Environmental and Social Manager – Cape Town at Norfund

Key responsibilities

• Collaborate in teams and support project managers on investment projects across investment departments Scalable Enterprises, Renewable Energy and Green Infrastructure.
• Assess environmental, social, and human rights risks and impacts of direct and indirect investments against local regulations, IFC Performance Standards, World Bank EHS Guidelines and other relevant guidelines during due diligence.
• Negotiate sustainability requirements into investment agreements and clarify expectations for investments.
• Monitor investments against agreed E&S requirements, follow up on E&S Action Plans, and identify opportunities for E&S interventions to reduce risk and add value.
• Support clients in developing their E&S management systems through knowledge transfer and training.
• Work together with Norfund’s other E&S specialists or other internal stakeholders to continuously improve our internal systems and procedures related to E&S or other relevant topics.
• Cooperate closely with co-investors and other European Development Finance Institutions (EDFI) in the field of E&S risks and impact management.
• Represent Norfund in external meetings, industry events, and fora on E&S risk management.

Qualifications

• Relevant education, preferably at the master’s degree level in environmental science, social science, engineering, or economics.
• Minimum 7 years of professional experience in E&S assessments, such as ESIA development, EHS audits, and investor-led due diligence and monitoring work.
• Good understanding of international standards, particularly the IFC Performance Standards and WB EHS Guidelines, ILO standards, Human Rights instruments, and knowledge of local legislation.
• Subject-matter expertise in environment, hydrology, biodiversity, land-related issues, OHS, human rights, labour rights, or management of community relations is an advantage. Exposure to certification schemes such as ISO 14001, OHSAS, SA8000 is beneficial.

Personal qualities

• Result-oriented with a structured, proactive, pragmatic, and efficient work style.
• Capacity to work independently as well as in teams.
• Excellent communication skills (spoken and written) in English.
• Flexible and willing to travel.
• Strong interpersonal skills and motivation to achieve results through collaborative and constructive engagement with portfolio companies