- The EHS Officer supports the implementation and day-to-day operation of Ashipa Electric's Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) across the company's mini-grid projects ensuring compliance with the company's E&S Policy, national regulations, and lender/investor standards throughout site selection, design, construction, and operation.
- The role is central to identifying, avoiding, and managing environmental and social risks, and to maintaining transparent, trust-based relationships with host communities. The successful candidate will work directly across field and office environments, engaging regulators, contractors, communities, and project teams with equal effectiveness.
Implementation & Compliance
- Maintain and update the company ESMS manual, legal register, training matrix, and E&S documentation.
- Ensure all projects follow ESMS procedures and drive continual improvement.
- Track E&S KPIs and present monthly E&S performance dashboards to management.
Site Screening & Risk Categorisation
- Screen candidate sites against the Exclusion List and complete the Initial E&S Screening Checklist.
- Apply VLD Guidelines for land donations and support fair, transparent land acquisition processes.
- Categorise sites as Category I [High-Risk] or Category II [Low-Risk] and advise on required studies.
E&S Studies, Consent & Permitting
- Coordinate required studies by category: ESIA, ESMP, RAP and/or LRP for Category I; ESMP for Category II.
- Develop and implement Stakeholder Engagement Plans and Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) for all projects.
- Ensure E&S risks for gender, vulnerable groups, and SEA/GBV are identified and mitigated.
- Track and secure all environmental/social clearances and permits from REA, NESREA, and state MDAs before construction.
Community Relations & GRM
- Maintain the GRM register; ensure grievances are logged, investigated, and closed out within agreed timelines.
- Support monthly community engagement and feedback sessions.
- Promote gender inclusion and the protection of vulnerable persons in all project areas.
- Prepare periodic E&S and HSE compliance reports for REA, lenders, investors, and internal management.
- Maintain records of trainings, audits, inspections, permits, and non-conformances.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Social Science, Occupational Health & Safety, Engineering, or a related field.
- 2 - 4 years of experience in EHS or community relations roles, ideally in energy or infrastructure.
- Strong grasp of E&S risk management, stakeholder engagement, and grievance handling.
- Good report-writing, record-keeping, and independent field-based work skills.
- Willingness and ability to travel to remote project sites, including extended stays during project phases.
- Familiarity with lender E&S standards, including IFC Performance Standards.
- Working knowledge of Nigerian regulatory bodies and processes REA, NESREA, and state MDAs (Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.)
- Experience coordinating ESIAs (Environmental and Social Impact Assessments), ESMPs (Environmental and Social Management Plans), RAPs (Remedial Action Plan), or similar studies with external consultants.
- Prior exposure to gender mainstreaming and SEA/GBV risk management in community-facing roles.
- E&S Risk Management: Identifies, assesses, and mitigates environmental and social risks across the project lifecycle.
- Regulatory & Standards Fluency: Navigates Nigerian E&S regulations and lender standards including IFC Performance Standards.
- Community Engagement: Builds trust with host communities through transparent, inclusive, and consistent engagement.
- Documentation & Reporting: Maintains rigorous records, compliance dashboards, and reports for regulators and investors.
- Field Independence: Operates effectively in remote and rural project environments with limited day-to-day supervision.
- Stakeholder Coordination: Coordinates across contractors, communities, regulators, and internal teams with clarity.
- ESMS Compliance Rate
- Grievance Resolution Timeliness
- Permit & Clearance Readiness
- E&S Audit Outcomes
- Community Engagement Consistency
- Incident & Non-Conformance Rate