SHERQ And Sustainability Manager at Vector Logistics

Job Purpose

• To lead and manage SHERQ and sustainability operations, ensuring legal compliance, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement. The role is responsible for standardising systems and procedures, maintaining certifications (ISO 14001, ISO 45001, FSSC 22000), driving ESG strategy and supporting operational excellence through audits, stakeholder engagement, and data-driven decision-making. It also plays a key role in coaching teams, managing change, and aligning SHERQ and ESG practices with strategic business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Compliance & Risk Management: 

• Lead statutory inspections and ensure alignment with OHS, Environmental, R638, Marsh, AON, and other regulatory standards. Ensure legal registers are maintained and current across all sites. Review and improve fire safety and emergency preparedness procedures. Support sites in preparing for external risk audits (e.g., Marsh) and drive audit readiness programmes.  Provide input on legal compliance and internal controls to mitigate operational and SHERQ risks. Monitor forthcoming and proposed legislative changes and drive their implementation. Ensure SHERQ and ESG compliance extends to VTM and office environments.

Audit & Certification: 

• Plan and oversee ISO, legal, and risk audits nationally (ISO 14001, ISO 45001, FSSC 22000). Monitor SHERQ audit performance and integrate audits for efficiency. Support sites in retaining existing certifications and attaining new ones. Conduct site audits to identify non-conformances and ensure effective closure. Evaluate management system effectiveness, verify corrective actions prevent recurrence, and implement shared audit learnings across regions and sites.

Standardisation & Continuous Improvement:

• Drive standardisation of SHERQ and ESG systems, procedures, and documentation across all regions.  Lead Centre of Excellence initiatives to embed consistent practices and toolkits. Monitor SHERQ operational trends and implement forward-thinking improvements. Drive SHERQ and ESG projects (e.g., site mergers, upgrades, software implementation). Benchmark best practices and define criteria and methods to assess the effectiveness of operational processes and controls.

ESG strategy and Reporting:

• Support the execution of Vector’s ESG strategy, including project tracking and reporting. Develop, communicate and monitor SHERQ and ESG performance indicators, and escalate adverse trends and concerns to the SHERQ Executive. Identify opportunities and threats and involve management in implementing response plans.

Stakeholder Engagement & Support:

• Engage with customers, principals, and service providers to resolve complaints, recalls, and investigations. Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Risk, PBCS, VTM, and SHERQ teams to meet strategic goals. Advise and support teams on new and existing SHERQ legislation and standards. Attend meetings and represent SHERQ in customer and principal engagements.

Training & Capability Building:

• Coach and mentor SHERQ teams in delivering ESG and SHERQ support. Facilitate training on statutory compliance, safety, food safety, and environmental standards. Promote a culture of safety, sustainability, and accountability across the network.

Systems & Documentation:  

• Ensure documentation systems are current, practical, and user-friendly. Maintain internal and external audit schedules. Ensure timely and complete submission of all required reports. Validate report accuracy and ensure identified improvement opportunities are addressed.

Key Relationships

Internal

• High degree of interaction for the purpose of strategy, compliance, training and collaboration.

Exrernal

• Moderate to high degree of interaction for the purpose of issue resolution, audits relationship management

Auditors

• High degree of interaction for the purpose of compliance, certification and inspections.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience Required for the Job

Qualifications and Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s or BTech degree in Safety, Quality, Science, Eng or Environmental Management.
• Experience: > 5 years in supply chain, distribution, plant or FMCG environments, with at least 3 years in a SHERQ management role. Proven experience managing multiple large-scale sites or regions, leading audits, compliance programmes, and working knowledge sustainability reporting.
• Knowledge: Strong understanding of ISO standards (ISO 14001, ISO 45001, FSSC 22000) and SHERQ frameworks. Familiarity with statutory and regulatory requirements (e.g., R638, ZA) related to health, safety, environment, and food safety. Working knowledge of ESG and sustainability reporting frameworks (e.g., GHG Protocol, Scope 1–3, carbon, waste, energy, and water metrics). In-depth knowledge of supply chain operations, warehousing, and customer requirements. Lead auditor experience across ISO, food safety, environmental, health & safety, and ESG domains.
• Valid Code 8 drivers' licence

Skills and Competencies

• Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management:  In-depth knowledge of OHS Act, Environmental legislation, R638, and food safety regulations. Familiarity with insurance and risk standards (e.g., Marsh, AON). Ability to interpret and apply legal requirements across multiple sites. Risk assessment and mitigation planning. Fire safety and emergency preparedness expertise.
• Audit & Certification Management: ISO standards expertise (ISO 14001, ISO 45001, FSSC 22000). Internal and external audit planning and execution.Non-conformance identification and corrective action management. Certification maintenance and improvement.
• SHERQ & ESG Systems Standardisation: Process mapping and documentation standardisation. ESG and SHERQ systems integration. Project management for system upgrades and site transitions. Data-driven continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma).
• ESG Strategy & Reporting: ESG framework understanding (e.g., GHG Protocol, SDGs). KPI performance monitoring.
• Systems & Documentation: Document control and versioning. Audit scheduling and tracking. Report writing and submission protocols. Familiarity with SHERQ/ESG software platforms
• Stakeholder Engagement: Customer and principal relationship management. Conflict resolution and complaint handling. Cross-functional collaboration and influence. Professional representation in external forums.
• Training & Capability Building: Coaching and mentoring skills.  Facilitation of technical and compliance training. Change management and culture-building. Communication of complex regulatory concepts in simple terms.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to align SHERQ and ESG initiatives with business strategy. Forward-looking risk and compliance planning. Innovation in sustainability and safety practices.
• Execution & Accountability: Ownership of national programmes and audits. Delivery of results under pressure. Prioritisation and time management across multiple sites.
• Influence & Advocacy: Championing safety and sustainability culture. Driving adoption of standards and systems. Advocating for SHERQ and ESG priorities at executive level.