Principal Planner, Arid Region Location: Kamieskroon or Upington

A vacancy currently exists for a Principal Planner for the Arid Region, based at the Namaqua National Park office in Kamieskroon. This position will support effective park planning within the arid region, with a focus on the Namaqua to Augrabies Mega Living Landscape, through assessing – and providing guidance on biodiversity issues, threats, pressures and opportunities in the region; and mitigating development risks and negative impact on parks through engaging with development planning and applications within the park buffers.

The successful candidate will report the Manager: Park Planning and Development.

Location

Namaqua National Park

Requirements

Minimum Required Qualifications and Experience:

• NQF Level 7 in Conservation Management; Town & Regional Planning; or Environmental Studies.
• 6 years relevant experience Local Provincial or National Governments Consultancy or NGO’s.
• Driver’s License and own vehicle. Position involves extensive travel.

Knowledge and Skills required:

• Environmental legislation and regulations.
• Conservation legislation and regulations.
• NEMPA Act and other relevant legislation.
• Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.
• Organisational policy and procedures.
• Business objectives and strategies.
• Conflict resolution.
• People management and empowerment.
• Programme and project management.
• Financial management.
• Change management.
• Problem solving and analysis.
• Report Writing.

Added Advantage:

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

Responsibilities

• To ensure that park planning is addressed in municipal integrated plans and spatial development frameworks.
• To comment on EIAs, Municipal Land Use, and other development applications in Park buffer zones.
• To ensure that environmental management decisions and advice are based on scientific information and best practices.
• To ensure environmental and heritage issues are adequately addressed within Park operations, e.g. EMPs, EIAs, Heritage approvals required.
• To assist Park and regional management in keeping abreast of planning, environmental and heritage legislation.
• To assist with Park expansion and land consolidation initiatives and strategies.
• To disseminate information to all relevant park personnel regarding development decisions and impacts.
• To provide input to the establishment of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and concession developments within the park.
• To provide a project management service to Parks.
• To determine the departments priorities.
• To develop and implement efficiency measures to ensure optimum capacity utilisation and performance.
• To manage human, physical and financial resources in line with the organisational policies, processes and procedures.

Please Note

If you have not been responded to within 14 days of the closing date, please accept that your application has been unsuccessful.

Paterson Grade

D2

How To Apply

Interested candidates who meet the above requirements should forward their applications accompanied by the required documentation listed below to the following:

Documents Required

The remuneration package includes an all-inclusive cost to company salary, based on the scale of a position with a Paterson D2 job grade, allowances, and benefits as specified in the HR tariff Document and Conditions of Services of SANParks.

E-mail to: [email protected]

Closing Date

20 July 2026