ESG Lead

Nurture Brands; Bellville; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Nurture Brands seeks an experienced ESG Lead to provide Group-level leadership, governance and oversight across ESG, health and safety, and environmental management. Based at Head Office, you will shape the Group ESG strategy and coordinate reporting and governance.

Subsidiary teams will own local implementation; you will set expectations, monitor progress, and consolidate Group performance for senior stakeholders. You will drive alignment with international standards and ensure audit readiness.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain and continuously improve the Group ESG strategy, governance framework, policies and Environmental and Social Management System.
• Translate Group ESG priorities into clear standards, expectations, reporting requirements and guidance for subsidiary teams to implement.
• Coordinate and consolidate ESG, H&S and environmental data from subsidiaries for quarterly and annual reporting to management, Exco, the Board, investors and other stakeholders.
• Maintain Group ESG action plans, risk registers, KPIs and dashboards; monitor subsidiary progress and elevate material risks, gaps or delays.
• Monitor relevant legislation, IFC Performance Standard 1 and international standards, and communicate material changes and required actions to subsidiaries.
• Set Group-level minimum standards for health and safety and environmental management, supporting subsidiaries with consistent interpretation and application.
• Coordinate Group stakeholder engagement, partnerships, ESG information requests and collaboration agreements, including MOUs where required.
• Oversee ESG assurance and audit readiness across the Group, including ISO 14001, ISO 45001, Sedex and other relevant accreditations; consolidate findings and track subsidiary action plans.

Job description

We are looking for an experienced ESG Lead to provide Group-level leadership, governance and oversight across ESG, health and safety, and environmental management. Based at Head Office, you will shape the Group ESG strategy, translate strategic objectives into clear expectations for subsidiaries, and coordinate reporting, assurance and governance. Subsidiary teams will own local implementation; your role is to provide direction, consistency, challenge and support while consolidating Group performance for senior stakeholders.

What You Will Own

• Develop, maintain and continuously improve the Group ESG strategy, governance framework, policies and Environmental and Social Management System.
• Translate Group ESG priorities into clear standards, expectations, reporting requirements and guidance for subsidiary teams to implement.
• Coordinate and consolidate ESG, H&S and environmental data from subsidiaries for quarterly and annual reporting to management, Exco, the Board, investors and other stakeholders.
• Maintain Group ESG action plans, risk registers, KPIs and dashboards; monitor subsidiary progress and elevate material risks, gaps or delays.
• Monitor relevant legislation, IFC Performance Standard 1 and international standards, and communicate material changes and required actions to subsidiaries.
• Set Group-level minimum standards for health and safety and environmental management, supporting subsidiaries with consistent interpretation and application.
• Coordinate Group stakeholder engagement, partnerships, ESG information requests and collaboration agreements, including MOUs where required.
• Oversee ESG assurance and audit readiness across the Group, including ISO 14001, ISO 45001, Sedex and other relevant accreditations; consolidate findings and track subsidiary action plans.

What Success Looks Like

• A clear Group ESG strategy is in place and translated into practical priorities and expectations for each subsidiary.
• ESG, H&S and environmental reporting is accurate, timely, consistent and decision-useful, with reliable subsidiary inputs.
• Accountabilities are clear: Group provides strategy, governance, coordination and oversight, while subsidiaries own local implementation.
• Material ESG risks, legislative changes and performance gaps are identified early, communicated clearly and escalated appropriately.
• The Group is well prepared for ISO 14001, ISO 45001, Sedex and other relevant audits or accreditations, with findings and actions tracked effectively.