Extension Officer: Conservation Champion

Job Advert Summary

(This is a 30-month fixed term contract position based in Stellenbosch)

WWF is the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organisation, with over 6 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

WWF South Africa is a national office that is part of the WWF network. We are a local NGO that has worked for 50 years with the aim of inspiring all South Africans to live in harmony with nature, for the benefit of our country and the wellbeing of all our people. WWFs work is for nature, for you.

Our work is challenging and exciting and we love what we do. To join our team, you need to be brilliant at what you do, passionate, results-orientated and have a positive attitude.

Background:

It is well recognised that landowners, as the “stewards of the land” can play an important role in the long-term conservation of our natural heritage, ecological functions such as water provision and healthy soil that provide food security in a changing climate. With 95% of wine growing taking place in the unique habitat of the Cape floral kingdom, WWF initiated a pioneering partnership between the South African wine industry and the conservation sector. The project works with landowners to ensure they are aware of and conserving their unique natural heritage, and that their farming practices do not have any negative impacts on the surrounding environment.

WWF is looking for an energetic and suitably qualified Extension Officer to join the Cape Floristic Region team. The role will be responsible for providing technical advisory support around biodiversity stewardship, leading agricultural practices, effective resource management for the WWF Conservation Champion farms. The position is full time, based out of the Stellenbosch office and will require extensive travel within the Western Cape to undertake farm visits.

Minimum Requirements

• A tertiary qualification in agriculture science, conservation ecology, natural resources management, environmental management, or relevant field (e.g. economics, land use planning, viticulture, GIS expertise)
• At least five years’ experience in an environmental management position.
• Experience collaborating with farmers and landowners, and understanding of challenges facing them, is essential.
• An interest or background in botany/ ecology with an experience in plant restoration is an advantage.
• Working knowledge & experience of the different Conservation Stewardship models & relevant partners in the landscape.
• Experience in using Cape Farm Mapper, Google Earth Pro and or GIS software is an advantage.
• Computer literacy in (MS Office suite). Good working knowledge of Excel, Word and online meeting platforms.
• 4x4 driving skills
• The successful candidate must be skilled in communications (written and verbal) with strong report writing skills.
• Good people skills, interacting with variety of role players and comfortable public speaking is important.
• Excellent planning skills with strong analytical, administrative and project management skills.
• Collaborative spirit and ability to work in team settings across cultures and internally within a diverse institution.
• Excellent communication skills in both English and Afrikaans
• Passion for the conservation of nature and the involvement of people and businesses in the implementation of practical solutions to the challenges facing the environment.
• Innovation, flexibility, and self-motivation are important aspects for this job.
• Valid driver’s license and own transportation essential.
• Be physically fit and able to work outdoors, conduct field work in arid environments.
• You recognise yourself in the values of WWF: Courage, Integrity, Respect, Collaboration and Inclusion

To apply, please submit a detailed CV and cover letter combined into a single document, fully motivating the relevant skills, experience, and creativity you can bring to the role. Kindly include the names, current email addresses, and telephone numbers of three relevant references.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Review and provide technical input to the WWF Conservation Champion wine farm assessments:

• Effective planning of the annual farm visit schedule to ensure that all 60+ farms are visited at least once a year.

• During farm visit, complete the environmental assessment in collaboration with the representative from the farm which focusses on providing sound advice on the effective mitigation of any emerging environmental risks, updating the biodiversity management plans, tracking progress against previous annual targets and supporting the proactive conservation efforts of the farm – thereby ensuring that the WWF Conservation Champion criteria are maintained.

• Negotiate and conclude the signing of WWF Landowner Agreements with all WWF Conservation Champion farms as well as identified priority stewardship properties falling within WWF stewardship focus areas.

• Maintain positive relationships with key staff members/landowners and update team internally to ensure effective communication across various levels of engagement.

• Communication:

• Stakeholder engagement with targeted partner organisations (such as Landcare, CapeNature Stewardship, Conservation at Work, Upper Breede Collaborative Extension Group) and/or broader fruit & wine industry bodies.

• Coordination, planning and facilitation of learning exchange events or technical training workshops on a variety of topics and using a number of tools such as iNaturalist, carbon calculator and miniSASS, Cape Farm Mapper to name a few.

• In collaboration with the Communications unit provide support for WWF Conservation Champion sub-brand marketing, communication and media liaison including collating footage and content from the farms to feed into newsletter, blogs or social media copy.

• Ensuring the brand usage is correct, and integrity of the messaging is in line with the WWF guidelines with the Conservation Champions and marketing partners.

• Provide support to Programme Manager by providing input into fundraising and reporting to key funders and partners.

• Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (including GIS)

• GIS project oversight, data management and standardised map development for the Conservation Action or Biodiversity Management Plans per farm;

• Monitoring and Evaluation to track improved land management over time (including GIS spatial analysis of areas under agriculture and conservation as well as additional M&E metrics or METT analysis);

• Conduct biodiversity surveys in selected areas where required and capture the data in formats for internal M&E as well as user-friendly informative format for the farms to use.

• All aspects of project management and administration (updated membership information, contact details, conservation stories, annual review of management plans)

• Stewardship:

• Utilizing your working knowledge & experience of the different Conservation Stewardship models & relevant partners in the landscape to support landowners wanting to undertake stewardship commitments.

• Attendance and contribution to key stakeholder forums (such as Cape Nature Stewardship review committee) to report on relevant WWF stewardship agreements & landowner engagement processes.

• Where relevant, convening and/or chairing of quarterly meetings with the conservancies and landowner associations that WWF has facilitated within our priority focus areas.