Enforcement Specialist (Level 11), Biodiversity Conservation - Cape Town Office at CapeNature

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead the development and integration of biodiversity compliance and enforcement knowledge, planning and monitoring systems

• To lead and develop strategic plans focusing on areas of high conservation value, which requires compliance and enforcement action to achieve the necessary conservation objectives.
• Lead and support the development of biodiversity plans and strategies as well as the compilation of monitoring and assessment reports.
• Lead and direct team/s to produce outputs/outcomes, research, policy and planning in line with organisational strategy.
• Formulate key research and policy-related strategies to address real world problems and user requirements.
• Contribute to the development of systems, decision-making processes, models, policies, strategies, and protocols to support the implementation of strategic adaptive management.

Develop, integrate and implement Biodiversity Legislation and Policy

• Lead and contribute to the development of biodiversity legislation and policies.
• Solve biodiversity-related challenges with policy or planning to alleviate the problem or alter the perception of the problem.
• Provide specialist recommendations on applications and enquiries.
• Review and recommend compliance and enforcement reports and submissions.
• Review and recommend compliance and enforcement designations.
• Review, comments and consolidate comments on legislation and policies.
• Prepare effective and legally defensible directives, notices and legal
  correspondence and assisting in the drafting of enforcement court applications, where necessary.

Generate, develop, and integrate impact (technologies, science, and innovation) for effective Compliance and Enforcement by CapeNature

• Generate and disseminate evidence-based knowledge.
• Conduct, support, and coordinate biodiversity crime enforcement investigations to gain knowledge and enhance understanding, in an applied manner or by using research to assist in decision-making and problem solving.
• Coordinate, consolidate and compile technical reports.
• Draft and provide statements in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act and additional witness statements after plant species are identified.
• Testify in court.
• Contribute to, develop, expand, maintain, and improve inventories, collections, and databases.
• Conduct, facilitate, evaluate, and report on surveillance, monitoring, and research.
• Contribute to biodiversity mainstreaming and formal stakeholder engagements in line with organisational strategy.
• Report on results of research, surveillance and monitoring in technical and formal reports, conference presentations, public or institutional lectures, debates and panels, and information leaflets.

Engage and collaborate in strategic partnerships and National and Provincial Forums

• Liaise and collaborate with international / domestic environmental authorities as well as tertiary education institutions, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders on compliance and enforcement capacity-development initiatives.
• Engage with institutions, stakeholders, and partners in the landscape to investigate a voluntary compliance approach, build capacity and to ensure a pro-active compliance and enforcement service in operations.
• Develop collaborative partnerships to leverage optimal output including the development of funded projects to support the strategic objectives of CapeNature.
• Develop and maintain collaborations and partnerships to augment capacity and capability.
• Develop partnerships aimed at harnessing unique expertise or capabilities which exist in partner organisations, and which are rare or unique in South Africa.
• Attract funding (investment, collaboration, or sponsorship) or secure partnerships through the provision of technical and specialist expertise in the preparation of proposals or agreements, networking and lobbying with appropriate partners to generate appropriate funds/co-funding/support to pursue the strategic objectives of CapeNature.

Develop and deploy biodiversity compliance and enforcement capability and capacity

• Initiate and monitor the procurement of external goods and services required to support the delivery of environmental compliance and enforcement capacity development and operational initiatives.
• Provide professional decision, advisory, regulatory and liaison support functions.
• Increase biodiversity crime enforcement capacity within CapeNature and amongst external law enforcement partners.
• Provide appropriate support to CapeNature personnel and external law enforcement role-players, related to law enforcement procedures and policies involving enforcement related activities.
• Provide capacity development support to operational projects of national, provincial, and municipal EMIs and other compliance and enforcement role-players.
• Plan, implement, facilitate, and participate in national and provincial environmental compliance and enforcement (both basic and specialized) capacity-building programmes for key role-players, including national, provincial, and municipal EMIs, prosecutors and other compliance and enforcement role-players.
• Develop advocacy and awareness material.
• Provide strategic support to CapeNature personnel related to compliance and enforcement procedures, guidelines, and policies.
• Develop compliance and enforcement training curriculum.
• Provide training, mentoring and skills development of CapeNature staff and stakeholders in the landscape to ensure enforcement and compliance.
• Enhance capabilities via the development and deployment of innovative measures and general ecological competencies.
• Deploy innovation to develop human and knowledge capital towards achieving the strategic objectives of CapeNature.
• Develop human capital: self, personnel, interns and post-graduate students through coaching, mentoring, work assignment, structured training, and appropriate supervision to maximise human capabilities in line with the needs of CapeNature.
• Develop, adopt, and implement improved (innovation, technology) ways of working and guide change.
• Develop and improve lateral succession and progression through broadening skills sets and technical and specialist competencies.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Mandatory: Qualifications and Experience

• A degree in the field of Nature Conservation and / or and / or Environmental Management (NQF 7).
• Seven (7) years’ experience working in the field of nature conservation and environmental management compliance monitoring and enforcement.
• Three (3) years' experience working in a leadership/management/supervisory position.
• EMI Grade 2
• Excellent communication in English both written and spoken.
• In possession of a valid driver’s license
• No criminal record