Senior Environment and Biosecurity Officer

Type: 
Paid
Closing date: 
11 Jul 2025
Section: 
Remote

SALARY: SG10

REPORTING TO: Head of Science and Conservation

HOURS OF WORK: Minimum 40 hours per week. Flexibility required for field and emergency duties.

LOCATION:    Based on Assomption, with occasional visits to Head Office on Mahé and possible time on Aldabra required

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Context and Background

The Senior Environment and Biosecurity Officer (SEBO) will oversee the environmental management of Assomption Island throughout the construction and future operation of a new hotel project. The main duties of the SEBO are as follows, to: (1) ensure that all phases of the project comply with national environmental regulations and the approved Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP: Annex 1), as well as the conditions outlined in the Notice of Acceptance of the approved Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (Annex 2); (2) serve as a neutral liaison between the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment and the project developer, promoting clear communication, reporting, transparency, and best environmental practices; and (3) ensure the effective implementation of the Biosecurity Management Plan (BMP: Annex 3), including ongoing regulatory monitoring, coordination with stakeholders, and lead the scientific data collection throughout the development.

The SEBO will report operationally to SIF’s Head of Science and Conservation, and to the Head of Projects for biosecurity-related duties, under the broader administrative oversight of the Deputy Chief Executive Officer. For matters of regulatory compliance, the SEBO will coordinate with the Environment Authority within MACCE. While the SEBO will liaise directly with the developer and their site team on technical and environmental matters, all formal communications to the developer will be channelled through SIF’s senior management. The SEBO will also collaborate directly with the Islands Development Company (IDC) Biosecurity Champion on operational matters related to transit logistics, to ensure that all arrivals to the island are aligned with Assomption’s Biosecurity Management Plan. The primary duties are listed below, but they are not all-inclusive, as there may be unplanned duties that are impossible to predict or describe here and may change over time.

Duties and Responsibilities

A. Provide on-site environmental oversight

  1. Provide daily environmental oversight of the hotel construction and future operational phases
  2. Monitor and enforce compliance with the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP).
  3. Conduct routine site inspections to identify environmental risks, verify mitigation adherence, and recommend corrective actions.
  4. Document environmental performance with detailed written reports, photographic records, and incident logs submitted to SIF, IDC, and the Environment Authority.
  5. Identify and document any new environmental issues, risks and impacts that are not covered in the ESMP.
  6. Liaise with and report to the Head of Science and Conservation regarding these duties.

B. Stakeholder liaison and coordination

  1. Act as SIF representative and the key point of contact between the project developer, contractors, and the Environment Authority.
  2. Facilitate proactive communication and trust-building between the Ministry and project stakeholders.
  3. Participate in planning meetings, technical briefings, and regulatory site visits.
  4. Identify and address potential environmental concerns promptly, and coordinate responses or technical guidance from the Ministry as needed.

C. Biosecurity management on Assomption

  1. Lead the implementation of biosecurity measures on Assomption Island, particularly for construction materials, supplies, equipment, and personnel, in accordance with the Assomption biosecurity management plan.
  2. Ensure that thorough biosecurity checks are implemented to the highest standards for materials, supplies, equipment, and staff.
  3. Maintain a clear understanding of and compliance with biosecurity protocols from Mahé through to delivery on Assomption.
  4. Coordinate closely with contractors, operations staff, and designated Biosecurity Officers to ensure internal biosecurity processes operate smoothly and to maintain and improve biosecurity procedures on-site.
  5. Liaise with relevant agencies, partners, the IDC Biosecurity Champion, Assomption Island Manager, Aldabra’s Science Coordinator and the Ministry to align with national biosecurity standards and support adaptive management.
  6. Initiate and contribute to research activities and the development or refinement of incursion response protocols based on best practices and the Biosecurity Management Plan.
  7. Write up biosecurity reports for transportation of construction materials/staff and/or to Assomption.
  8. Report weekly to SIF Head of Science and Conservation and Head of projects regarding biosecurity matters.

