Safeguard Mechanism & Decarbonisation Consultant
At Pangolin Associates, we are dedicated to driving sustainable transformation for Australian businesses. We help clients navigate the complexities of carbon reduction, industrial decarbonisation, energy transition and compliance under evolving climate policy frameworks. As a growing, Australian-owned sustainability consultancy, our mission is to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and deliver lasting, measurable impact.
We are a passionate team of engineers, climate scientists, policy specialists and carbon market experts working with clients across mining, energy, transport and heavy industry. We pride ourselves on combining deep technical expertise with commercially grounded advice that drives real-world outcomes.
We are seeking a technically strong and commercially astute Safeguard Mechanism & Decarbonisation Consultant to join our growing industrial advisory team. Reporting to senior leadership, you will lead client engagements supporting large facilities to navigate Australia’s reformed Safeguard Mechanism and implement practical decarbonisation pathways.
This is an opportunity to work at the forefront of industrial transition where engineering, carbon markets and policy intersect.
We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion and creating a workplace where all voices are heard. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process, please let us know.
What You’ll Do
- Advise Safeguard facilities on baseline decline rates, emissions intensity calculations, reporting thresholds and compliance obligations.
- Provide strategic guidance on when facilities must report and surrender Safeguard Mechanism Credits (SMCs) or ACCUs.
- Monitor policy evolution and provide forward-looking insights on where the Safeguard Mechanism is heading
- Develop facility-level decarbonisation roadmaps aligned with operational realities and capital planning cycles.
- Evaluate technical abatement options including:
- Electrification of fleets and haul trucks
- Renewable energy procurement and PPAs
- Onsite generation and storage - Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
- Process efficiency and fuel switching
- Process Flexibility and Wholesale Demand Side Response
- Advise on carbon reduction strategy including ACCU procurement, generation opportunities and portfolio optimisation.
- Support financial modelling of abatement pathways versus offset strategies.
- Engage with executive teams, sustainability leads and technical operations teams.
Qualifications
- Engineering degree (chemical, mechanical, electrical or related discipline preferred)
- 7+ years’ experience within mining, oil & gas, energy, transport, or heavy industry.
- Deep working knowledge of the Australian Safeguard Mechanism and Clean Energy Regulator frameworks.
- Strong understanding of ACCUs, offsets markets and compliance strategy.
- Experience assessing real-world decarbonisation pathways including process possibilities and limitations in operational environments.
- Working understanding of short- and long-term energy markets including market fundamentals, risk evaluation and price signals an advantage.
- Commercial mindset — able to balance technical feasibility, capital cost and carbon pricing risk •
- Strong analytical, modelling, presentation and client communication skills
Benefits
- Competitive salary + performance-based incentives
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
- Access to continuous learning and professional development
- Opportunity to work on nationally significant industrial transition projects
- Collaborative, mission-driven culture in a rapidly growing sector
- Join a certified B Corporation dedicated to meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.