CapeNature seeks to appoint a skilled, dynamic, innovative, and energetic individual to fill the role of Land Use Scientist stationed in Jonkershoek. The ideal candidate should possess in-depth expertise of the Fynbos and Renosterveld ecosystems and the environmental management legislative framework. The ideal candidate should have strong interpersonal, communication, and writing abilities. Professionalism and a willingness to travel and undertake in-field biodiversity assessments is a key attribute sought for this position.
The Land Use Scientist's primary role is to provide spatial planning and land use decision support within a landscape of overlapping ecological, social, and economic priorities. The Land Use scientist provides professional scientific decision support to pertinent stakeholders to enhance ecological resilience and achieve and maintain biodiversity targets towards the maintenance of ecological infrastructure, avoidance of ecosystem fragmentation and loss and strengthening climate change resilience. The Land Use Scientist provides biodiversity insights for land use and development planning, environmental assessment and authorization, natural resource management, and various multi-sectoral planning initiatives. Additionally, the role entails implementing innovative strategies to cultivate human and knowledge capital, aligning with CapeNature's strategic objectives and the Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan.
RESPONSIBILITIES: KRA 1: Manage data, knowledge, and information for the production of quality data, information and intelligence to inform and facilitate strategic adaptive management. Maintain landscape datasets for all priority projects.Conduct and/or facilitate ground truthing, monitoring and biodiversity assessment of critical biodiversity areas, threatened ecosystems and other priority biodiversity areas, inclusive of protected and conserved areas.Maintain and update the Land Use Advice database, including spatial recording of development footprints.Monitor and track priority tasks relating to land use advice cases and guide landscape management in its conservation management response.KRA 2: Provide ecological decision support for effective landscape conservation and ensure sound scientific analysis of data to guide management planning and assessment.
Contribute to the development of biodiversity informants such as the Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan, the Western Cape State of Biodiversity, and the Western Cape Protected Areas Expansion Strategy.Participate in protected areas expansion review committee meetings and contribute decision support for protected area expansion initiatives.Identify applications proactively or reactively that have potential to contribute towards expanding the protected areas estate.Review and comment on development applications and facilitate engagements with the relevant stakeholders.KRA 3: Facilitate and lead integrated landscape and protected area planning and review. Contribute to the development and review of protected area management plans.Review and comment on all development proposals and event applications for CapeNature managed protected areas and conserved areas under the indirect control of CapeNature in accordance with relevant legislation.Provide decision support to ensure environmentally responsible development is conducted on protected areas in respect of biodiversity impacts and legislation.KRA 4: Build landscape intelligence knowledge and capacity and engage stakeholders and partners to support conservation management and achieve ecosystem resilience through coordination and networking. Maintain active landscape partnerships with inter alia Municipalities, Biosphere reserves, relevant Western Cape Government Departments, academic institutes, specialists, NGOs, etc. inclusive of developing Memoranda of Understanding or Agreement as required.Develop and/or contribute to the development of biodiversity legislative tools such as biodiversity management plans, spatial biodiversity plans, invasive alien species management plans, standard operating procedures and guidelines.Contribute to the review of policies and regulations that guide land use.Attend, make presentations and represent CapeNature's mandate and interests at appropriate forums and platforms relevant to land use and conservation planning and contribute to the promotion of public awareness about healthy natural ecosystems, habitats, landscapes, and ecosystem services.Provide and support capacity building interventions on conservation planning and land use to relevant authorities and other stakeholders.KRA 5: Assume accountability for ensuring performance, governance, and risk management as it relates to the Landscape Conservation Intelligence Unit. Adhere to and implement policy and procedures that govern data management.Apply due diligence as it pertains to the relevant environmental management legal framework, guidelines, policies and procedures.Identify and support the acquisition and maintenance of assets.Participate in and contribute to Landscape Intelligence team meetings and contribute to strategic management decision making.Actively engage with fellow Landscape Conservation Intelligence Units and Biodiversity Capabilities to facilitate peer learning, sharing of lessons learnt and organisational consistency.REQUIREMENTS: A Natural Science MSc. Degree, plus 5 years relevant work experience, which meets the requirements for SACNASP registration as a Professional Scientist in the appropriate field of practice (Botanical Science, Ecological Science, Biological Science, Environmental Science).Exemplary botanical knowledge of Fynbos and Renosterveld ecosystems and species.Experience writing and reviewing botanical and ecological specialist reports.A good understanding of freshwater and coastal ecosystems in the Western Cape.Detailed knowledge of applicable current environmental and land use legislation such as the National Environmental Management Act; National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act; National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act; National Water Act; Mining and Petroleum Resources Development Act.Detailed knowledge of and demonstrated experience in working with environmental and land use planning policies, frameworks, and guidelines.Excellent communication, inter-personal and writing skills.A good understanding of the principles of systematic conservation planning and knowledge of systematic conservation plans applicable to the Western Cape Province, including the challenges likely to be faced in implementation.A good understanding of the Protected Area Expansion Strategies.A good understanding of biodiversity offset mechanisms and applicable legislation.A good working knowledge of the MS Office suite and full-featured GIS Packages (e.g. QGIS or ArcView/GIS, Cape Farm Mapper and Google Earth Pro.)A valid driver's Code 8 license and willingness to drive to meetings and site visits regularly.Proven ability to work independently and/or part of a team.Proficiency in two of the three official languages of the Western Cape.Self-motivated and requiring a minimal amount of supervision and technical management; andComfortable working in a team with a willingness and patience to capacitate colleagues and stakeholders.COMPETENCIES Good oral and written communication skills, including a friendly and helpful disposition, to provide a professional and effective support function to colleagues and other clients.An active learning, innovative and problem-solving approach to job, with good organisation skills.Ability to work to a detailed schedule and meet deadlines and keep a detailed log of work-related activities for reporting purposes.Ability to prioritise and adapt according to circumstances.Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships colleagues, peers, and professional associations.Kindly note that it is encouraged to become a member of the CapeNature Pension Fund. In the event that you are an existing member of a Medical Aid, you are required to provide a copy of such membership registration before the commencement of your employment with CapeNature.
Apply online viahttps://capenature.simplify.hr/ Closing Date: 24 April 2024
#J-18808-Ljbffr
