A vacancy exists for the position of a Strategic Conservation Planner to provide a strategic conservation planning service to improve management effectiveness of the Protected Areas (PA) Network and provide high level support to the project partners at both an agency and site level. The position will be stationed at the SANParks Conservation Services: Park Planning & Development offices in Port Elisabeth.
Requirements:
A master’s degree or equivalent in systematic conservation planning or related disciplines;
A good understanding of South African (SA) conservation organisations, strategies and current operations;
Understanding of Ecological Processes and Systems, and government conservation priorities.
Experience in project management and working with multi-stakeholders;
At least 5 years’ experience in land use planning;
A valid South African resident status and knowledge of SA’s social, economic and environmental systems;
Understanding of SANParks policies and relevant legislation frameworks;
Excellent communication skills in English and strong computer-, report writing- and presentation skills;
A valid driver’s license (Code B) and a willingness and ability to travel (note: own vehicle required).
Responsibilities:
To conceptualize and develop systematic conservation priorities and spatial conservation inputs as part of protected area expansion or consolidation, planning and management;
To conceptualize and develop spatial conservation planning products for integration into local and regional planning, new approaches and applications of conservation planning & disseminate information;
To cooperate and integrate with national and regional conservation planning initiatives;
To coordinate PA management planning, M&E and management effectiveness tracking and reporting systems within and across PA management agencies and produce an integrated METT system;
To review baseline METT reports and management effectiveness strategies at both agency level and site level and support the implementation of improvement strategies;
To develop and implement a learning network in order to build management planning and tracking capacity for the effective PA management as part of the METT process;
To coordinate GEF METT evaluations and supporting the implementation of improvement strategies;
To facilitate and encourage continuous improvement of the PA management effectiveness through integrated interventions (policy and land use controls) in buffer zones;
To communicate to GEF progress made with the integration of the various PA planning and management components, thereby developing global best practice.
Salary:
Paterson Grading: D4 (2 years Fixed Term Contract) Min R 588 829, 63 Max 965 395, 93
How to apply:
Persons who meet the above requirements can forward their electronic applications together with a Cover letter, CV and certified copies of their ID, relevant qualifications, driver’s license) to;
Att: Veronica van Wyk South African National Parks P.O. Box 797 Pretoria 0001 Fax: 0865898429 Email: veronica.vanwyk@sanparks.org
