Environmental Officer Specialised Production: Sustainable Aquaculture Management at Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

Requirements & Qualifications

• Honours Degree (NQF Level 8) in Environmental Management or relevant qualification as recognized by SAQA. Must have a minimum of three (3) years’ experience in the relevant field.

Duties

• Monitor compliance in terms of aquaculture enabling legislation related to food safety. Ensure compliance of authorised marine aquaculture farms with the Aquaculture Marine Fish Food Safety Programme through the ongoing monitoring of shellfish biotoxins, microbiological quality and phytoplankton levels.
• Monitor and ensure full compliance with relevant laboratories with AMFFSP shellfish monitoring requirements. Render technical advice in drafting and implementation of aquaculture enabling legislation, regulations, policies, food safety programmes and permit conditions.
• Provide industry stakeholders with technical guidance relating to AMFFSP. Contribute to the drafting of standards/ guidelines and AMFFSP related documents. Finalise and distribute National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) sampling schedule.
• Contribute to the drafting of MoUs, agreements and contracts in terms of the AMFFSP, as required and manage their implementation, including participation in relevant Project Management Committee meetings. Promote environmental education and awareness related to the Aquaculture Marine Fish Food Safety Programme. Draft food safety reports. Provide inputs into the Aquaculture Yearbook. Organize and undertake site visits to operational marine aquaculture farms and compile reports.
• Represent the Department and the Food Safety Unit in meetings related to the AMFFSP and related workshops and conference including SPS-TBT meetings and the Aquaculture Industry liaison meetings. Perform administrative and related functions for the Aquaculture Marine Fish Food Safety Programme. Ensure that food safety officials are trained on the job and are being mentored in terms of the AMFFSP requirements. 

Candidate Profile

• Knowledge of the Marine Living Resource Act ,1998, South African food and consumer safety legislations related to aquaculture.
• Knowledge and experience in laboratory audit procedures. Experience in laboratory instrumentation and techniques, sample collection and data analysis. Understanding of aquaculture and food safety controls.
• Experience in policy and legislation development. Experience in administrative procedures and database development and management. Skills in project and contract management.