SKA Mid-Site Environmental Officer

Job level: Skilled / Middle Management
Work location: Carnarvon, Northern Cape
Contract type: Long Term Contract
Period of Contract: 6 years
Closing date: 16 October 2022

The National Research Foundation (NRF) supports and promotes research and human capital development through funding, the provision of National Research Facilities and science outreach platforms and programmes to the broader community in all fields of science and technology, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities.

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Telescope is an international effort by more than a dozen countries to build the world’s largest, most advanced radio telescopes in South Africa and Australia. Both South Africa and Australia are co-host members of the SKA Observatory (SKAO), a UK-based intergovernmental organisation responsible for the construction and operation of the SKA telescopes.
The first phase of the SKA will consist of two telescopes:
South Africa will host the mid-frequency telescope (SKA-Mid). SKA-Mid will comprise up to 197 dishes spread along spiral arms spanning 150 km in the Karoo, Northern Cape. The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), a facility of the National Research Foundation, is responsible for managing all radio astronomy initiatives and facilities in South Africa, including the MeerKAT Radio
Telescope, a precursor to the SKA telescope.

Australia will host the SKA’s low-frequency telescope (SKA-Low). SKA-Low will comprise up to 131,072 antennas in clusters along spiral arms spanning 65 km at CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) in WA.

The SKAO Site Environmental Officer (EO) will form part of the SKAO Site Management Team reporting to the SKAO HSE Manager. The Site Environmental Officer will be based on the SKA Site in the Karoo on a full-time basis (85 km outside the town of Carnarvon in the Northern Cape), and be willing to reside in Carnarvon. The SKAO Site Environmental Officer will be responsible for the implementation and monitoring of Contractor Environmental Management Plans (EMPrs) during construction and ensuring SKAO compliance during operations. The SKAO Site Environmental Officer will be responsible for the environmental compliance and best practice involved with construction, operation, and decommissioning phases of the SKA project. The SKAO Site Environmental Officer will assist the SKAO HSE Manager with the development and implementation of the SKAO HSE Programme in South Africa.

Key responsibilities:

• Reporting directly to SKAO HSE Manager,
• Responding to contractors environmental communications and escalating, where necessary, to the SKAO HSE Manager,
• Will be required to reside in Carnarvon, and be based on the SKA site at Carnarvon in the Karoo, Northern Cape on a full-time basis
• Coordinating the efforts with site environmental procedures,
• Maintaining surveillance and compliance to contractor EMPrs and the SKA Integrated Environmental Management Plan (IEMP),
• In liaison with NEC Supervisor/NEC Project Manager, monitoring environmental practice and compliance on site,
• In liaison with NEC Supervisor/NEC Project Manager, receiving environmental incident and near-miss reports as required,
• Completing a daily environmental incident log and complaints record sheet which are available for inspection at any time,
• Notifying externally appointed Environmental Control Officer (ECO) of any incidents or complaints,
• Notifying Contractor EOs of any serious environmental non-compliance issues immediately,
• Regularly visiting construction areas, site facilities and installations and report all environmental deficiencies,
• Recording all visits and site environmental control reports,
• Administering the environmental/heritage policies and procedures and new employee environmental induction training, including contractor and sub-contractor employees,
• Attending all relevant site environmental meetings,
• Assisting in the preparation and review of environmental management plans,
• Controlling the maintenance of site-specific environmental requirements,
• If required, representing the SKAO in environmental visits or investigations by government departments, statutory authorities and insurance agencies,
• Participating in all relevant environmental training,
• Reporting to the HSE Manager all specific or critical environmental issues,
• In liaison with NEC Supervisor, advising the NEC Project Manager and SKAO HSE Manager if a contractor has substantially broken an environmental regulation and monitor subsequent rectification,
• In liaison with relevant third parties, contributing and developing continuous improvement environmental observations and recommendations.

Key requirements:
Qualification:

• A recognised Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science or Environmental Management with a minimum of 5 years experience on a construction site; OR
• A recognised National Diploma in Environmental Science or Environmental Management with a minimum of 7 years experience on a construction site;
• Registration with a legally recognised professional registration organisation such as the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) or the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa (EAPASA),
• Valid driver’s licence.

Experience:

• Proven knowledge of National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and regulations,
• Proven knowledge of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act,
• Proven knowledge of environmental aspect Hazard Identification and Risk Management Processes,
• Sound knowledge of environmental incident investigation processes and their causation phenomena,
• Knowledge and experience in the development and/or implementation of environmental management systems,
• Knowledge and experience of environmental auditing as per ISO 14001 standards,
• Environmental Auditing and inspection training,
• Experience in building strong people relationships, general management practices and experience in managing and leading contractor environmental teams,
• Extensive knowledge and interpretation of HSE Management Systems, procedures and policies including document control,
• Valid driver’s licence,
• Environment, (Health and Safety), Construction,
• Proven track record in working with contractors on construction sites,
• Environmental Risk Management; and
• Quality management.

Knowledge:

• Project processes

Additional notes:
Ability to

• Solve problems and resolve conflict;
• Provide solutions that are practical and pragmatic;
• Ability to operate alone and within a team under pressure;
• Self-motivating with a positive attitude;
• Ability to learn new software packages used during construction (e.g. ALIM, CEMAR, Incident and Accident Reporting tools).
• Ability and willingness to travel between various Northern Cape locations and be prepared to reside in Carnarvon and be based on site on a permanent basis.

Organisational Values
The SKA-Mid Environmental Officer will be expected to demonstrate the SARAO and SKAO’s values, and to work actively to instill those behaviours in all SKA-Mid staff in South Africa.

SKAO’s values are:

• Diversity and Inclusion
• Excellence
• Collaboration
• Creativity and Innovation
• Sustainability

SARAO’s values are:

• Passion for Excellence
• World-class service
• People-centered
• Respect
• Integrity and Ethics
• Accountability
• Both SARAO and SKAO value and respect difference and are committed to building an inclusive culture by creating an environment where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will do your best at work if you have a work / life balance.

Information:

The website www.nrf.ac.za provides more details on the NRF initiatives and activities.

Applications:

Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by logging to https://ess.nrf.ac.za/Account/Recruitment and apply online. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating the applicant’s suitability for the position. The names and contact details of at least three referees should be provided.

The NRF offers a challenging career and competitive remuneration package which is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The NRF is committed to employment equity and redress and the appointment to the position will be made in line with the NRF Employment Equity Plan.

The NRF reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Correspondence will be sent to short-listed candidates only.