Living Lands invite applicants to fulfil the role of Project Manager/ Landscape Mobiliser in the Langkloof for Living Lands for an initial period of 12 months, with the possibility of extending the contract to a permanent position.

Reference: LLA52016

Job title: Landscape Mobiliser / Project Manager

Location: Langkloof, Eastern Cape

Duration: 12 months, with the possibility of a permanent position

Hours: Usually 8am-5pm

 

Living Lands – The Organization

The vision of Living Lands involves ‘collaborations working on living landscapes’*, which represents the connection amongst stakeholders and the undertaking of a learning process that ultimately leads to social awareness and raises collective action towards more sustainable practices in a defined area. This is done by means of employing a social change approach as a way to engage stakeholders in a learning process. Research and trial experimentation are part of the knowledge created for supporting stakeholders’ decision making. We are currently a team of 15, with offices in the Baviaanskloof, Langkloof and Cape Town. We are a young and dynamic bunch who like to do things differently. We are driven by change; we’re all passionate about our work and enjoy a flat working structure. We like to work with a positive, creative, committed, honest, and transparent approach. *A ‘living landscape’ comprises a variety of healthy ecosystems and land uses and is home to ecological, agricultural and social systems which are managed so as to function sustainably.

 

Role Description

As Landscape Mobiliser, you will form and maintain stakeholder relationships on the landscapes within the Eastern Cape and will be the eyes and ears representative of Living Lands in the field and stakeholder meetings. You are encouraged to use your skills and initiatives to identify, grow and apply your expertise to support Living Lands within the Eastern Cape. You will use your ideas and creativity to determine the best way to contribute to the goals of Living Lands and to take responsibility to develop the Eastern Cape projects to their full potential. The landscape mobiliser is responsible for the bottom based stakeholder engagement process based on the living landscape approach. This approach is an integration of social learning, Theory U, ecosystem thinking and transdisciplinary knowledge production.

 

Key Responsibilities and accountabilities

a. Be responsible for stakeholder engagement in Eastern Cape catchments;

b. Organise learning events and workshops;

c. Form and maintain mutually beneficial partnerships with key organisations and contacts;

d. Pick-up and elaborate on new ideas;

e. Assist in the writing of progress / dissemination of reports to partners and funders;

f. Organise stakeholder feedback and dialogue workshops;

g. Attend relevant workshops / networking opportunities;

h. Assist with project background research and fact finding in Eastern Cape projects;

i. Support the team in the Cape Town office with a variety of general duties to provide support where possible and required;

j. Be part of project meetings;

k. Arrange logistics and planning of emerging farmer projects in the Langkloof.

 

Requirements

In general, the candidate should have interest in stakeholder engagement, social change processes, nature conservation, restoration and sustainable land/water management, and possess managerial abilities.

The following criteria apply:

 At least a Diploma in Nature Conservation, Bsc Ecology or similar;

 Experience in (or interest in learning) managing stakeholder processes;

 Excellent communication and network skills, on all levels;

 Team player;

 Ability to listen and have empathy with stakeholder experiences;

 Ability to connect with stakeholders of varying backgrounds and income levels;

 Driver’s license;  Previous experience is an advantage;

 IT proficiency to a self-supporting standard in Microsoft Office applications;

 Fluency in English and Afrikaans is essential and isiXhosa is a bonus;

 South African citizen.

 

Personal Attributes

 Passionate, results-orientated, keen eye for problem solving;
 Can do, hands on, get the job done, mentality;
 Be flexible and no 9 to 5 mentality;
 Willing to life in the Langkloof;
 Flexible and enthusiastic, able to get things done in a diplomatic way;
 Positive and creative in approach;
 Thrives in socially complex and dynamic situations;
 Appreciation for nature;
 Strong communication and influencing skills;
 Excellent organisation and time management skills with the ability to work under pressure with changing priorities;
 Effective networker with a high level of interpersonal skills;
 Desire to continually develop and work outside of one’s comfort zone;
 Motivated, responsible and proactive.

 

Applications

To apply for the job please send your CV (including at least 3 references and their relevant direct contact details) and a motivational letter describing why you would be the ideal candidate for the position.
Closing Date: 26 August 2016
Contact Person: Steve Berry
Email: steve@livinglands.co.za – please Quote Ref: LLA52016 in the subject line
All CV’s will be reviewed.

 

For more information, please download the job advert here.