Environment & Sustainability Lead

Description:

We encourage applicants from all backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTIQ+ community, veterans, refugees, and people with disability. We support an inclusive workplace where staff have access to opportunities and resources at all levels, enabling our team members to drive innovation, productivity and delivery of high-quality services. We provide dignified access to reasonable adjustments both during the recruitment process and in the workplace. If you require reasonable adjustment during the recruitment process, please call or text the contact for this role.

We are seeking a highly motivated Environment and Sustainability Lead for our Sustainability and Circular Economy team. Your new team leads on strategic circular economy, net zero and sustainability initiatives across the Special Activation Precincts program. Ideally, you will have an eye for detail, strong project management skills, sound judgment and a curious mind. Your role with the Regional Growth (NSW) Development Corporation (RGDC) will help achieve the economic growth and exemplar sustainability performance objectives of the Precincts across regional NSW.

Your main responsibility will be establishing and implementing the ISO 14001 certified Environmental Management System (EMS) for the SAPs. This is a critical role to ensure the operation of the Precincts aligns with the UNIDO Eco Industrial Park Framework – a key sustainability commitment of the program. You will also support the team’s broader work program on Circular Economy, Net Zero, governance, data management and digital reporting.

Specific aspects of the role include:

• Implement, manage and build processes and systems to support the accreditation, reporting and ongoing assurance requirements of ISO 14001 certified EMS.
• Proactively brief Manager on changes in policy settings, industry leading practice or relevant parties’ performance of tasks that affect the status and/or currency of the Corporations’ EMS and broader sustainability objectives.
• Lead continuous improvement activities to ensure the EMS maintains consistency with industry leading practice and NSW Government Policy.
• Prepare advice in the form of briefs, policy and discussion papers to respond to Senior Executive or Ministerial requests.

We are a hybrid team with staff located across NSW so you will work remotely and manage your own daily tasks with low supervision. You will have access to the closest RGDC office and will need to be flexible to travel throughout the year for team and work requirements.

You will be a highly motivated senior officer with an eye for detail, strong project management skills and sound judgment.

You will be deploying your skills at an operational level – ensuring ambitious environmental objectives are translated into real-life targets and systems of ongoing improvement. You will develop strong systems and processes that meet sustainability objectives, assurance requirements and the practical context of time pressured, market sensitive, delivery focussed environments. You will be able to communicate your work with clarity – linking the overarching strategic policy settings to the day-to-day systems and processes of the EMS. You will be able to demonstrate the RGDC’s compliance with its EMS through meticulous record keeping, robust processes, team liaison and support. Ideally you will have experience with environmental management systems but experience in project management, audit or governance are relevant transferrable skills.

You will also have a can-do attitude and curious mind. You will apply this future focussed curiosity to your work – staying up to date with leading practice in the sector and relevant policy developments. Working as part of a hybrid team, you will be a self-starter and proactive in managing your day-to-day activities. You will use your communication skills to build effective professional relationships within the team and externally.

In addition to your primary responsibility for all aspects of EMS development and implementation, you will be called on to support the broader functions of the team on an ongoing basis. The tasks will range from research, analysis, project tasks, communications and stakeholder liaison support. The content will range from Circular Economy, Net Zero, digital reporting platforms and associated data governance, to exemplar environmental sustainability practices.

• Experience in environmental management or audit/governance, with experience working with developing, implementing and/or monitoring EMS’ is highly desirable.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications or relevant industry experience in one or more of the following fields: environmental management, environmental science, business administration, project management or related discipline.
• Experience in implementing and applying sustainability, Circular Economy, environmental management and/or emission reduction frameworks and rating tools.
• Data analysis, data management and governance and digital analytics and reporting skills and experience (academic qualifications or work experience) are highly desirable.

If this opportunity excites you and you are interested in creating a more prosperous regional NSW, we would love to hear from you!