Senior Environmental and Social Specialist at Red Rocket South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Responsibilities:

• Lead environmental and social GIS-based screening, fatal flaw identification, and risk assessment during early-stage project development.
• Provide strategic oversight and technical leadership on environmental and social permitting requirements across the project pipeline.
• Lead the management of deliverables required to obtain key environmental consents in line with NEMA, associated SEMAs, and other relevant legislation applicable to renewable energy projects.
• Direct and coordinate additional permitting processes required for Financial Close, including civil aviation, land claims, mining rights, astronomy arrays, agriculture, roads, waste, biodiversity and conservation, municipal by-laws, electromagnetic interference, telecommunications, and heritage requirements.
• Lead the review and quality assurance of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), Basic Assessments (BAs), and Scoping Reports in line with provincial, national, and applicable international lender standards.
• Provide direction on specialist studies and ensure that environmental and social opportunities and constraints are appropriately integrated into project design and delivery strategy.
• Oversee environmental licence renewals, amendments, and updates required to support project implementation, compliance, and buildability.
• Lead consultant management and provide senior input into water use licence application processes and other specialist regulatory approvals.
• Lead the preparation and review of environmental and social inputs into REIPPPP and private PPA bid submissions, including legal opinions and lender due diligence documentation.
• Monitor, interpret, and communicate developments in environmental legislation, lender requirements, and ESG expectations relevant to Red Rocket’s portfolio and strategic direction.
• Lead the compilation, review, and quality assurance of environmental and social risk assessments, due diligence reports, audit reports, and mitigation plans.
• Support lender and shareholder reporting requirements and provide senior oversight on contractual, legal, and ESG-related reporting obligations.
• Lead engagement with Lenders’ Technical Advisors (LTAs) and drive the close-out of Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) requirements.
• Provide senior environmental and social project management support during pre-construction, construction, and operations in line with corporate policies, applicable legislation, and international good practice standards.
• Oversee the implementation of consultant and contractor scopes of work related to permitting, compliance, monitoring, and corrective action during construction and operations.
• Undertake site visits to development, construction, and operational projects for inspections, audits, stakeholder engagement, and issue resolution.
• Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and oversight to Environmental and Social Compliance Officers and junior team members.
• Promote project buildability and risk reduction through the practical and strategic implementation of environmental authorisations and other relevant permits.
• Support the implementation, strengthening, and continuous improvement of Red Rocket’s ESG and Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) framework.
• Lead engagement and coordination with competent authorities, lenders, consultants, contractors, and other key stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
• Be willing and available to travel across South Africa and, where required, elsewhere in Africa.

Requirements

Minimum Educational Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Environmental Law, Development Planning, or a related field.
• Postgraduate qualification in Environmental Law, Environmental Management, Sustainability, or a related discipline will be highly advantageous.

Minimum Previous Experience: 

• At least 8 years’ relevant experience in environmental and social permitting, compliance, auditing, and risk management, preferably within the renewable energy sector.
• Strong working knowledge of NEMA, environmental authorisation processes, and related legal requirements applicable to renewable energy developments.
• Demonstrated experience leading engagements with competent authorities, lenders, stakeholders, consultants, and contractors across project development, construction, and operations.
• Proven experience leading or reviewing environmental and social compliance audits, due diligences, and risk assessments on construction and operational sites.
• Experience providing technical leadership, mentorship, or supervision within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Experience applying IFC Performance Standards, Equator Principles, and other lender requirements in African or international projects will be highly advantageous.