HSSE Officer

NatCarbon Africa; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A mission-driven environmental organization in Gqeberha seeks an HSSE Officer for the Spekboom Restoration Project. The role involves managing health, safety, security, and environmental aspects of the project. Responsibilities include ensuring compliance with regulations, promoting a safety culture, and conducting risk assessments. Candidates should have a relevant diploma, HSSE management certification, and at least 5 years of experience in a similar role. This position offers the chance to work on impactful environmental restoration initiatives in a dynamic team.

Benefits

Health care and life insurance

Contributions to retirement plan

Paid time off

Professional development funding

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years proven experience as an HSE officer or similar role, preferably in agriculture or forestry sectors.
• Fluency in English, with ability to converse in Xhosa or Afrikaans advantageous.
• In-depth knowledge of HSSE regulations and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Ensure a proactive HSSE culture across the project.
• Monitor site activities and report on non-compliance.
• Conduct toolbox talks and safety awareness training.
• Assist in conducting risk assessments and manage HSSE risks.

Skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Attention to detail

Decision-making

Organizational skills

Education

Relevant diploma in Environmental Science or Occupational Health and Safety

Valid certification in HSSE management

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Overview

HSSE Officer, Spekboom Restoration Project

HSSE Department

Location: Gqeberha, Eastern Cape

Reports to: HSSE Manager

Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary adventure that will revitalise landscapes, combat climate change, and promote sustainable agriculture? Join NatCarbon Africa: a mission-driven, proudly African organisation dedicated to high-quality implementation of large-scale carbon, climate, and biodiversity projects. We embrace the power of innovative technology to enhance project execution. Community engagement lies at the heart of our projects, driven by a genuine commitment to meaningful and inclusive participation and co-benefits, such as biodiversity conservation and socioeconomic upliftment.

NatCarbon Africa seeks a HSSE Officer in the HSSE Department for the large-scale Spekboom Restoration Project in the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa.

With our partner, Imperative Global, our aim is to restore up to 100,000 hectares of degraded subtropical thicket biome. The Project entails planting Spekboom (Portulacaria afra) on privately owned land to improve ecosystem functioning and agricultural productivity over time, promote biodiversity, improve soil filtration, enhance water storage capabilities, and to reduce soil erosion. The Project is estimated to permanently store large quantities of Carbon Dioxide over the Project life, thus positively contributing towards climate change mitigation.

Position Summary

Reporting to the HSSE Manager, the HSSE Officer is responsible for managing the health, safety, security, and environment aspects of the Project. The HSSE Officer is responsible for ensuring that all activities are carried out safely and in compliance with relevant regulations and standards in field. Working across the project to promote a culture of safety and environmental responsibility in the organisation and support the safety and environmental aspects for all project activities.

Responsibilities

• Ensure a proactive HSSE culture, including buy-in from our partners, employees and contractors.
• Assist the HSSE manager in designing, developing and reviewing relevant HSSE procedures and systems.
• Monitor site activities and report on non-compliance.
• Report on unsafe acts and working conditions.
• Enforce safety procedures in field.
• Conduct toolbox talks and safety awareness training.
• Check and report on equipment and personal protective equipment.
• Assist with reviewing and assessment of the occupational HSSE hazards and risks (including security and community) as well as environmental risks to the Project. This assessment could form the basis of the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) of the Project.
• Assist with conducting risk assessments, including identifying, prioritizing, mitigating and managing significant HSSE risks with an up-to-date risk register and associated tools and processes.
• Assist to deliver a quality safety culture program and associated actions amongst staff and stakeholders.
• Assist with Establishing an HSSE competency system to ensure that employees have the necessary competency to safely carry out the tasks expected of them.
• Assist with Investigations and report on incidents and accidents, compile action plans and track corrective actions to completion, including defining and classifying HSSE incidents (e.g. exposure hours, recordable cases, lost time injuries, high potential incidents).
• Conduct regular audits at various locations and implement tracking process to review results during and after each audit.

General

• Embrace a culture of continuous learning by adapting to evolving job responsibilities, driven by NatCarbon Africa’s commitment to innovation, personal growth, and shifting operational priorities.
• Some travel within the Eastern and Western Cape may be required, including to remote locations, with occasional weekend or holiday work to accommodate schedules. Work hours may be irregular.
• This outline of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive. The employer reserves the right to assign additional duties or responsibilities at any time, provided they are reasonably aligned with the scope of the role or necessitated by operational requirements. The functions and responsibilities detailed within this job description may be subject to modification at the employer’s discretion, based on evolving operational requirements, while remaining consistent with the parameters of the employee’s position.

Skills

• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Physically fit with regular visitation to work sites to support project teams and conduct audits and/or investigations which may be in remote areas.
• Have extremely well-developed communication and excellent reporting writing skills.
• Must be able to work effectively under pressure and with minimal supervision.
• Adopt an entrepreneurial and innovative mindset.
• Demonstrate a high level of personal integrity and be passionate about making a positive difference to the world.
• Highly organized with solid attention to detail.

Qualifications

• The position requires a relevant diploma in Environmental Science, Occupational Health and Safety, or a related field.
• Valid certification in HSSE management (e.g., NEBOSH, OSHA, SAMTRAC) is required.
• Advantageous: Internal Auditors qualification: ISO 45001 and relevant experience will be advantageous.
• Advantageous: Registration to a relevant health and safety organisation: SIAOSH; SACPCMP; IOSH.

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum of 5 years proven experience as an HSE officer or similar role preferably with experience working in environmental, agriculture or forestry sectors.
• Proven experience in Auditing, Inspection, Incident Management & Investigation.
• In-depth knowledge of HSSE regulations and best practices.
• Good understanding of HSSE management systems, proven experience in the application of HSSE management systems (an advantage).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Fluency in English (with ability to converse in Xhosa and/or Afrikaans advantageous).

Working Conditions

• Frequent travel within the Eastern and Western Cape anticipated, including to remote locations. Travel may on occasion cross weekends and holidays to accommodate schedules. Work hours may be irregular.

You will join a great team!

• We are from diverse locations and backgrounds, but all experts in our respective fields. We bring together a wide range of cross-sector experiences, ideas, and skills.
• We are relentless in our pursuit of excellence and innovation, always pushing the boundaries and challenging the status quo, while supporting each other’s growth and development.
• We are explorers, constantly learning, evolving, and seeking new ways to deliver impactful solutions. We dream big, take risks, and step out of our comfort zones because we know that together, we can achieve great things.

Compensation

NatCarbon Africa pays employees competitively to the market, depending on experience. Salary is one component of NatCarbon Africa’s total compensation package which also includes health care and life insurance, contributions to each employee’s retirement plan, paid time off and funds to support professional development. We will recognise employees who go beyond expected performance with salary increases and/or promotions.

How to Apply

To apply, please send us the following:

• Cover letter (not to exceed one page).
• Resume/CV (not to exceed three pages).

Please add app.bamboohr.com to your contact list to ensure you receive emails from us

NatCarbon Africa provides equal opportunity for all job applicants and employees and is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination.

Only applications received online via the NatCarbon website or LinkedIn Page will be considered