Senior Biodiversity Specialist

Scope of Services

Based in Singapore with regular trips to Guinea and/or other countries, when necessary, the role consists of managing the biodiversity aspects of projects to ensure compliance with company's Sustainability Policy and the project's Biodiversity Management Plan(s), Biodiversity Action Plan(s) and related documentation prepared in line with IFC Performance Standards, notably PS6. It relates to all activities at the port, rail and mine, with an initial focus on construction.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement actions needed to achieve sustainable outcomes for biodiversity and ecosystems affected by the Project and for the services they provide. These are expected to include:

Biodiversity Activities

• Develop implementing documents together with the international consultants whom are engaged by company to ensure Environmental and Social Action Plan (PGES in French) items, Biodiversity Action Plan(s) [BAP] and Biodiversity Management Plan(s) [BMP] activities are implemented in line with EIES/ESIA commitments and to the satisfaction of Guinean regulatory agencies (mainly AGEE) as well as Equator Principles IV.
• Identify, in conjunction with the Environmental Manager, Superintendents and the Community Relations Manager, all hazards related to project activities that impact biodiversity, with attention to sensitive terrestrial and marine receptors.
• Develop indicators, targets and objectives for biodiversity and ecosystems to support an adaptive management approach through the BAP, BMP and Project ESMS.
• Identify monitoring controls based on experience or research techniques.
• Determine best practice techniques for mitigation, monitoring and management based on Guinean and international requirements and review experience of practical implementation of Biodiversity Action Plans, Biodiversity Management Plans including monitoring plans, offset plans.
• Identify supporting institutions and partners (including NGOs) for collaboration on biodiversity programs and offset projects.
• Identify in conjunction with the Sustainable Development Director and Manager, Environmental Manager and Community Relations Manager, projects involving biodiversity research in the Project area.
• Document and report on biodiversity observations during construction (and eventually during operation) and maintain a database.
• Work with the site HSEC managers/superintendent teams at the port, rail and mine to set procedures and workplan to monitor biodiversity impacts of all construction activities.
• Liaise with the relevant government local representatives regarding project progress on biodiversity management.
• In collaboration with the ESIA biodiversity consultants, the Environmental Manager and the Community Relations Manager, develop and implement conservation programs aligned with the BMPs and BAPs. This will include plans for progressive rehabilitation and re-vegetation programs for disturbed areas.
• In collaboration with the ESIA biodiversity consultants, the Environmental Manager and the Community Relations Manager, develop Biodiversity Offset Management Plan (BOMP).  Develop and monitor a team for the implementation of the BOMP, including but not limited to the screening of potential offset sites, Feasibility Study of the offset site, implementation plan and regulatory compliance and collaboration, and engagement with relevant stakeholders.

Management

• Coordination of the biodiversity team and resources in daily activities.
• Coordination of the biodiversity consultants coming to site or remotely.
• Identify new equipment required (tools, machines, cameras, monitoring devices) and motivate budget allocation
• Manage all documents to ensure complete record of biodiversity activities (photos, datasheets)
• Develop database for the storage of all information and control its access and use in conjunction with environmental superintendent
• Interact and engage with and on behalf of the Sustainable Development Director and Manager during engagement with project consultants, local partners, or administrative authorities based on requirements.

Professionalism

• To abide by all Company Policies and implement appropriate attitude and behavior during all interactions with community.
• To be self-motivated and resourceful and undertake this role with enthusiasm and honor of environmental and biodiversity best practice.

Monitoring and Identification

• Develop and implement a biodiversity monitoring program across the Project areas in collaboration with the biodiversity consultants.
• Expand on existing knowledge and create a project wide species catalogue.
• With support from a botanist, collect samples and create a herbarium to catalogue samples of vegetation.
• Identify best practice techniques for the monitoring program.
• Identify soil distribution across the Project area in conjunction with habitat distribution to identify associations.

Rehabilitation and Re-vegetation

• In collaboration with the community teams and outsourced botanists put in place a rehabilitation program, this will likely include the identification of soil distribution across the whole Project area.
• Supervise the design and implementation of a native plant nursery program at the mine, at various locations along the rail and at the port using species identified by the biodiversity consultants for rehabilitation purposes.
• Identify and coordinate all rehabilitation requirements for Project activities.
• Supervise the management of the revegetation nurseries and research facility during daily activities as a project.
• Manage the implementation of rehabilitation activities and maintenance of rehabilitated areas.
• Support the identification of species (trees, grasses, succulents) for nursery and seed collection with potential sources from community projects.

Reporting and Communication

• Reporting to Senior Biodiversity Manager based in Singapore as oversight by Group VP HSSEC and in coordination with the Sustainable Development Department and the mine, rail and port units based in Guinea and / or other countries.
• Collect all forms of data (photos, datasheets, questionnaires etc.) and analyze results based on experience with data or reference to topic literature.
• Provide report on analysis of data as and when results are received.
• Provide input into daily, weekly, monthly and annual progress reports.
• Report on progress of any biodiversity programs and/or plans.

Training

• Review training needs for the company/project(s) and contractors' teams in order to gain knowledge on biodiversity requirements for the project sites.
• Identify and secure staff and consultants with appropriate skills for the management of the biodiversity management plans as well as ecosystem conservation.
• Contribute to assessing training needs of biodiversity team to conduct practical activities.

Qualifications

• Education: Fauna and flora background, master's degree in biology or ecology.
• Experiences: Familiar with IUCN species red list, abundant experiences and knowhow of biodiversity impact assessment, management plans, especially offset management, and monitoring plans.
• Networks: wide connections to international conservation organizations.
• Fluency in spoken and written communication in English, French or Mandarin, so that can liaise with the English, French and Chinese counterparties.
• Base in Singapore or Willing to relocate in Guinea, West Africa.