Environmental Compliance Officer

China Harbour Engineering Company （SA）Office; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 700 000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering firm in Johannesburg is looking for an Environmental Compliance Officer to ensure environmental compliance and sustainability performance across projects. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and at least 5 years of experience in environmental management. Responsibilities include conducting inspections, preparing reports, and maintaining compliance documentation. This position requires knowledge of environmental laws and excellent problem-solving skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in environmental management, preferably in construction or industrial projects.
• At least 2 years in large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Familiarity with ISO 14001 systems and best industry practices.

Responsibilities

• Oversee environmental compliance and sustainability performance.
• Conduct daily environmental compliance inspections.
• Prepare environmental reports and maintain compliance documents.

Skills

Knowledge of environmental laws

Report writing

Data analysis

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering or related discipline

Master’s degree

Tools

Environmental monitoring equipment

Job description

Introduction

Company Overview

China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC), established in the 1980s, is a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company Ltd. (CCCC) — a Global Fortune 500 enterprise. CHEC operates in over 100 countries and regions through more than 90 branches and subsidiaries, with a workforce of over 78,000 employees. The company delivers large-scale international projects across marine, infrastructure, and mining sectors.

Position Overview

As an Environmental Compliance Officer within CHEC South Africa, you will oversee environmental compliance and sustainability performance across the project, ensuring adherence to ISO 14001, South African environmental legislation, and project permit conditions. This role combines technical leadership and site-based environmental management - driving environmental monitoring, impact mitigation, regulatory reporting, and continuous improvement to support safe, compliant, and responsible project execution.

Duties & Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Environmental Compliance & Permits
  • Ensure full compliance with ISO14001 and South African environmental laws, regulations, and project-specific permit conditions.
  • Support the development, submission, renewal, and monitoring of environmental permits (water use, waste management, emissions, biodiversity, hazardous substances).
  • Maintain an up-to-date register of environmental legal requirements.
• Environmental Management System (EMS)
  • Establish, implement and maintain the Project Environmental Management Plan (EMP), as well as continuously improvement.
  • Prepare, manage, support, review and update environmental procedures, method statements, and work instructions.
• Environmental Monitoring & Inspections
  • Conduct daily and weekly site environmental compliance inspections.
  • Monitor environmental indicators include but not limit to: dust, noise, water quality, waste generation, hazardous substance storage, erosion & sediment control, biodiversity protection,.
  • Prepare environmental inspection reports and track corrective actions until close-out.
• Environmental Impact Controls
  • Implement mitigation measures for air pollution, noise, water contamination, soil impact, and biodiversity protection.
  • Oversee erosion and sediment control measures (silt fencing, drainage, control).
  • Monitor waste management across the site and ensure proper segregation, storage, and disposal.
  • Support spill/leakage prevention and spill/leakage response activities.
  • Participate in environmental emergency drills (spill response, pollution control).
  • Maintain spill kits and ensure readiness for environmental incidents.
  • Support environmental communication with authorities and community representatives when required.
  • Assist in responding to environmental complaints and community concerns.
• Environmental Risk Assessment
  • Conduct environmental aspects and impacts assessments for new activities.
  • Participate in Hazard Identification (HAZID)/Environmental Impact Identification (ENVID) workshops.
  • Advise on risk mitigation measures and environmental controls.
• Training & Awareness
  • Conduct environmental inductions for all employees and contractors.
  • Deliver toolbox talks on relevant environmental topics.
  • Support competency development for site teams regarding environmental responsibilities.
• Environmental Reporting, documentation & Records
  • Prepare weekly and monthly environmental reports for the project.
  • Maintain monitoring data and records.
  • Support reporting requirements to authorities or the client (if applicable).
  • Track environmental KPIs and performance trends.
  • Maintain environmental logs, inspection records, permits, monitoring data, and compliance documents.
  • Manage environmental filing system and document control.

Desired Experience & Qualification

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Ecology, Natural Resources, or related discipline (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum 5 years of experience in environmental management, preferably within construction, mining, infrastructure, or industrial projects, with at least 2 years in large-scale infrastructure project.
• Experience with environmental monitoring equipment (dust meters, water sampling, noise meters).
• Familiarity with ISO 14001 systems and best industry practices.

Knowledge & Competencies

• Knowledge of environmental laws, permits, and standards.
• Understanding of waste management, erosion control, water management, biodiversity, and pollution prevention.
• Ability to identify and evaluate environmental risks.
• Report writing and data analysis skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with site teams and stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving and investigation skills.

Interested?