Biodiversity Stewardship Facilitator (Park Planning and Development Unit) at South African National Parks (SANParks)

Requirements:

• A recognised postgraduate qualification in environmental or natural resource management.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in biodiversity stewardship facilitation and protected area management. Experience in stakeholder engagement with rural and agricultural farming communities will be an added advantage.
• At least 5 years experience in community-based project management and implementation.
• Conflict and relationship management skills.
• Ability to speak, read and write English; fluency in isiXhosa and/or Afrikaans is an advantage.
• A valid South African resident status.
• Good report writing and presentation skills.
• Basic GIS knowledge will be an added advantage.
• A valid driver's license (Code EB) accompanied by a willingness and ability to travel (note: own vehicle required).

Responsibilities:

• Identify, discuss and assess options/models for land expansion through biodiversity Stewardship in communal and private land.
• Build on existing engagements that have been undertaken with landowners who have expressed an interest in having their land declared as part of the national park or supporting buffer protected areas.
• Facilitate the necessary legal and technical support for the signing of conservation agreements and/or the declaration.
• Design, implement and monitor land-use management plans.
• Interact with the landowners to assist with the extension of sound biodiversity-friendly management practices to ensure the conservation objectives are met on the ground.
• Explore biodiversity-compatible land use options (such as game-ranching, nature-based tourism, or sustainable offtake of wildlife and harvesting of medicinal plants) with landowners and communities for optimal, responsible utilization of their land.
• Provide commenting support on identified Environmental Impact Assessments in the buffer zone of the Addo Elephant National Park and engage relevant local and district municipalities on biodiversity and expansion matters in the Integrated Development Plan and Spatial Development Framework.
• Link communities to business development and capacity development support programmes of the project aimed at improving sustainable benefits from the protected area network.
• Assist in the development of strategic institutional arrangements and representative structures amongst landowners in the landscape.
• Establish and ensure the smooth operation of all the co-management and extension structures.
• Link communities with relevant structures including the private sector for support and for partnership purposes.
• Share lessons learnt from the node nationally and internationally through the Global Wildlife Program - for replication and scale-up.