D. Scientific monitoring and data collection

  1. Coordinate biodiversity surveys required under the Notice of Acceptance.
  2. Where feasible, conduct baseline surveys and ongoing monitoring of environmental indicators (e.g., biodiversity, noise pollution, air quality, soil health, vegetation health, light pollution, water quality).
  3. Maintain accurate field records and contribute to national environmental databases and scientific outputs.
  4. Maintain and manage electronic datasets for all data collected and upload these to SIF’s server.
  5. Support and guide research staff, visiting scientists, and volunteers involved in ecological fieldwork on Assomption.
  6. Liase with and report to Head of Science and Conservation for these duties.

E. Reporting and coordination responsibilities

  1. Prepare fortnightly environmental and biosecurity reports—covering vessel and flight arrivals, inspections, compliance updates, biodiversity monitoring, and minor incidents—for review and finalization with the Head of Science and Conservation and Head of Projects, before circulating them to key stakeholders including the IDC Biosecurity Champion, the developer’s representative, and the Environment Authority.
  2. Immediately report serious environmental or biosecurity incidents or regulation breaches to SIF, the Aldabra Island Manager, IDC, the developer, and MACCE, accompanied by formal incident reports and recommended mitigation actions.
  3. Participate in weekly coordination meetings with the developer’s on-site team and a separate weekly meeting with the IDC Biosecurity Champion on Mahé (in person or remotely) to ensure alignment and forward planning.

Qualifications

Minimum BSc, ideally MSc, or equivalent in an environmental subject

Professional Experience:

  • Demonstrated experience implementing or supporting biosecurity protocols, particularly related to the movement of people, goods, construction materials and equipment across sensitive ecological zones or island environments (essential)
  • Strong expertise in invasive alien species issues, biodiversity conservation, and ecological risk management
  • Demonstrated understanding of Seychelles’ environmental regulations, ESMP/CEMP frameworks, and national biosecurity legislation
  • Minimum of 3 years’ experience supporting scientific or environmental compliance projects
  • Minimum of 3 years experience in a leadership or management position
  • Proven experience in environmental data collection, fieldwork, and small dataset management for ecological monitoring
  • Knowledge of scientific processes and conservation theory, and experience applying them in practical contexts
  • Strong technical report writing skills and ability to communicate findings to diverse audiences, including through non-technical summaries
  • Prior experience working on development sites or in multidisciplinary, cross-sectoral teams is an advantage

Skills and characteristics

  • Expert understanding of invasive alien species risks and proven familiarity with national or regional biosecurity legislation and incursion response protocols (essential)
  • Demonstrated ability to write clear, accurate, and timely progress and incident reports (essential) 
  • Ability to plan and coordinate multiple tasks, address site-level technical issues, and prioritize under pressure (essential) 
  • High proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), GPS/GIS software, and basic data analysis tools (essential) 
  • Ability to be assertive and motivate people to adhere to stringent guidelines
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills; able to build trust with field teams, contractors, and regulatory authorities (essential) 
  • Upholds the highest ethical standards and demonstrates integrity and strong professionalism, particularly in remote and high-responsibility settings (essential)  
  • Sound judgment, initiative, and a solutions-driven mindset with a strong work ethic (essential) 
  • Detail-oriented, especially in recording field data, tracking environmental incidents, and following up on corrective actions (essential) 
  • Physically fit and prepared to work in remote island conditions with limited resources (essential) 
  • Comfortable managing environmental data, producing summaries, and contributing to presentations (preferred) 
  • Professional, discreet, and committed to advancing environmental protection and biosecurity outcomes for a sustainable and positive future for Aldabra and Assomption, and more generally for Seychelles

Languages

Fluency in English and Creole are essential and knowledge of French and additional languages are an asset.
 

Apply now with an application form (which can be downloaded from our website, or collected at Mont Fleuri or Vallée de Mai Visitor Centre), your C.V. & a cover letter sent to recruitment@sif.sc. Kindly note deadline for application is 11th July 2025.