Associate Director, Strategic Environmental Planning & Assessment

Job Purpose:The Associate Director, Strategic Environmental Planning & Assessment will report to the Director, Environmental Planning and Appraisal. This position is responsible for environmental planning and management of strategic reviews of pre-concept designs, strategic environmental assessments and establishing environmental baseline conditions that inform the Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) framework and establish asset level targets/benchmarks for regeneration related studies. Another important aspect of this role is to sensitize the development teams to nurture nature-based recreation and tourism within RSG’s development concepts, a tool used globally for natural resource management and the rehabilitation and protection of the environment. The aim of this approach is to strengthen regenerative tourism within RSG offer and create opportunities for conservation value enhancement within the business case.The role entails demonstrated creativity, foresight, and mature scientific and practical judgement in anticipating and solving both routine and unusual environmental challenges at the strategic and tactical levels, particularly at the front end of the development cycle.Job Responsibilities:Support the technical management and performance of the planning and appraisal team with particular emphasis on adherence to RSG’s Environmental and Sustainability principles, policies and action plans/KPIsProvide management plans, proposal approvals and recommendations to sustainability teams and consultants; revise reports based on internal and external reviews, provide technical advice and guidance for implementation, etc.Key aspects of the role will be to direct the implementation of the business plan and strategic agenda, ensure work of the team is carried out efficiently and lead and manage the budget.Supervise and enhance the analysis of corporate activities and provide recommendations related to enhance their sustainability/ESG strategy, methods, framework, and related tools to support RSG in achieving its sustainability/ ESG objectives.Lead the development and reporting of ESG programs and related reporting, such as materiality assessments, peer benchmarking, stakeholder engagement, gap analysis, metric/KPI identification (in alignment with common sustainability/ESG reporting standards such as GRI), and the preparation of reporting (internal and external) materials. This will be in support to the GES’s ESG management office.Act as interface with the Development Team to understand the specific requirements of development and prepare detailed scopes of work for studies to inform ESIAs.Act as Project Manager for a portfolio of Strategic ESIA projects, accountability for project deliverables, providing ESIA and wider strategic adviceLead multiple and complex projects in sensitive ecosystems independently.Be the lead interface with consultants relative to their inquiries, requests for information, and any and all written and verbal communications with consultants about technical content of Studies/ESIAs at a corporate level. Conduct technical reviews of ESIA studies with a view to making the output robust and technically sound.Identify opportunities and propose innovative solutions for adding value to the RSG ESG frameworkCreate high quality work products/formal reports appropriate for public disclosure that clearly and logically frame risk identification and mitigation.Assess the capability levels within the organization and provide on-the-job training to junior colleagues.Represent the organization at technical meetings, industry events and environmental forums, as required.Serve as an internal leader and “go to” specialist for strategic environmental aspectsQualification and Experience:At least a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering or Environmental Ecological Engineering, Environmental Science or a closely related discipline to the role described above from a renowned institution.At least fifteen (15) years of professional experience which must comprise working in a diverse consulting environment, as well as operating as a client managing consultants’ performance.Project experience in the Middle East is beneficialDemonstrable Strategic ESIA or ESIA experience with effective application of IFC Performance Standards on large-scale projects (at least two projects with an overall value more than USD 200 million).Demonstrable experience of conducting and/or managing at least 2-3 ESIA studies in protected areas / sensitive ecological environments.