Social Officer – Water Infrastructure Project

Role Overview

An international frontrunner in infrastructure development is set to initiate a revolutionary and mammoth water project in Limpopo. Join a dynamic team committed to sustainable development, stakeholder engagement, and responsible project delivery in one of South Africa's most ambitious water infrastructure endeavours.

As part of the execution team, the Social Officer will be responsible for the implementation and management of all social and stakeholder-related aspects of the project. This role is critical in maintaining positive relationships between the project, local communities, landowners, occupiers, farmers, and other Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs), while ensuring compliance with social management requirements and supporting the project's social licence to operate.

What You'll Do

• Facilitate engagement and communication between the project team, local communities, landowners, occupiers, farmers, traditional authorities, and other Interested and Affected Parties.
• Implement and monitor social mitigation measures contained within the project's ESMP, CEMPr, and social management specifications.
• Manage and maintain the project's grievance and complaints management process, ensuring issues are recorded, investigated, tracked, and resolved efficiently.
• Assist in resolving social challenges, stakeholder concerns, and community-related issues arising during construction activities.
• Conduct regular social monitoring inspections and audits to ensure compliance with project commitments and contractual requirements.
• Maintain accurate records of stakeholder engagements, complaints, incidents, commitments, and corrective actions.
• Compile daily, weekly, and monthly social monitoring and compliance reports for submission to the Engineer and Project Team.
• Support community liaison activities and assist in maintaining positive project-community relationships throughout the construction period.
• Liaise with the Engineer, Contractor, Employer, local authorities, community representatives, and other stakeholders on social management matters.
• Assist the project team in maintaining a strong social licence to operate and promoting responsible project delivery.

What We're Looking For

• Minimum 10 years' experience on infrastructure, construction, mining, energy, water, or other major development projects within South Africa.
• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement, community relations, grievance management, social impact mitigation, and social compliance monitoring.
• Thorough understanding of applicable South African legislation and international best-practice standards relating to social management and stakeholder engagement.
• Proven ability to engage effectively with landowners, occupiers, farmers, neighbouring communities, traditional authorities, and other Interested and Affected Parties.
• Experience implementing Environmental and Social Management Programmes (ESMPs) and Construction Environmental Management Programmes (CEMPrs).
• Strong communication, conflict resolution, reporting, and relationship-management skills.
• Ability to work independently within a multidisciplinary project environment.
• Willingness to be site-based in Thabazimbi, Limpopo, for the duration of the project.
• Knowledge of the Limpopo region, local communities, and stakeholder landscape will be advantageous. Candidates originating from, residing in, or with proven community engagement experience in Limpopo will be viewed favourably due to the stakeholder liaison, relationship-building, grievance management, and social licence to operate requirements of the role.

• Degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Public Relations, Communication, Community Development, Environmental Management, or related qualification equivalent to NQF Level 6 or higher.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to be part of a landmark municipal water infrastructure project with tangible socio-economic impact.
• A challenging and rewarding site-based role with significant stakeholder engagement responsibilities.
• A long-term 2–3 year contract opportunity on a major infrastructure development.
• Exposure to a high-profile project that will contribute to improved water security and regional development.
• A multicultural, high-performance team environment committed to sustainable and responsible project delivery.
• Site based package and allowances