance with the IEMPDeveloping the required documentation to establish an Environmental Management System (EMS) for SARAO to obtain ISO14001 accreditation and ongoing implementation of the EMS to maintain ISO accreditationMonitoring and reporting on measurable environmental impactsDeveloping & implementing ongoing environmental and sustainability awareness material and implement environmental training for staff and contractorsProvide monthly dashboard reports to the EXCO on environment, construction license compliance and updates on achievement of Environment and Sustainability KPIsProviding guidance to the Environmental Officer and Operations and Project Management Teams and coordinate activities
Minimum Qualification:
- Honours Degree / Post Graduate Qualification / Professional Qualification / NQF 8
Minimum Experience:
- A recognized Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science or Management with a minimum of 8 years’ construction experienceA recognized Honors Degree in Environmental Science or Environmental Management in a similar role with a minimum of 6 years’ construction experience; orRegistration with a legally recognized professional registration organization such as the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) or the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa (EAPASA)Valid driver's license
Experience:
- Proven knowledge and experience of National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and regulationsProven knowledge of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas ActProven knowledge and experience of environmental aspect Hazard Identification and Risk Management ProcessesProven knowledge in developing Key Performance Indicators for the Environment and SustainabilitySound knowledge of environmental incident investigation processes and their causation phenomenaKnowledge and experience in the development and/or implementation of environmental management systemsKnowledge and experience of environmental auditing as per ISO 14001 standardsEnvironmental Auditing and inspection trainingExperience in building strong people relationships, general management practices and experience in managing and leading contractor environmental teamsExtensive knowledge and interpretation of SHEQ Management Systems, procedures and policies including document controlAbility and willingness to travel to the SARAO Site in the Karoo on a frequent basis
Knowledge:
- Excellent interpersonal skills and influencing skillsA flexible team player who is adaptable to changeFamiliarity with the formalism for, and requirements of, quality control environments such as ISO[Phone Number Removed]; and 45001Knowledge of the South African construction industry legislation and regulations
- Environment, (Health and Safety), ConstructionProven track record in working with contractors on construction sitesEnvironmental Risk ManagementQuality management
Additional Notes:
Ability/personal attributes:Solve problems and resolve conflictProvide solutions that are practical and pragmaticAbility to operate alone and within a team under pressureSelf-motivating with a positive attitudeAbility to learn new software packages used during construction and [URL Removed] and tracking of Key Performance Indicators for the Environment and Sustainability Inspections, Audits, excellent reporting writing [URL Removed] oral and written communication skillsThe NRF website provides more details on the initiatives and activities Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by registering and apply online through the NRF Recruitment and Selection Portal. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating the applicant·s suitability for the position. The names and contact details of at least three referees should be provided.
Desired Skills:
- Skilled in applied field of position
- Knowledge to be relevant
- Responsible in performing duties
About The Employer:
The National Research Foundation (NRF) supports and promotes research and human capital development through funding, the provision of National Research Facilities and science outreach platforms and programmes to the broader community in all fields of science and technology, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities. The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) spearheads South Africa’s activities in the Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope, commonly known as the SKA, in engineering, science and construction. SARAO is a National Facility managed by the National Research Foundation and incorporates radio astronomy instruments and programmes such as the MeerKAT telescope in the Karoo, the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) in Gauteng, the African Very Long Baseline Interferometry (AVN) programme in nine African countries as well as the associated human capital development and commercialisation endeavours.
