Apple strengthening environmental affairs, retail & security in China with new hires

Apple is on a hiring spree in China, with more than 200 new positions now being advertised, including key personnel on the company's environmental affairs team.

In particular, Apple seeks an environmental program manager based in the capital city of Beijing. The job description, detailed by The Wall Street Journal on Friday, seeks candidates that will "ensure that Apple's products and processes meet and surpass regional and national environmental regulatory requirements."

The iPhone maker also appears to be beefing up its retail endeavors in China, with a number of new positions related to its brick-and-mortar stores. And another position related to security in Shanghai will help oversee the company's manufacturing and production in China.

China has been a major focus for Apple under Chief Executive Tim Cook. In the last few years, the company has seen explosive growth in the nation of over one billion, though in recent months that has slowed, helping to fuel speculation that Apple will introduce a new low-cost iPhone that could be sold contract-free in emerging markets.

Apple's hiring spree in the Far East isn't limited to China, as a separate report from DigiTimes earlier this week also revealed that the company is looking for engineers in Taiwan. Newly listed job positions include titles such as "senior packing engineer," "reliability engineering manager," "senior software instrumentation engineer," "senior AC-DC-design engineer," and "sensing system hardware engineer."

The hires support a recent rumor that claimed Apple is planning to open a new research and development center in Taiwan that will be focused on future iPhones. Hiring for the facility is expected to begin in September.