Environmental Manager - KwaZulu Natal

ForestSource; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 54,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Market leading leave benefits

Employee wellbeing benefits

Learning and development programmes

Opportunities to travel

Job summary

Sappi Forests seeks an Environmental Manager in KwaZulu-Natal to manage environmental performance and ensure certification across forestry operations.

You will lead risk assessments, audits, and regulatory compliance while developing strategic environmental plans and advising on EIA activities, aiming to protect the environment and support sustainability initiatives.

Qualifications

• MSc in natural sciences (Botany, Zoology or Environmental Management).
• SACNASP registration with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions.
• At least 5 years of relevant forestry/environment experience.

Responsibilities

• Identify, assesses and evaluate environmental risks and recommend mitigations.
• Investigate impacts of forestry operations to reduce environmental effects.
• Conduct internal environmental audits to verify conformance with policies.
• Develop strategic plans for districts and plantations to maintain standards.
• Provide input for EIAs, wetland delineation, weed control and burning programs.
• Support auditors during FSC and PEFC assessments to maintain certification.
• Promote environmental awareness among internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with government/NGO initiatives on landscape projects.
• Contribute to technical groups shaping forestry regulations and standards.

Skills

Experience

Education

MSc in Botany/Zoology/Environmental Management

SACNASP registered

Job description

We are hiring! At Sappi, we are a leading global provider with a reputation for delivering high-quality sustainable Woodfibre products and solutions for the global markets. We lead through our values centred around safety, integrity, courage, making smart decisions which we execute with speed. We are seeking unique people who believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive and safe environment. We’re on the lookout for an experienced Environmental Manager - KwaZulu Natal to provide Sappi Forests with environmental knowledge, thereby enabling it to manage its environmental performance to international standards and thus achieve FSC and PEFC certification and accreditation to other relevant standards.

As an Environmental Manager, you will be responsible for:

• Identify, assesses and evaluate the potential environmental risk to Sappi Forests' through the risk assessment process to recommend mitigatory actions to manage these risks
• Investigate current impacts of forestry operations on the environment by assessing and analysing audit and assessment information to reduce and minimise these impacts
• Conduct internal environmental audits through a standard audit process to identify conformance with environmental policies and procedures
• Develop strategic and tactical plans (weeding plans, environmental burning programmes, catchment management plans etc) for districts and plantations by providing technical environmental knowledge to ensure environmental standards are maintained
• Provide technical input to EIA's, wetland delineation, weed control, problem animal control, burning of permanently unplanted areas, waste management and any other activity by applying environmental knowledge and expertise to ensure that forestry activities are legally compliant
• Provide technical environmental support by liaising with managers in preparation for and during external (FSC and PEFC) audits to ensure certification is maintained
• Maintain and promote environmental awareness to internal and external stakeholders through regular consultation and environmental reporting to keep stakeholders informed
• Participate in government/NGO initiatives by contributing and participating in broader landscape projects that promote Sappi as a responsible custodian of land (Stewardship, catchment management programmes)
• Provide technical environmental knowledge by contributing to technical working groups to guide the development and implementation of forestry-related regulations and certification standards

What are we looking for?

• An MSc degree in the natural sciences of Botany, Zoology, or Environmental Management
• Registered with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP)
• 5 years relevant experience
• Valid Driver’s license

What’s in it for you?

• Opportunity to work within a global organisation that continues to thrive in a rapidly changing world even after 80 years of existence
• Learning and development programmes to fast-track your career within Sappi
• Opportunities to travel (dependent on upon the role)
• Market leading leave benefits
• Employee wellbeing benefits