South Africa: Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Officer posted by The Key Recruitment Group

Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Officer

A leading renewable energy company is seeking a skilled and experienced ESG Officer to join its team for the development of a renewable energy wood pellet manufacturing facility in Bhunya, Eswatini. The position is permanent

This is an exciting opportunity to develop. implement and maintain the environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) and Business Integrity Management System (BIMS) for the wood pellet manufacturing plant in Eswatini.

Qualifications and Experience Required:

• Bachelors degree (or similar) in Environmental Science, Forestry, Sustainability, Engineering, Social Sciences, Safety, or a related field.
• 5+ years experience in ESG, environmental management, sustainability, or compliance within manufacturing, energy, or forestry sectors.
• Strong knowledge of environmental permitting, sustainability standards, and ESG frameworks.
• Experience in working with audits, certifications, and regulatory inspections.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organisational and analytical capabilities.
• Police clearance to qualify for work permit, if non-Eswatini citizen. (Company will assist with the application process)

Advantageous Prior Learning and Experience

• Experience in biomass, renewable energy, forestry, or wood products industries.
• Familiarity with international sustainability certifications relevant to biomass and forestry (e.g. FSC and SBP).
• Experience working in Southern Africa or similar regulatory and social contexts.
• Postgraduate qualification or professional certification in ESG, sustainability, or environmental management

Key Responsibilities:

Environmental Stewardship

• Ensure compliance with Eswatini environmental legislation, permits, and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conditions.
• Develop, implement and maintain the companys ESMS (e.g. policies, processes, procedures, management plans), including air emissions, water use, waste management, noise, and biodiversity protection.
• Monitor sustainable sourcing of plantation forestry residues and ensure traceability across the supply chain.
• Support compliance with international sustainability frameworks and biomass certification schemes (e.g. FSC and SBP).
• Track plant-level environmental performance indicators (GHG emissions, energy efficiency, water footprint, etc).
• Support climate-related risk assessments and decarbonisation initiatives aligned with global renewable energy expectations.

Social Responsibility

• Promote safe, fair, and ethical working conditions in line with Eswatini labour laws and international best practice.
• Oversee occupational health and safety coordination in collaboration with the Operations team.
• Support community engagement, grievance mechanisms, and social impact initiatives linked to forestry operations and plant activities.
• Ensure respect for land rights, community livelihoods, and cultural considerations in forestry supply areas.
• Monitor contractor and supplier compliance with social standards, including labour, health, safety, and human rights expectations.

Governance & Compliance.

• Support the implementation of strong governance practices, ethical conduct, and internal controls.
• Develop, implement and maintain the companys BIMS (e.g. policies, procedures, and codes of conduct).
• Coordinate audits and third-party verifications related to sustainability, certification, and ESG performance.
• Maintain accurate records, documentation, and compliance reporting.
• Track evolving ESG regulations and customer requirements in international biomass and power generation markets.

Reporting & Stakeholder Engagement

• Prepare ESG, sustainability, and compliance reports for internal management and external stakeholders and investors.
• Support disclosures aligned with recognised standards (e.g. GRI, customer-specific ESG questionnaires, investor requirements (PRIF-2)).
• Act as a key point of contact for regulators, certification bodies, auditors, customers, and community representatives.
• Provide ESG input for tenders, contracts, and customer due diligence processes.

Furthermore:

• The incumbent will be based primarily at the wood-pellet manufacturing plant in Eswatini; with periodic travel to forestry sites and community locations within Eswatini.
• The incumbent will be interacting with local communities, contractors, international investors, customers, and auditors as and when required.
• Exposure to industrial manufacturing environments.

Personal Attributes and Key Competencies:

• Integrity and ethical judgement
• Stakeholder engagement and relationship management
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Attention to detail and regulatory discipline
• Ability to work independently in a cross-functional environment
• Commitment to sustainability and continuous improvement
• Reasonable proficiency in basic office IT systems such as a computer operating system; printers; emails; shared drives; spreadsheets; word processors; and presentation apps.

Please apply online or contact David on 0(***)***-****for more information.