Chief Sustainability Officer at Coega

MANDATE

• The Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) is mandated by the Board of Directors of the CDC to craft and drive the organisation’s Sustainability Strategy to ensure that it remains competitive.  
• The CSO will further ensure that the elements that will impact the organisation in future, are driven from a strategic perspective ensuring adherence to the CDC’s Safety, Health, Environment and Quality policies, integration of the country’s Climate Change mitigation objectives into the organisation’s strategy, provide thought leadership to all Business Units of the CDC, research and innovation leading to the identification of game-changing projects and initiatives, which will form part of the Corporate Sustainability Strategy ensuring seamless evolution of the organisation and to minimise the climate impact of the organisation’s projects and activities.

DESCRIPTION

RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS

The primary objective of the CSO is to provide executive leadership, advisory and strategic guidance in working towards the realisation of a Corporate Sustainability Strategy to the CDC’s Board, CEO and EXMA.

In pursuance of this primary objective, the CSO is required to: -

• Establish, implement and maintain Sustainability policies, procedures, and practices;
• Create awareness on sustainability policies, procedures and practices to staff at all levels;
• Develop and implement Sustainability long and short term strategies with clear and SMART targets to encourage best practices;
• Supervise employees or volunteers working on sustainability projects;
• Play advisory role on sustainability to Executive Management and the Board;
• Research environmental sustainability issues, concerns, or stakeholder interests;
• Develop methodologies to assess the viability or success of sustainability initiatives;
• Work with Marketing & Communications and participate in relevant external platforms on sustainability issues on behalf of the CDC, playing an advocacy role to ensure the CDC is well position in the market from a brand perspective
• Evaluate and approve proposals for sustainability projects, considering factors such as cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, and integration with other initiatives;
• Devise the best tools and systems to monitor performance and to implement strategies;
• Assessing, analysing, and collating Sustainability performance data and reporting information to internal staff, clients, and regulatory bodies;
• Integrate Sustainability Principles and ISO 26000:2020 into all business processes;
• Conduct Sustainability Assessments for all projects and ensure that the sustainability principles are incorporated accordingly;
• Develop and publish an annual Sustainability report as per the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI);
• Ensure Compliance to all Sustainability related commitments (Local, Provincial, National and International);
• Develop and Maintain a Sustainability Legal Register to ensure compliance with legal requirements;
• Keeping up to date with relevant changes in Sustainability, related legislations and initiatives including international legislation where applicable;
• Managing Sustainability strategy budgets;
• Acting as a champion or cheerleader for Sustainability issues within the CDC;
• Develop breakthrough innovations and projects to enhance the CDC’s positive contribution to sustainability;
• Lead relevant research and innovation initiatives.
• Oversee all the CDC’s Safety, Health, Environmental & Quality functions, to ensure integration into all its activities and achieve high levels of compliance and standards, including gaining and retaining the relevant ISO certifications and / or other relevant performance standards.

SAFETY, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

• It is the duty of every employee at work to take reasonable care or the health and safety of themselves as well as other persons.  Employees are legally bound to comply with the
• prescriptions of the OHS Act and should always carry out and obey lawful orders, health and safety rules and procedures as laid down by the employer. If any unsafe or unhealthy
• situation is observed by an employee, he or she must report it to the employer or the health and safety representative of the workplace to the employer or to the health and safety.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Post-graduate degree in Environmental Science and Sustainability or other related feels including Earth / Natural Sciences;
• A qualification in resource / sustainability economics will be an added advantage;
• Minimum 5-10 years of senior management work experience with environmental and sustainability sciences coupled with risk management of infrastructure / energy / industry;
• Experience in project management, including leading expert teams and working with senior stakeholders;
• Strong knowledge of and experience working with Local and International Environmental standards and systems.

SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Superlative and creative problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Thorough and current knowledge of sustainability practices, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Ability to analyze and understand research and to identify relevant and valuable information.
• Extremely proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to create, interpret, and execute a budget.
• Presentation skills required to deliver proposals to varying groups of individuals.