Capricorn Group is recruiting a Sustainability Specialist, in Windhoek, Namibia.
Description
- The Sustainability Specialist will oversee and manage the development, implementation, and reporting of the company's sustainability and ESG initiatives
- This role plays a crucial part in driving the organisation’s commitment to sustainable practices by integrating sustainability and ESG aspects across the Group and identifying, measuring, and reporting on the sustainability or non-financial performance metrics most relevant to the Group
- The Specialist will collaborate with various departments and key stakeholders to proactively mitigate risks and identify opportunities while addressing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance and ensuring compliance with the existing and new globally and regionally accepted reporting and disclosure standards. In addition, the Sustainability Specialist must know how to leverage opportunities to benefit the Group and its stakeholders
- Should be able to drive a practical and business-focused approach to assist the Group and its entities in integrating Sustainability and ESG into their strategy and operations to improve business continuity, build brand value, and enhance risk resilience to support the Group's overall growth and reduce the environmental footprint and strengthening the social contribution by following sound Corporate Governance
- (SP7) - Group Strategy
Duties
- Assist in developing initiatives and implementing the Group and its subsidiary’s sustainability and ESG strategy
- Establish and maintain a system for collecting, tracking, and reporting sustainability data and ESG metrics across the organisation
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure accurate and timely data collection, including environmental impact, social responsibility, and corporate governance metrics
- Conduct regular assessments of the company's sustainability performance and identify areas for improvement
- Prepare detailed and concise sustainability reports for internal stakeholders, executive leadership, investors, and other stakeholders
- Stay informed about evolving ESG reporting guidelines, regulations, and industry best practices to enhance reporting accuracy and relevance
- Engage with external agencies, industry associations, and sustainability organisations to benchmark and align the company's sustainability efforts
- Assist with sustainability-related communications and engagement efforts to raise awareness and promote the company's commitment to sustainability and ESG initiatives
- Support the development and execution of sustainability-related initiatives and programs to drive positive impacts and enhance the company's reputation
- Collaborate with Investor Relations and Corporate Communications teams to address sustainability inquiries from key stakeholders such as investors, specialists, and the media
- Design and assist in conducting training and awareness programs for employees on sustainability practices and the importance of ESG initiatives
- Assist in preparing sustainability-related information for internal and external reports, and other relevant disclosures
- Role Deliverables:
- Strategic Focus
- Cultivate strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, comprehending the Group's sustainability needs based on a solid grasp of current ESG challenges and regulatory frameworks
- Evaluate sustainability maturity and ensure progress towards Integration Programme objectives
- Support the Group and entity sustainability journeys, from strategy implementation to reporting and disclosure
- Assist in managing the Group's Sustainability Integration Programme, especially the s carbon emissions portfolios (scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions), environmental risk, and environmental footprint
- Enhance Sustainability and ESG frameworks, policies, and guidance documents, incorporating relevant factors
- Identify, quantify, and prioritize the materiality of ESG factors impacting the Group and entities under different scenarios
- Provide expert advice, prepare, and review non-financial reports
- Stay informed about global, regional, and local ESG and Sustainability regulatory requirements and expectations
- Coordination of Sustainability-related functions across the Capricorn Group
- With an astute understanding of Sustainability and ESG challenges, the candidate will play a pivotal role in our Sustainability team, focusing on domains such as:
- Refining sustainability strategy and integration programme and related initiatives
- Conducting continuous gap and performance assessments for Sustainability and ESG initiatives
- Assessing sustainability-related materiality
- Improving the collection and reporting of ESG data in compliance with laws and regulations
- Ensuring sustainability reporting adheres to the latest standards
- Supporting business development related to Sustainability and ESG, including stakeholder engagement events
- Managing projects, people, and change
- Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG)
- Conduct continuous research to embed ESG data and information into the Group's decision-making documents based on industry best practices
- Simplify the complex Sustainability and ESG data landscape to facilitate ESG adoption for the Group and entities
- Create and disseminate relevant knowledge about Sustainability initiatives, ESG policies, frameworks, and other aspects across various media platforms
- Assist in formulating and implementing a sustainability and ESG Strategy to support reporting and disclosure processes
- Business Acumen and Market Understanding
- Demonstrate awareness and understanding of sustainability and ESG-related activities of competitors and their impact on the Group and entities
- Actively monitor relevant sustainability and ESG trends in the financial services industry and offer recommendations to decision-making forums
- Stay well-informed about new and existing regulatory requirements related to Sustainable Finance and ESG to provide expert advice and maintain competitiveness
- Possess a sound understanding of sustainability and ESG-related financial products and services, as well as knowledge of market areas served
- Utilise Sustainability and ESG-related information to anticipate opportunities and identify climate threats for clients and the Group from a transitional and physical risk perspective
- Risk Management and Compliance
- Adhere to the Group's policies and procedures
- Identify opportunities to improve Sustainability-related products and services and collaborate with stakeholders for implementation
- Identify potential ESG and Sustainability-related risks and provide critical insights to relevant stakeholders on various communication platforms
- Relationship Building
- Build Sustainability-related relationships across all hierarchical levels within and outside the Group to develop a credible and relevant network, transfer skills, and access leading-edge non-financial and market information
- Research and Reporting
- Conduct in-depth research on Sustainability-related initiatives, projects, and other aspects to facilitate informed decision-making
- Report on various Sustainability aspects of the business, including Sustainable Finance, Sustainability-oriented Culture initiatives, Sustainability-related Opportunities, and Sustainability & ESG Risk Management
- Personal Development
- Take ownership of and drive developmental aspects as per the Performance Development Plan
- Engage in continuous coaching conversations
- Seize opportunities presented by stakeholders to grow professionally
- Embrace the Capricorn Way and foster positive change
Requisites
- Experience/Knowledge and Skills:
- Proven experience in sustainability reporting, ESG analysis, or related fields, with at least 5-8 years of relevant experience
- Passionate about sustainability and driving positive change within an organisation
- Strong understanding of ESG frameworks, such as GRI, SASB, TCFD, and IFRS S1 and S2 and related global standards
- An added advantage would be relevant experience or exposure in decarbonisation strategies, impact measurement, and financial and non-financial as well as regulatory reporting
- Possess strong technical, quantitative, and analytical abilities to solve new problems innovatively
- Ability to network effectively within large organisation’s and build relationships with colleagues and clients
- Demonstrate strategic thinking capabilities while identifying, developing, and implementing practical solutions
- Be adaptable and able to work independently when required
- Knowledge of environmental regulations, social impact measurement, and corporate governance principles
- Excellent analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex data sets to identify trends and insights
- Proficiency in data management and reporting tools
- Strong project management skills with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives effectively
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex sustainability topics to diverse audiences
- Detail-oriented and able to maintain accuracy while managing multiple tasks and deadlines
- Qualifications:
- A master’s degree in finance, Sustainability, Environmental Sciences, or equivalent
Notes
- Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted