Environmental, Social Safeguards and E-Waste Lead at WootLab

• The North Central ESO Aggregator Programme is an initiative that seeks to reach 25,000 beneficiaries across 11 tertiary institutions in Nigeria's North Central region (Benue, FCT, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau) with training in general entrepreneurship skills and the digital and creative sectors specifically.
• The programme will adopt a training, incubation, and acceleration approach through a network of Entrepreneurship Support Organisations (ESOs).
• The programme includes the delivery of beneficiary-facing training tracks (Foundational, Developmental, and Specialised) and close coordination with participating tertiary institutions across the North Central region.

Role Purpose

• The Environmental, Social Safeguards and E-Waste Lead drives the North Central ESO Aggregator programme's strong commitment to environmental sustainability across all 11 Centres of Excellence (CoEs).
• This role is responsible for proactively managing environmental and social risks, developing and enforcing the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), and owning the end-to-end Electronic Waste (E-Waste) Management Plan.
• The Lead ensures that all digital hubs operate efficiently, minimise waste, and adhere strictly to Nigerian and international environmental regulations,

Key Responsibilities
Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) Development & Compliance:

• Demonstrate internal capacity to design, develop, and implement a comprehensive ESMP appropriate to the scale of activities at each digital hub.
• Collaborate directly with each participating university to customise the ESMP, covering both pre-setup activities and operational phases of the hubs.
• Coordinate the review, clearance, and disclosure process of the ESMP with the stakeholders before the commencement of any physical works.
• Ensure ongoing adherence to the ESMP following the commencement of operations, working proactively to manage and mitigate risks.

Green Hub Design & Operational Efficiency:

• Provide strategic recommendations to the design firm regarding hub design, layout, and equipment to heavily incorporate energy efficiency, natural lighting, and ventilation.
• Advocate for and integrate low-energy equipment preferences and, where feasible, renewable energy solutions across all CoEs.
• Oversee hub operations to ensure they minimise waste and adopt environmentally responsible procurement practices.

Electronic Waste (E-Waste) Management:

• Develop and submit a comprehensive Electronic Waste Management Plan as part of the core inception deliverables.
• Establish and maintain a meticulous register of all electronic equipment procured or in use across all CoEs.
• Define and enforce clear protocols for the responsible disposal, repair, refurbishment, and recycling of electronic hardware.
• Engage and partner with certified e-waste handlers and recyclers in strict compliance with Nigerian and international e-waste regulations.
• Establish a structured schedule for, and execute periodic e-waste audits across all CoE sites.

Capacity Building & Sensitisation:

• Integrate environmental sustainability practices and awareness into training programmes for beneficiaries, particularly those in the tech sector handling electronic equipment.
• Lead staff and beneficiary sensitisation campaigns regarding responsible electronics use, lifespan extension, and safe disposal.

Cross-Functional Coordination:

• Coordinate with State-Level Coordinators and institutional contacts to flag and resolve environmental compliance issues at the hub level.
• Provide sustainability and safeguards-related inputs to the M&E Specialist to support outcome tracking and quarterly progress reporting.

Person Specification
Required:

• Candidates must possess at least a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Sustainable Development, or a related discipline; additional qualifications or relevant certifications will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) or Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs).
• Proven expertise in electronic waste (e-waste) management frameworks, including asset tracking, disposal protocols, and recycling lifecycles.
• Strong working knowledge of Nigerian environmental regulations (e.g., NESREA) and international environmental/e-waste standards.
• Experience conducting environmental audits, risk assessments, or compliance monitoring across multiple delivery sites or institutions.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to coordinate across universities, design firms, certified recyclers, and regulatory authorities.
• At least 6 years of experience in the environmental management or safeguards field.

Preferred:

• Prior experience on donor-funded programmes and familiarity with international environmental safeguard policies.
• Familiarity with Nigeria's tertiary education landscape and Centres of Excellence-style delivery models.
• Experience integrating sustainability concepts into  educational curriculum or community sensitisation campaigns.
• Background in green building principles or energy-efficient facility design operations.