ESG & SHE Coordinator

Unga Group

Nairobifull time~KES 100k – 180k/mo15h ago

Quick Take

The Role

Build and enforce safety, health, and environmental programs across Unga Group's manufacturing sites while translating corporate ESG commitments into measurable site-level outcomes.

You Need

3–5 years of hands-on SHE/HSE implementation in manufacturing or FMCG, deep knowledge of Kenyan occupational and environmental law (OSHA 2007, EMCA 1999), and fluency in ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 standards.

You Get

A high-impact role at a leading Kenyan FMCG manufacturer with competitive salary (KES 100–180k/mo), opportunity to shape safety culture and sustainability across multiple sites, and clear visibility into ESG-driven corporate strategy.

Job Description

•Role Overview

Unga Group is seeking a driven and detail-oriented ESG & SHE Coordinator to champion safety culture and environmental stewardship across our manufacturing sites. This is a pivotal role at the intersection of occupational health, environmental compliance, and corporate sustainability — responsible for translating group-level ESG ambitions into tangible, site-level outcomes.

You will serve as the primary custodian of Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) programs while simultaneously driving the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks into daily site operations. If you are passionate about building safer workplaces, reducing environmental footprints, and embedding responsible business practices, this role offers a compelling platform to make a measurable impact.

•Key Responsibilities

Develop, communicate, and implement comprehensive SHE programs to embed a proactive safety culture across all site levels.
Design and roll out monthly SHE communication strategies including toolbox talks, written bulletins, and management safety briefs.
Establish and oversee the performance of Site Safety and Health Committees, ensuring they remain functional and impactful.
Conduct continuous operational risk assessments across all site installations to identify and eliminate physical, chemical, and biological hazards.
Govern the Permit to Work (PTW) system — audit, monitor, and enforce compliance before any high-risk tasks commence.
Act as the primary liaison for employee health and safety concerns, ensuring logged issues are evaluated, escalated, and resolved promptly.
Support site-level ESG due diligence by collating and validating baseline metrics for carbon footprint, water stewardship, waste management, and social parameters.
Monitor daily site progress against ESG commitments and lead internal ESG audits aligned with GRI, SASB, or equivalent global reporting standards.
Design and deliver localized ESG training programs that connect individual employee actions to decarbonization and zero-waste targets.
Support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and employee wellness programs on-site.
Coordinate community engagement activities, multi-stakeholder CSR initiatives, and community grievance resolution mechanisms.
Identify and communicate customer-driven ESG requirements to site management to ensure local operations align with client sustainability expectations.
Guarantee compliance with Kenyan statutes including OSHA 2007, EMCA 1999, and relevant public health frameworks, as well as ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certified management systems.
Lead multidisciplinary incident and accident investigations — determine root causes using structured analytical tools and design preventive corrective actions.

•Required Skills & Experience

Demonstrate at least 3–5 years of hands-on experience implementing SHE or HSE programs in a manufacturing, FMCG, or industrial environment.
Apply working knowledge of Kenyan occupational health and safety legislation (OSHA 2007) and environmental law (EMCA 1999) in day-to-day compliance activities.
Execute risk assessments, Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), and incident root cause analyses using recognized methodologies (e.g., 5-Why, Bow-Tie, HAZOP).
Manage ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety) systems, including internal auditing and corrective action tracking.
Collect, validate, and report ESG metrics aligned with internationally recognized frameworks such as GRI or SASB.
Communicate complex safety and sustainability concepts clearly to diverse audiences — from shop-floor operators to senior management.
Coordinate cross-functional committees and facilitate training workshops with measurable learning outcomes.
Proficiently use MS Office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) for reporting, data analysis, and presentation preparation.
Hold a relevant professional certification such as NEBOSH, IOSH, or a recognized local SHE qualification as an added advantage.

•Salary & Benefits

Unga Group offers a competitive remuneration package benchmarked to industry standards. Based on market rates for mid-level SHE/ESG roles in Kenya's manufacturing sector, the estimated monthly gross salary range is KES 100,000 – 180,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience. A full benefits package is expected and may include medical cover, group life insurance, and performance-linked incentives consistent with the group's compensation philosophy.

