Senior Environmental Consultant

WSP in Africa; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP in Africa seeks an experienced Senior Environmental Consultant to lead EIAs/ESIAs for infrastructure and mining projects across Africa. Based in South Africa, you will manage multidisciplinary teams, budgets and client relationships while delivering high-quality technical outputs.

You will apply strong analytical, project management and report-writing skills, engage stakeholders, and support environmental and social due diligence assignments.

Qualifications

• Master's degree as stated.
• 6–10 years of relevant experience in environmental consulting.
• Experience conducting EIAs/ESIAs in South Africa.
• Experience on large or complex infrastructure/mining projects.
• Professional registration or eligibility with EAPASA/SACNASP or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Deliver EIAs/ESIAs and related authorisation processes.
• Lead and support environmental and social assessment projects for large/infrastructure/mining projects.
• Support environmental and social due diligence assignments, including reviews and risk assessments.
• Manage projects, budgets, schedules, deliverables and multidisciplinary teams.
• Review and quality-assure specialist studies and inputs.
• Lead stakeholder engagement and public participation processes.
• Manage client relationships and present findings and recommendations.
• Prepare high-quality technical reports and proposals.

Skills

Project management

EIAs/ESIAs

Environmental due diligence

Stakeholder engagement

Report writing

Client relationships

Education

Master's degree in Environmental Science/Management

Job description

Responsibilities

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?

At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

A Little More About Your Role

We are looking for an experienced Environmental Assessment Practitioner to join our Environmental Planning and Advisory team as a Senior Environmental Consultant. The successful candidate will lead and support environmental and social impact assessments for infrastructure and projects in South Africa and beyond. You will also be exposed to environmental and social due diligence assignments for a variety of projects. The role requires a client‑facing consultant who can manage projects, budgets, schedules, multidisciplinary teams and client relationships while delivering high‑quality technical outputs.

Prior environmental and social due diligence experience would be advantageous but is not required. We are primarily seeking a strong EIA/ESIA practitioner with excellent analytical, project management and report‑writing skills, and an interest in broadening their experience into environmental and social due diligence, ESG advisory services and international lender standards.

The role offers exposure to complex projects across Africa, multidisciplinary teams, international clients and environmental and social advisory services, allowing the successful candidate to further develop their technical, consulting and advisory skills in a dynamic team.

You will:

• Deliver EIAs/ ESIAs and related environmental authorisation processes.
• Lead and support local and international environmental and social assessment projects for large and/or complex infrastructure and mining projects.
• Support environmental and social due diligence assignments, including technical reviews, risk assessments, regulatory reviews and gap analyses.
• Manage projects, budgets, schedules, deliverables, resources, subcontractors and multidisciplinary specialist teams.
• Review, integrate and quality‑assure specialist studies and technical inputs.
• Lead and support stakeholder engagement and public participation processes.
• Manage client relationships, lead client meetings and present findings, risks and recommendations.
• Prepare high‑quality technical reports, client deliverables and proposals, and contribute to business development activities.

Health and Safety

• Role model standards for SHEQ performance and behaviour consistent with the company’s health, safety, environmental and quality vision and policies by influencing those around you
• Contributing to the identification of SHEQ risks and driving processes to achieve Zero Harm
• Embracing, displaying and promoting the company values and ensuring a safe working environment is maintained at all times

About You

• Master's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Management or a related discipline.
• Between 6 and 10 years' relevant experience in environmental consulting.
• Demonstrated experience conducting EIAs and/or ESIAs in South Africa.
• Experience on large and/or complex infrastructure and/or mining projects.
• Professional registration, or eligibility for professional registration, with EAPASA, SACNASP or equivalent.
• Experience managing projects, budgets, multidisciplinary teams and client relationships.
• Sound knowledge of South African environmental legislation and environmental authorisation processes.
• Ability and willingness to travel within South Africa and elsewhere in Africa, and a valid driver's licence.

KEY COMPETENCIES AND GENERIC SKILLS:

• Strong analytical, problem‑solving and synthesis skills.
• Excellent technical report‑writing and communication skills in fluent English.
• Strong project management skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills.
• Ability to manage specialist teams and review specialist inputs.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of deliverables.
• Commercial awareness and ability to prepare proposals and support business development.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to technical quality.

The following will be advantageous:

• Experience elsewhere in Africa and/or across energy, transport, mining, water or other infrastructure sectors.
• Exposure to international lender standards, such as the IFC Performance Standards, Equator Principles, EBRD PRs or AfDB safeguards.
• Exposure to environmental and social due diligence or lender advisory assignments.
• Knowledge of specialist areas such as biodiversity, human rights, labour, resettlement or livelihood restoration.
• Ability to read, write or converse in French, Portuguese or other languages spoken in Africa.