Social Investment Managers and Advisors LLC (SIMA) www.simafunds.com seeks to hire an experienced and detail oriented professional with expertise in environmental, social, governance (ESG) and gender lens management in the commercial and industrial solar sector. The ESG Officer will work in a risk management capacity and lead ESG and gender assessment and compliance of portfolios of commercial and industrial (C&I) solar developers and their projects in Africa and Asia. Generally the C&I solar developers are engineering procurement and construction (EPC) companies that are small and medium enterprises, and the projects are sub-5 MW. We expect to build a portfolio of 60+ EPCs in 25+ countries in Africa and Asia. The ESG Officer role involves assessing, planning, advising, monitoring and reporting on EPCs’ implementation of environmental, social, governance and gender action plans, management systems and practices. The Officer will work primarily with SIMA’s Risk Management and C&I investment teams. The Officer will also develop data-based tools and dashboards for benchmarking and promoting best practices and environmental, social, governance and gender management systems aligned with business practices.
SIMA is an international impact investment manager which recently launched the $160 million Commercial and Industrial Solar Green Bond. We have a transparent culture and over 55 staff in seven emerging market countries.
Duties and responsibilities
Assessments, Compliance and Reporting:
- Work with SIMA’s team and engage on-site and remotely with EPCs to understand and evaluate their environmental, social, governance and gender gaps, risks and needs.
- Develop, support and monitor implementation of ESG/gender action plans to address and mitigate risks over time.
- Work with SIMA’s team and other stakeholders to design and implement ESG/gender scorecards, protocols and guidelines for ESG risk assessment, prevention, and response.
- Contribute to investment strategies that integrate E&S risk management, OHS, SEAH safeguards, gender equity with business goals and best practices.
- Ensure implement waste and resource management policies, including hazardous waste and e-waste handling.
- Continuously update SIMA team and EPCs on developments in local and international ESG and gender policies, regulations and norms.
- Lead report preparation on ESG and gender including data and information gathering, and content development.
- Engage with investors, stakeholders, EPCs, others in regard to ESG/gender incidents aspects.
- Devise methods to assess the post-implementation impact of ESMS related policies.
Capacity Building
- Work with EPC investees in training staff and building capacities and improving and integrating ESG/gender practices in operations.
- Facilitate knowledge sharing, training, webinars, one on one sessions etc. on relevant ESG/gender methodologies, tools, and frameworks with EPCs.
- Contribute to building the knowledge and capacity of SIMA team regarding ESG/gender equity into investment policies and processes.
- Develop ESMS tools, scorecards and dashboards to measure, monitor and improve the environmental, social, governance and gender equity performance of investees.
- Develop training materials, facilitate webinars and deliver training sessions with C&I EPC companies.
- Develop and implement grievance mechanisms that allow stakeholders to report and OHS, SEAH or other concerns.
Qualification and Experience
- Master’s degree in Engineering, Development Studies, Finance, Economics or a related field.
- A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in the with at least 5 years of experience in commercial and industrial solar, expertise in OHS, SEAH and E&S risk management.
- Familiarity with relevant international (e.g. IFC Performance Standards), and in-country ESG/gender requirements, guidelines and frameworks.
- Strong knowledge of gender analysis methodologies, gender mainstreaming.
- Excellent project management, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Fluency in English language, including excellent drafting and presentation skills.
- Experience in Africa would be an advantage.
Apply
Please send your resume and salary expectation to careers@simafunds.com and annabelle@simafunds.com The title of your email should be “ESG Officer”.