•Who Should Apply

Ideal Candidate: You hold a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Occupational Health & Safety, Engineering, or a related field. You have 3–5 years of progressive SHE or HSEQ experience in a structured manufacturing or processing environment, and you understand how ESG reporting connects to business strategy. You are a self-starter who can work independently at site level while aligning with group-level governance. You care deeply about people, the environment, and communities — and you know how to turn that care into systems and metrics.

Do NOT apply if: You have no direct experience in occupational health and safety or environmental compliance. Candidates seeking a purely administrative or desk-bound compliance role without fieldwork engagement will not be suited to this position. This role requires regular site presence and practical hazard management — theoretical knowledge alone is insufficient.

•How to Apply

To apply for the ESG & SHE Coordinator position at Unga Group, follow these steps:

Prepare an updated CV highlighting your SHE/ESG experience, certifications, and measurable achievements in previous roles.
Write a concise cover letter (one page maximum) explaining your suitability for this role and your understanding of ESG integration in manufacturing contexts.
Submit your application through the Unga Group careers portal or the job platform where this vacancy was listed.
Ensure your application clearly references the job title ESG & SHE Coordinator in your subject line or application form.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear back within four weeks of the application deadline, consider your application unsuccessful for this cycle.

Requirements Breakdown

Must Have

3–5 years of hands-on SHE or HSE program implementation in manufacturing, FMCG, or industrial environments
Working knowledge of Kenyan occupational health and safety law (OSHA 2007, EMCA 1999, and related public health frameworks)
Demonstrated experience with ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 certified management systems
Ability to conduct operational risk assessments, incident investigations, and design corrective actions using structured analytical tools
Strong written and verbal communication skills for designing training programs, toolbox talks, and management briefs

Nice to Have

Experience with GRI, SASB, or equivalent global ESG reporting standards
Track record of designing and rolling out DEI or employee wellness initiatives
Familiarity with Permit to Work (PTW) systems and Site Safety Committee governance
Knowledge of carbon footprint, water stewardship, and waste management metrics in a manufacturing context

Don't meet every requirement? Tailor your CV to close the gap →

Salary Context

Competitive mid-to-senior level salary for ESG & SHE Coordinator in Nairobi

At KES 100,000–180,000/month, this role sits above entry-level SHE coordinator positions and reflects Unga Group's expectation of 3–5 years' experience and dual competency in both occupational safety and ESG frameworks. Salary variation depends on site complexity, compliance maturity, and whether the candidate brings international standards expertise.

About Unga Group

Unga Group is one of Kenya's leading FMCG and food manufacturing conglomerates, with multiple production sites and a significant footprint across East Africa. The company is known for its commitment to operational excellence and increasingly visible ESG and sustainability ambitions, making it an attractive employer for professionals who want to embed responsible business practices at scale. Working at Unga offers exposure to complex, multi-site manufacturing operations and the chance to directly influence group-level sustainability strategy.

Likely Interview Questions

1
Walk us through a specific SHE incident or non-compliance you investigated at a previous employer. What root causes did you uncover, and what preventive measures did you implement?
2
How have you successfully embedded a proactive safety culture at the shop-floor level? Give an example of a behavioral or cultural shift you drove.
3
Describe your experience translating corporate ESG or sustainability targets into site-level action plans. How did you monitor progress and overcome resistance from operational teams?
4
What is your experience with Kenyan occupational health and environmental law, and how have you ensured compliance across multiple manufacturing sites?
5
How would you approach designing a Permit to Work system or strengthening an existing one to reduce high-risk task incidents?

Application Tips

Highlight specific SHE programs you have designed and rolled out — include metrics on safety culture improvement, incident reduction rates, or audit compliance scores. Quantify your impact.
Emphasize your direct experience with OSHA 2007, EMCA 1999, and ISO 45001/14001 audits or certifications; this is a must-have for the Kenyan regulatory context and will set you apart immediately.
If you have any experience bridging occupational safety and ESG/sustainability reporting (e.g., GRI or SASB), foreground it — this dual skill is rare and exactly what the role seeks.

