Job Description

Closing Date 2025/07/24
Reference Number AEC250710-3
Pillar Head Office
Job Title Group Head - EHS
Job Type Classification Permanent
Job Grade EL
Number of Positions 1
Location - Town / Site Woodmead
Location - Province Gauteng
Location - Country South Africa

Purpose of the job o The Group Head of Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) plays a critical leadership role in the Group, globally, in the areas of safety, health, environment, and is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing comprehensive EHS strategies that align with the company's overall goals. This role requires a forward-thinking approach to creating a safe, sustainable, and compliant work environment. The Head of EHS must proactively identify and mitigate risks, ensure regulatory compliance, and promote a culture of safety and environmental stewardship across all levels of the Group. This is in support of the prevention of catastrophic EHS events, legal non-compliance and the creation of long-term sustainable value for all stakeholders.
Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute EHS strategies that support business objectives, reduce risks, and drive continuous improvement in safety and environmental performance
• Ensure that the Group businesses adhere to all relevant local, regional, and global EHS regulations, standards, and best practices. This includes staying abreast of new regulations and trends that may impact the business
• Lead the identification, assessment, and mitigation of EHS risks across the Group, including those related to occupational health, process safety, environmental impact, and emergency response
• Foster a proactive EHS culture by engaging employees at all levels, promoting safety awareness, and driving initiatives that encourage safe behavior and environmental responsibility
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and regularly monitor, analyse, and report on EHS performance to senior leadership, identifying areas for strategic improvement and implementing corrective actions as needed
• Oversee the development and delivery of EHS training programs that equip employees with the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain a safe and compliant work environment
• To ensure adequate capability and competency through internal and external specialists, in the areas of safety, health, environment
• Lead and develop the global EHS team, providing guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to ensure they are well-equipped to execute their roles effectively
• Act as the primary liaison between the Group and external stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, industry groups, and the community, to ensure the company's EHS practices meet or exceed expectations
• Drive environmental sustainability initiatives that reduce the company's carbon footprint, minimize waste, and promote resource conservation
• Ensure the effective undertaking of due diligence on EHS matters, for potential acquisitions and growth projects, to accurately quantify the potential financial liability, obligations, EHS and cultural fit
• Regularly conduct external benchmarking on best practices and performance
• Coach and influence executive and senior leadership in understanding fundamental practices related to EHS
• Maintain management oversight of EHS function in the Chemical business
• Consult with plant managers, superintendents, and all plant leaders in the Chemicals business to continuously improve relevant EHS processes and procedures.
• Oversight of process safety management (PSM) and implementation in the operations (of Chemicals Business) in alignment with Group PSM standards

• Establish and maintain governance processes and systems, including Policies, Standards, Procedures, Practices, Legal Appointments and Structures, to enable compliance to EHS and Sustainability Protocols, Fundamentals, Laws, Regulations, Standards and Frameworks.
• Oversee the maintenance of a compliance, auditing, monitoring and improvement process, to enable assurance of the compliance obligations, and the reporting thereof into the AECI governance structures
• Ensure Group wide compliance to material EHS Legislation, including but not limited to National Key Point Act, Explosives Acts, Major Hazard Facility and Installations, Environmental laws, Labour laws, Occupational Health and Safety Acts and Dangerous Goods transportation

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a relevant Engineering, Science or Safety/Risk Management field
• Recognised competency in SHEQ Management Systems - Auditing and Implementation (ISO 45001, ISO14001, Responsible Care, RBPSM)
• Recognised Training in Risk Based Process Safety Management
• Minimum 8-10 years' experience in the Chemicals, Mining or Manufacturing Sector
• Minimum 8-10 years' practical experience with the management of environment, health and safety (including process safety) within an industrial manufacturing / operations environment
• 8-10 years' experience in a senior management role

Personal attributes

• Strategy Development and Execution. Policy and System Development
• Process, project and program management - Planning, Organising and Leading
• Excellent communication and influencing skills
• Facilitation skills and Decision Making skills
• Applying expertise and technology - technical HSE Risk and Operations Management
• Ability to create a vision and long-term business strategy
• Auditing and undertaking Due Diligence
• Extensive knowledge of operations / manufacturing management (OE)
• Process Safety Management, including Emergency Preparedness
• Occupational Health, Hygiene and Safety Management
• Financial Management
• Data analysis, interpretation and improvement planning
• Incident investigation and Root Cause Analysis Facilitation Resilient and self-motivated
• Ability to engage and influence at all levels
• Flexibility and ability to work under pressure
• Leading and Supervising
• Deciding and initiating action
• Results driven, Quality orientated