Environmental Officer (Specialised Production): 4 posts available for a 12 month contract period at Western Cape Government

Minimum Requirements    

• 4-year Degree or equivalent qualification in Natural or Environmental Sciences; Registration with the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa (EAPASA) as an Environmental Assessment Practitioner or South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP); A valid driving licence.

Recommendation    

• Relevant experience in Environmental Impact Assesssment.

Key Performance Areas    

• Provision of technical /procedural advice and support to organs of state relating to EIA/ impact management, including: Advice relating to EIA Pre-Application and application processes;
• Development of guideline documents and capacity building material aimed at support to organs of state (in liaison with the Development Management Directorate);
• Assisting with/contributing to engagements with assigned Municipalities as per the Department’s Municipal Outreach Programmes (MOPs);
• Participating in Environmental Capacity building ativities that relates to the implementation of the NEMA EIA regulations, in order to promote compliance with legislative requirements;

Land Assembly Services to Organs of State, including:

• Utilising GIS as a tool, to screen assigned properties from an environmental perspective to identify possible EIA triggers;
• During the 12-month contract, the team must screen over 1,200 sites;
• Site visits to confirm conditions, as instructed;
• Liaison with relevant organs of state to facilitate screening and environmental impact management in general;
• Report writing in terms of environmental screening outomes;
• Assisting with promoting proactive environmental impact management, including but not limited to the adoption of ad-hoc urban areas, development setback lines and the like;
• General land assembly support services, as instructed.

Competencies    
Knowledge of the following:

• The integrated environmental management process;
• Applicable environmental legislation, National and Provincial policies;
• Biophysical, social, cultural and heritage and the economic environments;
• The functioning of comparative ecosystems, social interactions and other environmental aspects;
• Methodologies andt echniques for the evaluation of Environmental Impact Assessments;
• Methodologies and techniques for the evaluation of environmental management plans, as well as environmental monitoring and auditing;
• Policies, environmental related legislation and ennvironmental matters in the region;
• Related sectors/ fields e.g. mining, agriculture, water industry, forward planning,town and regional planning;
• Computer Literacy( MS Word,Excel);
• Communication skills (written and verbal);
• Information technology;
• Project Management; Time management; Analytical skills.