Career Path

Roles that lead here

SHE Officer or Assistant SHE Manager in a manufacturing or FMCG facility

Health & Safety Advisor in a larger industrial or construction context

Environmental Compliance Officer transitioning into integrated SHE/ESG roles

YOU

Where this leads

SHE Manager or Senior SHE Manager responsible for multiple sites or regional operations

Corporate ESG or Sustainability Manager at group level (transitioning from site-based to strategic, group-wide focus)

Operations Director or Plant Manager with SHE and ESG accountability embedded in P&L responsibility

Skills & Keywords

esg coordinator kenyahealth and safety jobs kenyashe coordinator nairobiiso 14001 iso 45001 jobsoccupational health kenyaunga group jobsenvironmental compliance jobs kenyasustainability jobs kenya

Honest Assessment

Green Flags

Clearly defined, high-impact role at the intersection of safety, health, environment, and corporate strategy — combining operational credibility with boardroom visibility.
Unga Group is a well-established, reputable Kenyan FMCG leader with multi-site operations, meaning real scale and complexity to manage, and strong employer brand in East Africa.
Competitive salary range (KES 100–180k/mo) reflects seniority and dual expertise in SHE and ESG; this is above typical entry-level coordinator pay and signals room for progression.
Role emphasizes both compliance (OSHA, EMCA, ISO standards) and strategic ESG frameworks (GRI, SASB), indicating Unga's maturity in sustainability and your exposure to global best practice.

Watch Out

The job description is cut off mid-sentence under 'Required Skills & Experience' ('Apply working knowledge of Kenyan occupation…'), suggesting incomplete posting details. Seek clarification on all required certifications and qualifications before applying.
No mention of reporting line, team size, or site(s) served — it is unclear whether this role covers one facility or multiple sites, which materially affects workload and travel expectations.
No information on flexible working arrangements, remote work options, or location flexibility within Nairobi. Given the emphasis on 'site-level' work, expect frequent site visits, but this should be stated explicitly.

A Day in the Life

☀️

Your week typically splits between site-based inspections (2–3 days visiting manufacturing facilities to audit Permit to Work compliance, conduct hazard walkthroughs, and observe safety committee meetings) and office-based strategic work in Nairobi (developing monthly SHE communication packs, analyzing incident reports, collating ESG metrics for carbon and water footprint baseline reporting, and preparing internal audit schedules). You might spend a Tuesday morning facilitating a toolbox talk on lockout-tagout procedures, a Wednesday afternoon in a root-cause incident investigation meeting, and Thursday drafting a customer-facing ESG summary aligned with their sustainability expectations. Stakeholder management is constant — coordinating with site managers, facility safety committees, occupational health providers, and corporate ESG leads.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifications do I need to be an ESG & SHE Coordinator at Unga Group?

You need 3–5 years of hands-on SHE or HSE program experience in manufacturing or FMCG, solid understanding of Kenyan occupational and environmental law (OSHA 2007, EMCA 1999), and demonstrated competency with ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 management systems. Certifications like NEBOSH or equivalent are highly valued.

Is the ESG & SHE Coordinator role at Unga Group remote or office-based?

The role is based in Nairobi but involves frequent site visits to manufacturing facilities for inspections, audits, and committee oversight. Expect a mix of office and on-site work; this is not a remote role.

How much does an ESG & SHE Coordinator earn at Unga Group?

The posted salary range is KES 100,000–180,000 per month, which is competitive for a mid-level role with 3–5 years' experience. Actual salary depends on background, certifications, and the complexity of sites managed.

What are the career growth opportunities for this role?

This role is a natural stepping stone to SHE Manager or Senior SHE Manager positions overseeing multiple sites, or to a Corporate ESG/Sustainability Manager role at group level. Strong candidates can also transition into operations leadership (Plant Manager, Operations Director) with SHE and ESG embedded in their mandate.

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