Principal Planner (Cape Region) at South African National Parks (SANParks)

Requirements

• Degree (NQF Level 7) in conservation management/ Town & Regional Planning and or/ Environmental Studies.
• 4- 6 years relevant experience Private Environmental Consulting, Local, Provincial or National Governments, or Conservation NGOs.
• Map generation and GIS skills.
• Strong written communication skills.
• Valid Driver License.
• Own vehicle as the position involves extensive travel.
• Must be physically fit.

Knowledge & Skills Required:

• Report Writing.
• Planning & Liaison.
• Leadership within projects.
• Good communication & Conflict resolution.
• People development and empowerment.
• Programme and project management.
• Financial management for projects.
• Change management.
• Problem solving and analysis.

Added Advantage:

• Post Graduate Degree
• Valid Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association (EAPA-SA) Registration.
• Valid South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) Registration.

Responsibilities

Planning and Land Use:

• Prepare and coordinate planning inputs for inclusion in municipal integrated plans and spatial development frameworks.
• Comment on EIAs, Municipal Land Use Planning By-Laws and Land Use applications in Park buffer zones.
• Coordinate and implement public participation processes for formal planning and environmental application processes, where required by legislation, under the oversight of the Manager: Park Planning.
• Attend and represent SANParks at various planning and land use meetings/engagements.
• Compile consolidated sensitivity maps using specialist input and available GIS information.
• Environmental and Heritage Compliance
• Support the implementation of environmental and heritage compliance within Park operations, e.g. Environmental Authorisations, Water Use Licenses, EMPs, Heritage approvals required.
• Inspect and monitor various projects and undertake site visits at various National Parks across the Cape Region.
• Maintain a register of planning and environmental compliance risks, appeals, authorisations, agreements, and conditions relevant to the Region, and provide regular status updates to the Manager: Park Planning.
• Ensure that operational decisions and advice are lawful and based on scientific information, sustainability principles and best practices.

Operational Support:

• Assist Park and regional management in keeping abreast of planning, environmental and heritage legislation.
• Assist with Park expansion and land consolidation initiatives and strategies.
• Assist with Park Management Plan revisions and stakeholder engagement in the Cape Region Parks.
• Disseminate information to all relevant park personnel regarding development decisions and impacts.

Partnerships and Development:

• Provide technical planning input to the establishment of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and concession developments within the park.
• Undertake first-line technical screening of external development and activity proposals affecting the park or buffer zones and provide recommendations to the Manager: Park Planning.
• Provide project coordination and planning support to Parks.
• Assist the Manager: Park Planning with stakeholder engagement in the Cape Region.

Management of Resources:

• Support the implementation of departmental priorities.
• Develop and implement efficiency measures to ensure optimum capacity utilisation and performance.
• Support the management of human, physical and financial resources in line with the organisational policies, processes, and procedures.

Closing Date

12 March 2026