Environmental Specialist (Fixed Term)

Valterra Platinum, formerly Anglo American Platinum, is a leading primary producer of platinum group metals (PGMs), with integrated mining, smelting, and refining operations in South Africa and Zimbabwe, marketing the metal we produce globally. Following our demerger from Anglo American plc, Valterra Platinum is now an independent, publicly listed company with a primary and secondary listing on the Johannesburg and London stock exchanges respectively.

As we embark on this exciting new chapter, Valterra Platinum is positioned to define and pursue its own strategy, anchored in operational excellence, sustainability, and value creation for the long-term. With full accountability for our performance and growth, we are focused on strengthening our capabilities across the entire PGM value chain, from mine to market.

Our independence empowers us to deepen our commitment to stakeholders and lead with purpose – to Unearth Value to Better Our World. We remain steadfast in our ambition to be the world’s foremost producer of platinum group metals, while embedding safety and sustainability in everything we do.

If you're driven by purpose and the opportunity to make a lasting impact, we invite you to join us. Apply today and be part of something bigger.

Number of positions: 1

Location of position:   Polokwane Smelters

Safety Leadership

• Conduct effectives safety shares at the start of all meetings
• Regularly participate in planned Visible Felt Leadership (VFL) engagements
• Know and follow Life Saving Golden rules, and demand 100% compliance with Golden Rules by all environmental team members
• Regularly support the field verification of Safety Critical Controls
• Complete a documented Pre-Task Risk Assessment (SLAM or Take 5) before starting any field work or physical task
• Formally coach and develop all environmental team members to ensure the effectiveness of their safety leadership (safety shares, VFL's, Life Saving Golden Rules; Field verification of safety critical controls, Pre-Task Risk Assessments)
• Formally include an assessment of safety leadership as a criteria in performance and talent assessments for environmental team members

Operational Planning

• Identification, evaluation and control of potential or actual impacts of the site on the environment.
• Design and implementation of necessary systems or processes to ensure compliance to applicable legislation, company standards and policy.
• Prediction of future environmental risks
• Development and implementation of long-term improvement plans

Work Management

Environmental Compliance (Legal & Group)

• Design, develop and maintain an environmental compliance program for the site (including inspections, internal & external audits and performance tracking) for all relevant regulatory (legal, license and permit conditions) and Group (Polices and Standards) requirements.
• Lead the development and implementation of improvement plans to address identified compliance gaps; ensure close out and tracking of inspection and audit findings.
• Manage all internal and external communications and engagement obligations regarding site environmental compliance, including site visits, preparing and approving reports, making regulatory notifications etc.
• Quality check and endorsement of all environment compliance data captured for the site (including inspections and audit findings)
• Liaise with site and BU team members to track emerging changes to relevant local legal requirements

Environmental Risk Management

• Design, develop and maintain an Environmental Risk Management Program for the site in alignment with AAP's ORM program and ISO 14001 requirements
• Maintain a list of material environmental risks (Site Environmental Risk Register or Environmental Aspects & Impacts Register etc);
• Implement processes to identify, implement and field verify critical controls for each material environmental risk
• Lead the development and implementation of improvement plans to address material environmental risks and/or gaps in implementation of critical controls

Environmental Modelling (Impact Prediction)

With the support of the Environmental Manager:

• Identify where environmental modelling capability may be required for the site in order to support proactive management of environmental risks
• Lead a process to build, maintain and utilize relevant environmental models in order to predict future environmental impacts and/or proactively manage key site environmental risks
• Develop environmental modelling capability in Environment team

Environmental Incident Management

• Develop and implement processes to identify, classify, investigate and report Environmental Incidents and Environmental Hazards across the site in accordance with Group requirements
• Lead the development and implementation of actions and improvement plans to address findings from incident investigations and to prevent repeat incidents
• Lead LFI investigations for Level 2 Environmental Incidents at the site
• Ensure all personnel are adequately trained and prepared for robust incident response.

Environmental Training and Awareness

• Design and implement a site wide environmental training and awareness program to ensure all employees and contractors have sufficient environmental training to work at the site
• Appoint and support environmental representatives in the Business Areas

Environmental Improvement & Project Work

• Ensure project work is aligned with broader Environment strategy.
• With the support of the Environmental Manager, translate multi-year strategic objectives into annual performance objectives and monitor progress.
• Assist with the identification, development & implementation of proactive improvement plans or projects to achieve targets or address key risks
• Support obtaining relevant environmental authorizations for new or amended projects
• Implement commitments in environmental authorizations as part of the EMS.
• Provide routine updates to Management and Environment peers in functional structure.
• Manage specialist consultants accordingly.

Environment Team Management and Leadership

• Effectively manage the Environment team to establish a high-performance culture
• Manage team and individual objectives
• Support the development of team member knowledge and skills.

Support the implementation of leading safety and sustainable development strategies and practice across mining and process operations and projects.

Feedback

Environmental Monitoring

• Design, develop and maintain an Environmental Monitoring Program for the site (ensure the site is doing the right monitoring; at the right locations; at the right frequency; and to the right standard)
• Lead a process to capture, review and analyse key monitoring results, in order to generate trends and assess compliance, environmental and/or other business implications
• Lead the development and implementation of improvement plans to address monitoring exceedances
• Manage all internal and external communications and engagement obligations regarding site environmental monitoring

Sustainability & Social

• Support delivery of the relevant sustainability initiatives and activities
• Input into AAP Business Unit-level cross-functional integration on sustainability
• Contribute to building relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring engagements are consistent with sustainability initiatives and standards

People & Teams

• Implement a purpose-driven, high-performing culture that is aligned with the company values, is inclusive and promotes diversity, supports engagement and fosters continuous improvement to work processes.

Compliance

• Ensure compliance to internal and external regulatory, legislative and permitting requirements.

• Relevant Diploma/Degree in Environmental Science
• Relevant Environmental Short-Course Certificates (such as ISO 14001, Environmental auditing, environmental legislation).
• Relevant qualification related to general environmental management

Experience

• At least 5 years’ experience in mining/process environment in related field.

Technical Knowledge

• Advanced coordination and problem-solving capabilities
• Advanced level of skills in understanding and working around cultural sensitivity
• Advanced level of skill in communication and stakeholder engagement
• Advanced knowledge of the cultural heritage laws and regulations
• Proficient level of skills in the use of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

What We Offer

At Valterra Platinum, you will join a team committed to excellence and impact.

We offer:

• Meaningful work in a high-performance, values-led environment.
• Market-aligned reward and recognition.
• Opportunities for learning, development and progression.
• A culture that respects diversity and encourages innovation.
• A clear commitment to safe Operations.

Inclusion and Diversity

Valterra Platinum is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace where we value and respect every colleague for who they are and provide equality of opportunity so that everyone can fulfill their potential.

Valterra Platinum has a zero tolerance to dignity harms, these include all acts of gender based violence, bullying, harassment and victimisation. Ensuring the safety of our employees extends beyond physical safety and includes the eradication of harmful behaviours from our workplace. This responsibility extends to everyone at Valterra Platinum both during work hours and outside of work. We are unconditional in creating a respectful, inclusive, and safe working environment to ensure that no colleague will be violated or harassed under our watch.

How to Apply

To apply for this role, please complete our online application form via this job advert.

Closing Date

14 July 2025

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