Associate Consultant - Environmental And Social Due Diligence (Esdd)

Wsp Africa; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 60 000 - 100 000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a skilled Environmental and Social Specialist to lead impactful projects across Africa. This role involves delivering Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD) and Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), engaging with senior stakeholders, and ensuring compliance with international standards. You will contribute to a dynamic team focused on transforming society through sustainable practices. If you have a passion for environmental stewardship and extensive experience in the field, this opportunity is perfect for you. Join a diverse team committed to making a difference in the world.

Benefits

Work-life balance options

Medical cover

Generous leave

Professional subscriptions

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience leading ESDD and ESIA assignments in Africa.
• In-depth knowledge of international ESG standards like IFC and World Bank.

Responsibilities

• Lead local and international ESDD projects, ensuring compliance with standards.
• Engage with senior clients, providing guidance on environmental aspects.

Skills

Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD)

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)

Client engagement

Project management

Technical report writing

Knowledge of ESG standards

Fluency in French or Portuguese

Knowledge of environmental sub-disciplines

Education

Honours or higher degree in environmental/social discipline

Job description

Company Description

We are WSP - Join us and make your career future ready! Think bigger scale, higher profile, and ground-breaking projects. Join WSP, and you'll be at the heart of a team of international experts dedicated to growing and sharing their expertise, working on projects that transform society for all of us. WSP is one of the most diverse consulting firms in Africa and the largest environmental consulting firm globally.

To further our strategic business execution plan, we are seeking leaders who share our guiding principles: valuing our people and reputation; being locally dedicated with international scale; being future-focused and challenging the status quo; fostering collaboration; having an empowering culture; and holding ourselves accountable.

Job Description

This role can be based in Johannesburg, Durban, or Cape Town.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Lead or play a prominent role in delivering local and international (Africa) Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD) projects, typically Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) due diligence, supporting corporate mergers and acquisitions against Lender standards.
2. Engage with clients and stakeholders at the senior executive level, providing support and guidance on critical environmental and social aspects affecting investment decisions.
3. Prepare and implement Environmental and Social Management Systems (ESMS).
4. Manage key client relationships, participate in marketing and business development activities, and develop ESDD proposals.
5. Contribute to and drive the business strategy for the ESDD service sector.
6. Support the delivery of ESIAs in line with South African and international lender standards, and conduct permit compliance audits as per South African legal requirements.
7. Deliver local and international (Africa) ESDD projects.
8. Undertake permit compliance audits according to South African legal requirements.
9. Model standards for SHEQ performance, influence safety and environmental policies, and promote a safe working environment.

Qualifications:

• An Honours or higher degree in a relevant environmental and/or social discipline.
• 8+ years of experience as an environmental and/or social specialist leading and delivering ESDD and ESIA assignments in Africa.

Other Requirements:

• In-depth knowledge of international ESG standards (e.g., IFC, AfDB, EBRD, ILO, King II/IV, World Bank).
• Project experience in sectors like power, infrastructure, ports, mining, oil & gas, manufacturing.
• Knowledge of environmental and social sub-disciplines (air quality, ecology, occupational health, resettlement, labor practices).
• Strong experience in Sub-Saharan Africa, with ability to travel.
• Excellent technical report writing skills in English.
• Project management and client engagement skills.
• Preference for candidates fluent in French or Portuguese, with knowledge of Impact Investing, Sustainability reporting, and Governance.
• Experience with international ESIAs and EHS audits is advantageous.

Additional Information

WSP offers work-life balance options, competitive pay, benefits including medical cover, generous leave, and professional subscriptions. We promote an inclusive culture, encouraging applications from all backgrounds and abilities, and ensure disabled applicants meeting essential criteria are interviewed.