Job Title:       Health, Safety and Environment Officer

Direct Reports to:    Managing Director

Indirectly Reports to:    Board of Directors

Location:      Kalangala, with occasional travels to the Kampala Office and Partner Agencies.

Job Summary:

The Health and Safety Officer is responsible for ensuring the implementation, enforcement, and compliance with national and company-specific Health, Safety, Environmental, and Social policies. This includes adherence to rules, principles, procedures and relevant international standards like the IFC Performance Standards. In addition to focusing on health and safety, this role promotes environmental sustainability and social responsibility within company operations. The Health and Safety Officer will work to secure management commitment, foster a culture of safety and wellness, promote environmental and socially responsive operations, and collaborate with authorities and partners such as the Ministry of Labour, Children and Cultural Affairs, National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), the District Health Department, and Shareholders/Financiers to address safety, health, environmental and social imperatives effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Safety Compliance and Implementation:
   • Develop and implement company-wide health, safety, environment and social initiatives to ensure compliance with local and national regulations.
   • Regularly review and audit health, safety, environment and social procedures to align with current laws and best practices.
2. Training and Development:
   • Design, schedule, and conduct health, safety, environment and social training sessions across the company, tailored to meet legal requirements and address specific company needs.
   • Initiate and manage health, safety, environment and social awareness programs to enhance employees' understanding and adherence to international best practices.
3. Policy Oversight, Enforcement, and Compliance:
   • Continuously update health, safety, environment and social policies to align with current legal and industry requirements.
   • Ensure the company-wide adoption of health, safety, environment and social policies by effectively collaborating with department heads to integrate these standards into everyday business operations.
   • Develop and maintain enforcement protocols for health, safety, environment and social compliance within the company, including clear procedures for addressing and escalating violations and instituting disciplinary measures as necessary.
4. Advisory and Support Functions:
   • Serve as the primary contact for all health, safety, environment and social-related inquiries and provide expert advice and solutions to management and staff.
   • Lead incident investigations and analyses, recommending preventive measures and strategies to avoid future occurrences.
5. Community and Environmental Safety:
   • Conduct community outreach programs focused on public health, safety, and environmental protection education regarding electricity, water and ferry use.
   • Collaborate with local communities to identify health, safety, environmental and social concerns and develop community- specific and responsive enhancement programs.
6. Regulatory and Ethical Standards:
   • Ensure all company practices comply with health, safety, environmental and social-oriented regulations to enhance operational safety and avoid legal penalties.

• Promote an ethical approach to health, safety, environment and society beyond mere compliance with laws to protect the well-being of employees, customers and the community.
• Engage with government bodies, regulatory authorities, and industry groups to discuss and align on health, safety, environment and social standards.

1. Health, Safety, Environmental and Social Compliance Audits:
   • Regular Audits: Conduct regular internal and external audits to assess health, safety, environment and social standards compliance. These audits help identify areas where the company may be at risk of non-compliance.
   • Reporting: Compile detailed reports from audit findings and present them to the management and relevant stakeholders. These reports should provide insights into compliance levels and suggest improvements.
   • Corrective Actions: Develop and oversee the implementation of corrective action plans based on audit findings. Monitor the progress of these plans to ensure they effectively address the identified issues.
   • Documentation and Record Keeping: Maintain comprehensive records of all health, safety, environment and social audits, compliance documentation, and related communications. This documentation is essential for regulatory reviews and provides a basis for future policy adjustments.
2. Any other duties:
   • Ensure that all health, safety, environment and social-related activities comply with legal and ethical standards.
   • Establish controls to prevent unethical conduct within the health, safety, environment and social processes and programs.
   • Any other duties the Managing Director or Directors assign from time to time.

Education, Skills, and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science, Occupational Health and Safety, or a related field.
• A master's degree in a relevant field is an added advantage.
• Professional Health and safety certification (NEBOSH, IOSH, or equivalent) is required.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Health, Safety, Environmental and Social (HSE, ESG) with at least 3 years in a management or supervisory position.
• Experience in a utility or infrastructure-based industry is highly advantageous.
• Familiarity with local and international health, safety, and environmental laws and regulations.
• Continuous learning and development in industry standards and advances in health and safety protocols.
• Ability to adapt to rapid changes in health, safety and ecological environs due to technological or market changes.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to achieving high compliance standards.
• Experience in applying IFC Performance Standards to projects.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks based on urgency.
• Independent worker capable of taking initiative and managing tasks with minimal supervision.
• High level of discretion and ability to handle sensitive information.