Group Sustainability Graduate (Durban North) at Aspen Pharma Group

JOB PURPOSE:

• The Group Sustainability graduate will provide technical and administrative support in the development, execution, and reporting of the Group Sustainability and Environmental strategies and projects. The role will support the monitoring of sustainability performance, climate and environmental initiatives, sustainability disclosures, stakeholder information requests, and internal sustainability programmes.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

Contribute to the development of a Sustainability vision, strategy, policies and framework for the Group: 

• Conduct research and benchmarking on relevant sustainability trends, risks and leading practices
• Perform research to routinely benchmark Aspen relative to our industry competitors on sustainability performance.
• Assist with maintaining sustainability objectives, KPIs and action plans.

Contribute to the development of the Group environmental strategy:

• Support the review and tracking of climate-related risks (physical, transition and liability risks) and opportunities across the Group
• Understand sustainability and ESG disclosure requirements relating to climate and environmental performance (e.g. CDP and TCFD) and assist in the processes and data collection to support these.
• Assist in the projects relating to greenhouse gas emissions, methodology on Science Based Targets and calculations of carbon footprints across supply chain (scope 1, 2 and 3). 
• Assist in the review and benchmarking of evolving environmental sustainability imperatives for the Group.

Accurate, reliable and timely sustainability data collection: 

• Assist in the collection of sustainability data from relevant business units and functions.
• Review submitted information for completeness, consistency and accuracy
• Support the maintenance of sustainability data trackers, evidence files and supporting documentation.

Contribute to sustainability reporting and ESG positioning: 

• Support the preparation of sustainability, integrated reporting and other corporate disclosures.
• Assist with sustainability disclosure gap assessments and implementation plans.
• Maintain reporting requirements, data requests and disclosure evidence.
• Assist with responses to ESG ratings, customer questionnaires and voluntary initiatives. 

Sustainability reporting frameworks: 

• Assist in the project to assess the Group’s current sustainability reporting against new reporting standards (ISSB), compile gap assessments, determine data requirements and facilitate action planning to implement reporting requirements.

Communication: 

• Assist in the development of internal communications relating to the sustainability and ESG strategy and performance of the Group.

Requirements
Job Requirements:

• Minimum of a 3-year tertiary degree/diploma in environmental sciences, engineering, or a related field
• At least 1 to 2 years’ experience within the fields of Sustainability, ESG, SHE and/or Environmental Sustainability would be advantageous
• Technical knowledge of sustainability reporting. environmental management, climate change strategies and resource conservation initiatives would be advantageous
• Sustainability and integrated reporting
• A passion for sustainability and the ability to champion and drive change
• Ability to think independently and strategically, link sustainability objectives to overall corporate strategy
• Communication skills, both verbal and written
• Assertiveness, diplomacy and tact
• Ability to work collaboratively and foster positive relations across functional areas within the business
• Exceptional organisational and attention to detail
• Able to withstand pressure
• Financial and analytical skills and business acumen
• Effective project management to achieve deadlines
• Good ability to work with data
• Knowledge of Sustainability Reporting Standards (e.g. GRI) would be highly beneficial