Environmental and Social/ HSEC Intern

ESS (Environmental and Social Sustainability) Sénégal À distance
• Temps plein

POSITION DESCRIPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL / HSEC INTERN

1. ROLE OVERVIEW
We are looking for several Environmental and Social (E&S) and/or Health, Safety, Environment and Communities (HSEC) Interns to join ESS (Environmental and Social Sustainability), Africa’s premier advisory services firm focused on sustainable development and management of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks in Africa and emerging economies.
The ideal candidates can be based anywhere in Africa, with fluent English as well as at least advanced French or Portuguese. Our internships are for a minimum duration of 1 year, and a limited monthly stipend is provided (exact amount depends on resident country).
This internship offers the chance for someone with plenty of creativity and drive to support a dynamic, growing team that is focused on making sustainability happen on the ground.

You will play an integral supporting role within the ESS team, working on projects across Africa and emerging economies. In return, the ESS team provides mentorship and guidance, as well as a regular training programme to support your professional development.

We believe in implementation, not just writing endless reports and assessments that rarely get actioned. As such, we assist financial institutions and private companies in understanding where gaps in their project compliance lie in relation to international standards (such as the Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards) and national legislation, as well as identifying opportunities to maximise positive project aspects. Once gaps are ascertained, we provide on-going, site-based support to address gaps and develop capacity within the organisation.
The role offers plenty of scope for career advancement, with high-quality interns offered full time roles upon completion of their internship.

The internship includes working on international projects in a variety of sectors, including:
? Financial services and lending institutions, including international financial institutions such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), African Development Bank (AfDB) etc.
? Mining
? Energy and renewables
? Agribusiness
? Manufacturing.

2. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Interns will have the following responsibilities:
? Work on projects and in teams across Africa and emerging economies
? Bid / tender writing
? Provide advice and inputs on projects internationally with a variety of clients
? Undertake Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) due diligence studies in line with compliance frameworks
? Provide support to organisations in developing teams and implementing activities to meet compliance standard.
Prepare scope of works and manage consultants to undertake key studies (baseline, ESIA, critical habitat etc.)
? Develop sustainability targets and implement measures to attain targets
? Support the development of sustainability strategies and other key reports in line with GRI and similar reporting standards
? Develop robust HSEC Management System (HSECMS) / Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) inputs to ISO 14001 / EMAS standard, as well as inputs to other key management systems, plans and reporting structures
? Undertake other related studies, planning, reporting and activities as required
? Build and maintain strong relationships within ESS to maximise interdisciplinary problem-solving.

3. SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
The right candidate should possess and be able to demonstrate the following skills in order to adequately respond to the requirements of the role:
? Excellent written and verbal communication skills
? Fluent English and at least advanced French and/or Portuguese (additional African languages a bonus)
? Strategic thinking, analytical and research skills
? Organization and coordination skills
? Strong interpersonal and communication skills
? Advanced IT skills – Excel, Word, PowerPoint
? Ability to produce high quality documents.
The preferred candidate should possess a Master’s degree, preferably within an environmental, social, health & safety, and/or sustainability-related discipline. However, we would consider stand-out candidates from different backgrounds and/or experienced candidates from other fields wishing to transition into the ESG / sustainability space.

4. APPLICATION DETAILS
To summarize, we are looking for an independent self-starter who is able to manage teams across Africa and emerging economies, produce high quality documents, develop further business opportunities for ESS.
While we are location agnostic, our headquarters is based in Dakar, Senegal, although much of the time our team members work remotely from home. You must have the right to work in the country where you live (i.e. citizenship or long-term visa).
Please note that it is important that you speak and write perfectly in English and have at least good proficiency in French / Portuguese.

To apply for this role, please send a short message to email address explaining your skills and why you would be well suited for the internship.