Associate/Technical Director: Environmental Specialist
Zutari: Co-creating an engineered impact.
Zutari (formerly known as Aurecon) is a well-established, management-owned engineering firm with almost 90 years’ experience. As human-centred engineering consultants and advisors, we are trusted by our clients, business partners, communities and other stakeholders across Africa and the Middle East.
We co-create engineering solutions that have a positive impact and improve people’s lives. Zutari values inclusion and recognises the importance of a diverse, talented workforce, believing that people need other people to succeed.
What kind of talent do we pursue?
We employ people with the right attitude and a positive mindset, who are motivated by doing the right thing, getting things done and share a sense of urgency. People who have an impact in our teams and broader community. People who think differently and connect with those around them to co-create new opportunities and leave a meaningful legacy.
We’re looking for an Associate/ Technical Director for our Environmental team based in Cape Town, to lead and assist in growing this thriving business. The successful candidate will play a key role in helping Zutari to make an engineered impact. The successful candidate must be a self-starter and team player who can work under pressure whilst maintaining attention to detail, cost and quality controls. The successful candidate will be responsible for the management and implementation of a range of projects or substantial tasks within broader projects.
In fulfilling this responsibility, the candidate will be responsible for assisting clients to manage and mitigate their environmental and social statutory risk through providing advice and preparing regulatory impact assessment reports to obtain approval for new developments or demonstrate compliance with already permitted projects. The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of project management (methodology, proposal/ report compilation, budget control, timely completing of project, presentation skills etc.), and have the ability to network with clients, problem solve where appropriate, work as part of a team, and independently.
Expertise in public and stakeholder participation, authority consultation, and project administration is also required. The candidate will report on a project-to-project basis to a manager, whilst also leading the Cape Town Environmental team and project portfolio. The job description, responsibilities, and minimum requirements for this role, are detailed below:
Role Responsibilities
- Contribute to the leadership and growth of the Environmental service line which will include developing and fostering relationships with key and global clients.
- Contribute to the growth and diversity of the larger Sustainability Market and taking full responsibility for the compliance of company policies and procedures, legislative requirements and act as a role model for Zutari values and culture.
- Foster relationships with the rest of the Zutari business as key partners for the delivery of our Environmental Services.
- Technical leadership of the Environmental Service Line based in Cape Town, including project management, financial management, resource management and management of technical and commercial risk.
- Business development locally and internationally in conjunction with the relevant Competency Leaders and Client Engagement Teams.
- Responsible for the full project leadership functions on large, complex environmental projects across Africa.
- Must be able to manage projects or components of projects, take responsibility for resource allocation, liaise with clients, specialists, stakeholders and authorities, manage quality assurance/client feedback and ensure he/she meets budgetary, quality, safety and timeframe targets, while exceeding client expectations.
- Must have the ability to source new work and demonstrate experience in developing and compiling technical and financial proposals for screening studies, Basic Assessments, Scoping & EIA and Amendment Applications, amongst others.
- Proven experience in managing and coordinating specialists and quality review of specialist study reports.
Minimum Requirements
- A Post Graduate qualification (preferably a minimum of a master’s degree) in Environmental Sciences or equivalent fields is a requirement. You will need a minimum of 15 years’ experience, with at least 5 years of your professional career being in a senior role managing projects.
- Proven both commercial and managerial client engagement experience.
- Energy, Oil & Gas and/ or Mining sector experience would be beneficial.
- EAPASA registered (of equivalent).
- Must be able to proactively define and articulate environmental impacts through well-written screening studies, Basic Assessment Reports, Scoping Reports, Environmental Impact Assessment Reports and EMPRs.
- Advanced knowledge and fluency in relevant environmental policies, legislation, regulations, guidelines and international standards (specifically IFC Performance Standards and various Lender Standards).
- Must have worked on projects across various sectors within Africa.
- Must have excellent communication and report writing skills and be confident to liaise with key clients, stakeholders and authorities. Fluency in English (reading, writing and speaking) is required. Competency in other languages is considered an advantage.
- LinkedIn profile fully populated and kept up to date.
- Applicants must be willing to travel and have a valid driver’s licence.
We believe that a diverse workforce is key to our business success. We seek the best people for our jobs based on their skills, qualifications, and experience. We embrace the principle of equal opportunity in employment, and we work towards eliminating all forms of unlawful discrimination in our employment practices. In support of diversity and the equal opportunity principle, preference will be given to individuals from designated groups within South Africa.
