National Engagement and Policy Manager at WWF South Africa

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s Degree in water resource management/public resource management or similar.
• At least 10 years of professional experience.
• Extensive experience working with government, the water sector, and the private sector on water resource management issues, with a good understanding of government water policies.
• A good understanding of the SWSAs and the work being done to secure them.
• Ability to work collaboratively and facilitate solutions focused engagements in a multidisciplinary and diverse working environment.
• Strong convening and partnership development skills.
• A sound understanding of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Negotiation and diplomacy skills and ability to engage at senior management level.
• Established networks at senior management and strategic levels within the water and environmental sectors – particularly in government departments.
• Technical capacity to translate water stewardship approaches into water-related policies/strategies/action plans for various levels of government.
• Ability to critically review water-related policies and legislation.
• Strategy development expertise as well as knowledge of key issues in water resource management, water stewardship and sustainability crucial for productive government engagements.
• Project management experience.
• Some knowledge and experience of protected area declaration and ‘other effective area-based conservation measures' (OECMs) would be beneficial.
• Sound knowledge of water stewardship approached and principles.
• Self-starter with an entrepreneurial attitude, with ability to initiate new working relations and self-manage areas of work critical to the achievement of deliverables.
• Excellent interpersonal, writing, presentation and communications skills.
• Fluency in English.
• Computer literacy essential (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Driver’s license. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Support WWFs Freshwater Portfolio

• Feed the work & experience of WWF team members in the different SWSAs into national policy and decision making relevant to securing SWSAs, bridging what WWF is doing locally with what needs to be shared nationally.
• Serve as a national integrator of any provincial/regional freshwater policy work the WWF Freshwater team are involved in.
• Engage in the GBF 30x30 SWSA task team, and support the development and implementation of a plan to protect 50% of the SWSA by 2030.

Engage government:

• Develop strategic relationships with influential government and government-linked role-players in sectors relevant to securing SWSAs and improving water security in South Africa.
• Provide a point of strategic contact for national government entities around SWSAs.
• Engage Catchment Management Agencies around strategic issues such as land and water resource management of SWSAs, water stewardship practices, water use efficiency etc. and advocate for their inclusion in Catchment Management Strategies.
• Actively engage relevant government departments, portfolio committees and other strategic partners in order to advance the prioritisation of SWSAs in policy, legislation and planning – including but not limited to the revised National Water Act, National Water and Sanitation Master Plan, and the integration and mainstreaming of the “Mechanisms Framework to Secure SWSAs” into plans, strategies and policies.
• Provide support to the DFFE Directorate of Water Sources and Wetlands Conservation on strategic matters, and the development and implementation of a national SWSA programme of work.
• Manage the development and implementation of memorandums with relevant government departments that contribute towards securing SWSAs.
• Engage with national government departments in Pretoria and attend strategic national water events.
• Identify and address government policy levers, enabling conditions and inhibiting factors that can influence achievement of the WWF Freshwater Portfolio outcome and targets.

Engage Corporates:

• Engage with corporate head offices in Gauteng on corporate water stewardship opportunities. This will include:
• Attending the Strategic Water Partnership Network (SWPN) meetings.
• Promoting WWF developed freshwater tools and approaches at a national level, such as the Water Risk and Biodiversity Risk Filter Suite, water stewardship, Water Source Partnerships etc.
• Contributing towards the implementation and continuous improvement of the Journey of Water Campaign.
• Developing funding proposals alongside government and other stakeholders, to raise financing for the national SWSA programme of work.