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Specialist Sustainability Belgium

Sibelco Group • Belgium • Added on Aug 14, 2026
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Based at the Dessel plant, this role acts as the bridge between industrial operations and environmental stewardship. You will lead the efforts to secure and maintain the legal and social license to operate by managing complex permitting processes, coordinating environmental impact assessments, and ensuring rigorous site compliance across Belgian operations. It is a hands-on position that requires translating high-level regulatory requirements into actionable site-level improvements.

The work is vital because it directly manages the environmental footprint of essential mineral extraction. By overseeing land management and closure planning, you ensure that Sibelco’s industrial activity leaves a positive legacy, protecting local biodiversity and maintaining trust with neighboring communities. You will be at the forefront of implementing global sustainability programs within a local operational context, making decarbonization and resource efficiency a reality on the ground.

This suits someone who possesses a strong technical background in environmental science and excels at navigating regulatory frameworks. You should be a skilled communicator capable of building rapport with both site engineers and government officials.

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What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The core of this role involves overseeing the legal and social license to operate for Sibelco’s Belgian sites. You will be responsible for coordinating Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and managing the end-to-end permitting process for mineral extraction and processing. This includes translating complex environmental regulations into clear guidance for site managers to ensure day-to-day compliance. Beyond administrative compliance, you will own land management and site closure strategies. This involves planning for the long-term restoration of sites once extraction ends, ensuring that biodiversity goals and local land-use requirements are met. You will also serve as a key technical advisor for emissions management and water use reduction initiatives. Engagement is the third pillar of your mission. You will represent the company in front of regulatory authorities and local communities. By fostering transparent communication and managing stakeholder consultations, you help mitigate local concerns and build long-term trust in Sibelco’s sustainable operational model.

Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates will gain deep expertise in Belgian and EU environmental regulations specifically applied to the mining and minerals sector. Navigating the nuances of permitting and impact assessments in a highly regulated industrial landscape provides a unique competitive edge in environmental law and compliance. There is also a significant opportunity to learn about large-scale land restoration and biodiversity management. Working on closure plans for industrial sites allows you to understand how to transition heavy industrial land back into valuable natural or community assets, a skill increasingly in demand. Furthermore, the role offers exposure to global sustainability reporting frameworks. You will likely be involved in collecting and auditing site-level data for global KPIs, providing a clear view of how local site performance feeds into international corporate ESG strategies and disclosures.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The successful candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science or Engineering and at least three years of professional experience in an industrial or regulatory setting. A solid grasp of Belgian environmental permitting processes is essential for hitting the ground running in this specific regional role. Soft skills are just as important as technical knowledge. You must be a persuasive communicator who can bridge the gap between technical operations teams and external government agencies. The ability to remain proactive and solutions-oriented when faced with complex regulatory hurdles is vital for maintaining project timelines. Fluency in English and the local language (Dutch) is mandatory, as you will be drafting technical reports for international stakeholders while holding face-to-face meetings with local community members and authorities in Flanders.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, emphasize your practical experience with Environmental Impact Assessments and your history of successful interactions with Flemish regulators. Providing specific examples of how you have resolved compliance issues or secured difficult permits in the past will demonstrate your immediate value to the Dessel team. Show an understanding of the extractive industry's unique challenges. Acknowledge the tension between industrial needs and environmental conservation, and explain how you balance these priorities. Researching Sibelco’s specific commitments to biodiversity and glass recycling will show you are aligned with their long-term purpose rather than just looking for a general compliance role. Finally, highlight any experience you have with GIS or spatial data. As land management is a significant part of the role, demonstrating a capability to handle geographical data for site planning and restoration will mark you as a high-potential candidate who can manage the technical aspects of the job.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

This role is heavily focused on environmental stewardship and regulatory governance. You will be the point person for ensuring that the company's mineral extraction activities do not exceed their environmental thresholds, specifically focusing on air emissions, water discharge, and noise levels. A significant portion of your impact will be seen in biodiversity and land use. By managing site closure plans and restoration projects, you directly contribute to the 'Nature Positive' goals of the company, ensuring that mining sites are returned to a state that supports local ecosystems. You will also support the social pillar of ESG through community engagement. By acting as a transparent link between the Dessel plant and its neighbors, you manage the 'Social License to Operate,' which is critical for the long-term viability of the company's local investments.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the primary challenges will be navigating shifting regulatory landscapes. Environmental laws in Europe and Belgium are becoming increasingly stringent, and staying ahead of new requirements while keeping existing operations running smoothly requires constant vigilance and adaptability. You may also face stakeholder friction. Balancing the industrial requirements of a mining site with the concerns of local residents or environmental NGOs requires high emotional intelligence and the ability to negotiate outcomes where different parties have competing interests. Managing data accuracy for global reporting can also be difficult. Ensuring that site-level emissions and waste data are captured precisely enough to meet international corporate standards requires meticulous attention to detail and the ability to influence site staff who may prioritize production over data entry.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical morning might start with a site walkthrough at Dessel to review environmental monitoring equipment or check the progress of a land restoration project. You would likely meet with site managers to discuss upcoming permit renewals or compliance risks identified during an internal audit. In the afternoon, you might switch to external engagement, perhaps attending a meeting with local government officials or drafting a response to a community inquiry regarding site operations. This requires a shift from technical problem-solving to strategic communication and relationship management. You will likely end the day reviewing GIS data or impact assessment reports. This involves quiet, analytical work to ensure that all documentation for a new permitting application is accurate, thorough, and ready for submission to the authorities.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

This role is a springboard for moving into Regional or Global Sustainability Leadership roles within Sibelco. Given the company's presence in 30 countries, a successful specialist in Belgium could eventually oversee environmental strategy for the broader EMEA region. You could also choose to specialize further in Environmental Law or Land Remediation. As companies face more pressure regarding their 'End of Life' responsibilities for industrial sites, experts who know how to close and restore sites sustainably are becoming highly valued specialists. There is also the potential for cross-functional movement into QEHS management or operational excellence. The skills you build in risk management and stakeholder negotiation are highly transferable to other senior leadership roles within a global industrial group.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Your primary internal stakeholders will be the Plant Managers and Operations Teams. You act as their advisor, helping them maintain production while staying within the bounds of their environmental permits. Externally, you will deal closely with Government Agencies and Regulators responsible for environmental monitoring and land use. Establishing a professional, credible relationship with these individuals is crucial for the company's operational continuity. You will also interact with Local Communities and Landowners. Whether through formal consultation processes or informal neighborhood meetings, you are the face of Sibelco’s commitment to being a responsible neighbor and sustainable local employer.

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