diff --git a/reana_workflow_controller/config.py b/reana_workflow_controller/config.py
index d62cce3a..08175395 100644
--- a/reana_workflow_controller/config.py
+++ b/reana_workflow_controller/config.py
@@ -162,6 +162,12 @@ def _env_vars_dict_to_k8s_list(env_vars):
 )
 """Default image for REANA Job Controller sidecar."""
 
+
+JOB_CONTROLLER_ENV_VARS = _env_vars_dict_to_k8s_list(
+    json.loads(os.getenv("REANA_JOB_CONTROLLER_ENV_VARS", "{}"))
+)
+"""Environment variables to be passed to the job controller container."""
+
 JOB_CONTROLLER_CONTAINER_PORT = 5000
 """Default container port for REANA Job Controller sidecar."""
 
diff --git a/reana_workflow_controller/workflow_run_manager.py b/reana_workflow_controller/workflow_run_manager.py
index 03cc535f..c840242f 100644
--- a/reana_workflow_controller/workflow_run_manager.py
+++ b/reana_workflow_controller/workflow_run_manager.py
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
 from reana_workflow_controller.config import (  # isort:skip
     IMAGE_PULL_SECRETS,
     JOB_CONTROLLER_CONTAINER_PORT,
+    JOB_CONTROLLER_ENV_VARS,
     JOB_CONTROLLER_SHUTDOWN_ENDPOINT,
     REANA_KUBERNETES_JOBS_MAX_USER_MEMORY_LIMIT,
     REANA_KUBERNETES_JOBS_MEMORY_LIMIT,
@@ -484,7 +485,6 @@ def _create_job_spec(
             overwrite_operational_options=overwrite_operational_options,
         )
         workflow_engine_env_vars = env_vars or self._workflow_engine_env_vars()
-        job_controller_env_vars = []
         owner_id = str(self.workflow.owner_id)
         command = format_cmd(command)
         workspace_mount, workspace_volume = get_workspace_volume(
@@ -586,6 +586,7 @@ def _create_job_spec(
             ),
         )
 
+        job_controller_env_vars = copy.deepcopy(JOB_CONTROLLER_ENV_VARS)
         job_controller_env_vars.extend(
             [
                 {"name": "REANA_USER_ID", "value": owner_id},