Conservation Manager Off Reserve (Level 10) - Witzenberg Landscape unit, Paarl Office

CapeNature is looking for a Conservation Manager: Off Reserve to join the Witzenberg Landscape Unit to manage the conservation management off reserve component. This position is suited to a competent, analytical, dedicated conservationist who has extensive knowledge and experience in landscape-scale biodiversity conservation and management, compliance and enforcement and a clear understanding of CapeNature’s legal obligations, mandate, and environmental protection.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Effective Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement in order to Protect Biodiversity

• Manage and ensure the implementation of the Central Region’s off reserve compliance plan.
• Provide advice and guidance on compliance and enforcement actions to CapeNature staff in the Witzenberg Landscape Unit (both on and off reserve).
• Investigate terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity crime (including the associated securing and execution of CPA and CCA search and seizure warrants where required and the collection of evidence in accordance with sound crime-scene-to-court evidence admissibility principles).
• Compile investigation dockets (including photo albums, CPA s212 statements, draft charge sheets, regulatory and witness statements etc).
• Collaborate with the SAPS to ensure successful investigations.
• Present evidence in court (testifying).
• Collaborate with the NPA to secure successful prosecutions (extension provision and assisting with drafting of CPA s105A agreements).
• Issue admission of guilt fines (J534s).
• Issue voluntary compliance notices.
• Review and evaluate facility management plans for wildlife exhibition and rehabilitation facilities.
• Provide a specialist, professional extension service to clients (both internal and external) regarding international, national and provincial regulatory requirements as it pertains to activities involving wild animals and plants in the Western Cape.
• Process permit applications, comment on applications, compile permit conditions and issue permits.
• Ensure the implementation of CapeNature’s biodiversity legal mandate through compliance and enforcement actions and activities.
• Conduct CITES inspections and endorsements.
• Utilise the national CIPS-platform to review and provide comment / input on CITES Appendix II permit applications.
• Manage and conduct compliance inspections.

Provision of a Professional Biodiversity Conservation and Management Extension Service to Internal and External Clients and Stakeholders

• Provide specialist comments and support on land use planning, decision making and farming practices.
• Provide specialist comments on the development of Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) and Spatial Development Frameworks (SDFs) of relevant municipalities.
• Provide a specialist, professional extension service to landowners regarding nuisance and damage causing wildlife management and mitigation measures that are legal, humane, ethical, ecologically acceptable and biodiversity conservation conscious.
• Promote and contribute to stakeholder capacity building through targeted interventions applicable to standards, procedures, policies and the legal framework for off reserve.
• Contribute towards environmental education amongst the youth.
• Develop relationships with partners and stakeholders to promote sound ecological management.

Protected Area Expansion and the Management of the Conservation Estate

• Lead the implementation of the Western Cape Protected Area Expansion Strategy (WCPAES) and as also informed by the Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan for off-reserve areas.
• Assist landowners of Private Nature Reserves (PNRs) through the process to become compliant with the requirements of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (NEM:PAA).
• Assess, present, and liaise with CapeNature’s Stewardship Review Committee and other relevant departments to secure private land for biodiversity (both reactive and proactive), including the drafting of management plans for Stewardship sites and the drafting of legal documents for the declaration process for new Stewardship sites.
• Lead the building of relationships with partners and stakeholders in the field of protected area expansion through the provision of a landscape-scale biodiversity conservation extension service aimed at securing species and ecosystems of conservation concern.
• Lead identified actions to improve the conservation status of priority species and ecosystems.
• Contribute towards peer learning in the field of protected area expansion.
• Collect and submit data to relevant databases (SOB, game database, rhino horn register, ivory register, large predator database etc.).

Promote and Enhance Sound Conservation and Environmental Practice

• Review and evaluate game management plans and game introduction risk assessment reports
• Conduct habitat evaluations for game introductions and/or translocations and compile comprehensive, professional reports to inform CapeNature’s decision making process on game introduction / translocation applications.
• Ensure adherence to all relevant operational standard operating procedures, guidelines, policies and legislation.
• Conduct population assessments for species of conservation concern to inform CapeNature’s decision making process on game introduction / translocation / off-take applications.
• Provide a specialist, professional extension service to landowners regarding game translocation and utilization (calculation of stocking rates, vegetation and habitat assessments, habitat mapping, carrying capacity calculations etc).
• Conduct and manage DNA-sampling of priority fauna species and ensure chain of custody protocols are adhered to.
• Manage and conduct rhino horn and elephant ivory marking in accordance with national and provincial norms, standards and procedures.
• Contribute to ecological management and collection of biodiversity data in the area (Ecological Matrix projects implemented and reporting on it).
• Implement projects identified in the Ecological Matrix.

Overall Accountability for Ensuring Performance, Governance, Financial Management and Risk Management

• Ensure organisational governance is achieved and enhanced in the unit through adherence to corporate legal obligations, policies, standards and performance target and deadlines.
• Ensure that performance is achieved and enhanced through effective and efficient staff performance management in accordance with 5-year strategic plans, annual performance plans, operational plans and performance agreements targets.
• Ensure the delivery of a competent and professional service to both internal and external clients.
• Ensure effective finance and administration management within the off-reserve unit.
• Ensure all relevant Occupational Health & Safety, Finance, Transport, Asset and Human Resource legislation, policies and standards are in place and adhered to within the off-reserve unit.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Qualifications

• National Diploma in Nature Conservation and/or Environmental Management at (NQF 6).
• At least 5 years’ experience working in the field of nature conservation and environmental management compliance monitoring and enforcement.
• At least 3 years’ management experience in the field of nature conservation and environmental management compliance monitoring and enforcement.
• A valid EB or B (08) driver’s license.
• EMI Grade 2.
• Peace Officer.
• No criminal record.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office 365.
• Proficiency in GIS application.
• Bilingualism in at least 2 of the official languages of the Western Cape.
• Excellent communication in English both written and spoken.
• Excellent report writing and presentation skills.

Experience & Competencies

• Extensive knowledge and relevant experience in nuisance and damage-causing wild animal management and extension service provision.
• Extensive knowledge and relevant experience i