Head of ESG – Expat

Globe 24-7, in partnership with a leading mining company, is seeking an experienced Head of ESG to join its team to lead the ESG aspects of their prospective projects in Papua New Guinea.

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior ESG leader to own the Company’s alignment with international ESG standards, most immediately the IFC Performance Standards, and to lead the Company’s engagement with lenders, independent monitors and external environmental and social stakeholders. The successful candidate will play a key role in translating lender requirements into a costed, sequenced implementation roadmap, building the ESG team and consultant capability needed to deliver it, and protecting the Company’s standing with its financing partners.

The Role

The Head of ESG will own the Company’s alignment with international ESG standards across the PNG Project, leading engagement with lenders, independent monitors and external E&S stakeholders. Reporting to the Director, with regular reporting to the Board, the role has three core pillars: leading ESG due diligence and risk assessment; owning the compliance roadmap and translating gap assessments and lender requirements into a costed, time-bound implementation plan delivered across both sites; and building the in-house ESG team and consultant bench needed to deliver it.

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring a strong ESG practitioner with extensive experience operating within the mining sector, managing lender relationships and delivering complex compliance programmes.

The Responsibilities

• Own the IFC PS1 to PS8 compliance roadmap across both sites; maintain the ESAP as the central management tool with named owners, deadlines, evidence requirements and monthly close-out tracking.
• Set and manage the ESG implementation budget.
• Lead all lender engagement on ESG matters, including dealings with lender ESG teams, technical advisors and the independent engineer.
• Manage lender reviews, site visits, ESAP verification and reporting.
• Interpret lender requirements and translate them into internal action plans; raise points of clarification or disagreement constructively.
• Manage ESG components of future refinancing, offtake or equity transactions.
• Scope, recruit, onboard and lead the in-house ESG team needed to deliver the roadmap, including an ESAP/compliance coordinator and a social performance specialist.
• Develop in-house capability to reduce dependence on external consultants over time.
• Scope, tender, select, contract and manage the E&S consultant ecosystem across specialist workstreams; maintain a panel of trusted firms.
• Hold consultants accountable to scope, schedule and quality; verify deliverables against IFC PS expectations before sign-off.
• Serve as subject matter expert on IFC Performance Standards, Equator Principles, OECD due diligence guidance and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
• Translate standards into policies, procedures and management system documents.
• Lead preparation, submission and regulatory approval of ESIAs, ESHIAs and supporting management plans, coordinating with relevant regulatory authorities.
• Develop and drive a long-term ESG strategy; report regularly to the Board on ESG performance, lender engagement and stakeholder matters.
• Where scope includes SHREQ, lead the function directly across both sites, owning safety, occupational health, environmental compliance and operational risk.
• Where SHREQ sits with a separate senior hire, partner closely to ensure HSE delivery generates the evidence required for PS2, PS3 and PS4 compliance.
• Partner with the VP CSR on PS1/PS4/PS5/PS7 evidence, HR on PS2, Procurement on supply chain, and Legal and Finance on lender covenants and disclosure.
• Establish and run the group ESG and HSE assurance programme, including internal audits, contractor audits and independent verification.

Your background

• Bachelor’s Degree in environmental science, social science, engineering or a related field; relevant Master’s preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years’ ESG and sustainability experience in the mining sector, including 5+ years in a senior role with direct lender interface responsibility.
• Demonstrable, hands-on experience owning IFC Performance Standards compliance roadmaps end-to-end, including scoping consultants, sequencing workstreams and closing out ESAP actions against lender milestones.
• Direct experience leading ESIA and ESHIA preparation and submissions at mining operations, including consultant management and regulatory engagement.
• Proven track record managing E&S consultants, including scoping, tendering, selecting, contracting and holding them accountable.
• Direct lender interface experience under Equator Principles or IFC-aligned project finance, including site visits, independent engineer reviews and ESAP verification.
• Deep working knowledge of IFC Performance Standards PS1 to PS8.
• Experience hiring and leading small ESG teams; comfortable as a partner to existing CSR and SHREQ leadership.
• Fluent English essential.
• Prior experience in Papua New Guinea strongly preferred.
• Operational SHREQ/HSE leadership credentials advantageous, relevant if scope expands to include SHREQ.
• Experience with artisanal and small-scale mining engagement strategies advantageous.
• PS5 resettlement experience and Livelihood Restoration Plan development preferred.
• GISTM and tailings management experience preferred.
• Experience with ESG components of project finance closings, refinancings or M&A transactions preferred.

The Rewards
 
This is an excellent opportunity to join a leading global mining company looking to progress their projects in Papua New Guinea and play a key role in shaping the Company’s ESG strategy, leading lender relationships and building the team and systems needed to deliver a major compliance programme within a dynamic mining business.

Apply

Please apply online or reach out to Jesper Munk via LinkedIn or j.munk@globe24-7.com to arrange for a confidential conversation.