Stakeholder Engagement & Community Development Officer

The Magaliesberg Biosphere is one of only a handful of UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserves in South Africa and is internationally recognised for its exceptional ecological, cultural and heritage significance. Stretching across a landscape spanning the Magaliesberg mountains between the cities of Rustenburg and Pretoria, the Biosphere serves as a living model for balancing environmental stewardship with sustainable human development where communities, conservation areas, tourism and industry coexist.

The Magaliesberg Biosphere NPC is the coordinating organisation responsible for bringing together diverse stakeholders to protect this unique landscape while creating opportunities for the people who live within it. As the organisation continues to expand its impact, we are seeking a confident and collaborative individual to join the team as Stakeholder Engagement and Community Development Officer. Success in this role will be measured by your ability to build and support trusted partnerships, strengthen community participation and help position the Magaliesberg Biosphere as a recognised catalyst for sustainable landscape stewardship.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

1. Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with local communities, government, landowners, researchers, businesses and partner organisations.
• Facilitate inclusive stakeholder engagement processes that enable participation, collaboration and collective ownership of Biosphere initiatives.
• Engage with municipalities, provincial departments and relevant government agencies to participate in regional planning processes and support alignment with Biosphere objectives.
• Facilitate constructive dialogue that strengthens both conservation and sustainable development outcomes.
• Represent the Biosphere at meetings, workshops, forums and community events.

2. Community Development and Capacity Building

• Support and enable community-led initiatives that strengthen environmental stewardship and deepen local ownership of conservation efforts through environmental education programmes, youth development programmes and citizen science initiatives.
• Facilitate public awareness and communication initiatives that promote understanding of the Biosphere and its work by means of workshops and presentations.
• Support communities in accessing opportunities, partnerships and collaborative initiatives across the Biosphere.

3. Stakeholder Information Management

• Develop and maintain stakeholder databases and relationship management systems.
• Map stakeholder networks, partnerships, projects and community initiatives.
• Record, monitor and track stakeholder engagements and participation activities.
• Analyse stakeholder data and engagement trends to generate insights for planning, reporting and organisational learning.
• Contribute to stakeholder reporting requirements for internal use and external partners/donors.

4. Project Coordination and Organisational Support

• Support the implementation of strategic programmes and projects.
• Coordinate stakeholder participation during project implementation processes.
• Assist with monitoring, reporting and documentation of project outcomes.
• Provide stakeholder and community engagement inputs into funding proposals and concept development.
• Support organisational planning and administrative processes where required.
• Contribute to stakeholder communications, including newsletters, website content, presentations and awareness campaigns.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• A relevant tertiary qualification.
• 5 years' experience in Community Development, Strategic Stakeholder Communications, Sustainability or similar.
• Experience within conservation, environmental management, local government, corporate social responsibility, NGOs or donor-funded programmes will be highly advantageous.

DESIRED ATTRIBUTES, SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Passionate about conservation and community development.
• High energy, proactive and self-motivated.
• Adaptable and responsive to changing priorities and environments.
• Curious, resourceful and solutions-oriented.
• Systems thinker with the ability to understand complex stakeholder environments and identify opportunities for collaboration.
• Professional, trustworthy and able to work independently.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, networking and relationship-building skills.
• Strong facilitation, public speaking and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to influence, negotiate and build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong organisational and project coordination skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Sound judgement and the ability to engage confidently with communities, government and partner organisations.
• Excellent written communication skills, including report writing, presentations and stakeholder correspondence.
• Strong digital literacy, including stakeholder databases or CRM systems and online collaboration tools.

REMUNERATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• Salary Range: R26 000 – R32 000 per month, depending on experience.
• Reports To: Biosphere Coordinator.
• Contract Term: 2-year fixed-term contract and hybrid working arrangement with an initial period requiring greater office-based presence.
• Location: Based in Johannesburg (North-West suburbs) with regular travel within the Biosphere.
• A valid driver's licence and access to reliable transport are essential. Business travel will be reimbursed in accordance with the organisation’s travel policy.
• Occasional evening and weekend work will be required to support stakeholder meetings and community events.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Should you be interested in this opportunity, please email your CV to [email protected] by 17:00 on Friday, 24 July 2026.

Please consider your application as unsuccessful if you have not heard from us within two (2) weeks of applying. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Magaliesberg Biosphere NPC reserves the right not to make an appointment

Pay: R26 000,00 - R32 000,00 per month

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Johannesburg, Gauteng