Internship: Environmental Assessment Practitioner at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job:

The CSIR has an internship opportunity for an Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP)in the Environmental Management Services research group, within the Smart Places cluster. The purpose is to provide graduates with an opportunity to gain practical work experience and develop capabilities in environmental impact assessment, as well as related fields such as strategic environmental assessment, risk assessment, monitoring and evaluation, sustainability frameworks and systems thinking. This position is at the CSIR office in Stellenbosch or Durban.

Key responsibilities: 

• Work together with colleagues to develop our environmental assessment and management capabilities, through developing networks, growing the business, and building new competencies;
• Co-ordinate and manage environmental assessment studies, from the proposal and negotiation phases through to public consultation, information collation, report writing and communication of findings (under the supervision of a senior EAP);
• Conduct independent investigations as well as integrate information from across disciplines;
• Travel regularly within South Africa and to other African countries as required.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• An Honours degree in environmental science or in a field related to sustainable development, conservation ecology, environmental engineering, or planning;
• A Master’s degree in environmental science or in a field related to sustainable development, conservation ecology, environmental engineering or planning would be advantageous;
• Short courses and further qualifications that include environmental legislation, geospatial analysis, systems thinking, and stakeholder engagement would be advantageous;
• Experience in application of scientific analytical research methodology; 
• Problem solving skills and solutions-oriented approach;
• Capability in conducting independent investigations and trans-disciplinary integration;
• Critical grasp of national and international developments regarding sustainability issues;
• Valid South African Code B or EB driver’s licence.

Closing date: 29 February 2024