iSimangaliso Project Management Unit & GEF 7 Node Manager at iSimangaliso Wetland Park

A vacancy in iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority for Project Management Unit (PMU) and GEF 7 Node Manager exists. The incumbent is expected to assume a full responsibility for the entire organizational Project Unit Management (PMU). Furthermore, to provide effective and efficient strategic leadership and management for the implementation of iSimangaliso components of the National GEF 7 project, titled ‘Catalysing Financing and Capacity for the Biodiversity Economy Around Protected Areas Project’. The GEF 7 project aims to leverage financial resources and improve capacity to implement the Biodiversity Economy and increased benefits from selected Protected Areas landscapes to local communities. The project will help to transform South Africa’s wildlife economy to become inclusive and sustainable, supporting land reform beneficiaries and other communities in the project landscapes.  It will also provide impetus to the current implementation of the Park’s socio-economic development initiatives aimed at benefiting local communities and other relevant stakeholders.

Job Requirements and Competencies:

• A minimum of three-year degree in Natural Sciences / Resource Economics / Environmental Management / Tourism Studies / Community Development / Project Management or equivalent is required.
• Post graduate degree will be an added advantage.
• Extensive experience in sourcing funds for project implementation
• 8 years’ work experience in the relevant field, 4 years of which should be in first line management position(s)
• Minimum of 5 years in multi-stakeholder project coordination and management•Extensive experience in interacting with diverse range of role players.
• Extensive experience in implementing community and/or conservation projects and liaison with other relevant government organizations.
• Extensive experience in the implementation of socio-economic projects related to protected areas.•Knowledge of all relevant conservation and environment legislation
• Extensive experience in process facilitation skills, conflict management, financial management,•Have a valid drivers’ license.

Required Skills and Behavioural Attributes:

• Project management, strategy management; problem solving; analytical thinking; change management; written and verbal communication skills; demonstrated ability to work productively under pressure and long hours; relationship building and management skills; ability to deliver within the deadline. Strong ethical behaviour; be responsible and reliable; diligent work ethic with attention to detail; self-motivated and pro-active; disciplined; team player; strategic thinker.

Key Performance Areas and Scope of Work:

• Manage iSimangaliso Project Management Unit and provide strategic leadership in the overall implementation of the nodal activities through assuming entire responsibilities for the following:

Project Management and Administration:

• Manage all project implemented within the organization. Establish iSimangaliso GEF 7 Node through ensuring the existence of all requires things and personnel. Provide project supervision/oversight, management, administration and ensure compilation of requires reports for implemented projects.

Project Financial Management:

• Obtain costing information for projects to assist in budgeting and forecasting; Monitors spend during the project to prevent over expenditure on allocated budget for each project; Check project financial statements monthly to ensure correctness of allocations; Investigate anomalies and rectify to remain within budgeted parameters for each project.

Management of Stakeholder Relationship:

• Manage and implement all specific project requirements dictated by funders. Ensure healthy relationship with all stakeholders in project implementation, develop, strengthen and or co-ordinate actions around a shared vision of the biodiversity economy for iSimangaliso GEF 7 Node through multi stakeholder arrangements. Ensure collaborations with existing Park sections working with communities and general stakeholders to enhance service delivery and smooth implementation of project objectives, particularly those aimed at benefiting local communities and other relevant stakeholders. 
• Integrate project implementation with existing SMMEs programme, People and Parks programme and other divisional initiatives aimed at benefiting Park’s stakeholders.

Implementation of Stewardship Programme:

• oversee and provide strategic support to iSimangaliso GEF 7 stewardship programme, including providing supervisory role when participating in relevant community structures surrounding the Park. Participate in knowledge exchange and national strategic processes, and declaration of contractual community conservation areas abutting and or associated with the park. Lead negotiations with local community leadership to encourage them to set their land aside for Stewardship programme implementation around iSimangaliso.

Management of Socio- Economic and Livelihood Opportunities:

• oversee, with the GEF 7 economic projects leads, the adaption of the biodiversity economy node masterplans into investment, frameworks, including identifying potential anchor investments suitable to iSimangaliso, and the associated development of feasibility studies and business plans. This includes to supporting Fishing co-operatives, community equity packaging during the negotiations for Private Public Participation processes. Provide leadership in facilitating the implementation of SMMEs seed funding allocations and accompanying incubation process. Training on business planning/ growth; mentorship and grants, roll-out of the financial planning outcomes. Coordinate the establishment of abattoir to enable implementation of biodiversity economy initiatives.

Management of Communication and Knowledge Exchange:

•  Integrating with iSimangaliso Communication Unit, oversee and provide strategic support and supervision to Communication and Knowledge Manager. Assist in the creation of a platform for various role players within the project to exchange knowledge across project nodes and capturing learning on community stewardship and biodiversity economy. oversee the management and implementation of the project in line with the approved Project Document. Supervise the creation of knowledge products on biodiversity stewardship and biodiversity economy livelihoods and knowledge learning events to foster learning exchange within the various project nodes and iSimangaliso project implementation precinct. Assist in developing communication plans for consultation and community and stakeholders’ engagement. Assist in designing and implementing a communication strategy that will be continuous throughout the duration of the project and further integrated with organizational Communication Unit.

Human capital management:

• Provide supervision to iSimangaliso PMU and GEF 7 staff and give necessary support for human capital development, through internal skills development programme and GEF 7 associated partner programmes.

Project Monitoring, Evaluate and Learning:

• maintain an effective project monitoring, evaluation and learning system to ensure adequate knowledge transfer within PMU. Ensure 
• cost efficiency, quality delivery of project activities and results, undertake monitoring and evaluation and project reporting.