An exciting vacancy exists in the Knysna Scientific Services offices in the Garden Route (within the Conservation Services Division of SANParks) for a conservation scientist, comfortable to work in dynamic social-ecological contexts, preferably with some indigenous forest research background. The successful candidate will primarily operate in the southern, western and eastern Cape regions. S/he will be part of a multi-disciplinary research team and will be expected to bring a passion for conservation science, a good track-record and strong science leadership to the team. Based in the Garden Route, s/he must possess skills to take her/his science to managers, policy makers and the public and to participate in value debates around protected area management trade-offs. S/he must interact with various stakeholders, process information needs and engage in joint problem solving, critical analysis and mutual learning. In order to integrate new scientific information with existing knowledge, the successful candidate requires patience, respectful negotiation and empathetic listening skills.

Key performance areas

Key responsibilities include the following:

  • Facilitate, enable and/or solicit and support appropriate research – leverage external research capacity through established and new knowledge networks, in ways that are meaningful for SANParks and to address the diversity of knowledge needs.
  • Knowledge generation and dissemination – conduct own independent research and communicate this (using academic and popular channels through both oral and written means)
  • Knowledge translation, integration and harvesting – make sense of a diversity of monitoring and research findings for specific (national park and other) contexts and aid in articulating and highlighting its relevance to protected area management, practice and policy
  • Strategic planning and reporting – contribute to a variety of strategic planning and reporting initiatives, including park management plan reviews and revisions, annual implementation of the research strategy, regional and/or thematic research and planning mechanisms, sustainable harvesting system development, etc.
  • Provide leadership to a team of terrestrial scientists and provide mentoring to younger and/or less experienced scientists and biotechnicians
  • Participate in ad hocscientific services support tasks, e.g. scoping studies, information dissemination to internal and external stakeholders, research support, etc.
  • Sound basic administrative skills – work planning and scheduling, basic human resource matters, general and financial administration competence, etc.

Requirements

  • A PhD in relevant biological sciences. For consideration, candidates with an MSc must show exceptional experience and science leadership.
  • Research experience in multi- or inter-disciplinary teams.
  • Excellent science track-record in appropriate fields, with good publication record and science recognition.
  • Demonstrated ability to inspire and/or lead a group of more junior scientists and biotechnicians
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both scientific and more popular environments
  • Demonstrated ability to provide strategic direction in a research field
  • Able and willing to regularly conduct research and science-management engagements away from home base, primarily across the Garden Route and Frontier national parks, but potentially also further afield in SANParks.
  • A valid Category B driver’s license.
  • Computer literate with good working knowledge of relevant statistical, analytical and/or GIS packages.

The remuneration package includes a basic salary, based on the salary scale of a position with a Paterson DU job grade, and allowances and benefits as specified in the HR Tariff Document and Conditions of Service of SANParks.  Please note that no official housing is available.

Background: Conservation issues and management decisions are often complex, with stakeholder disagreement and uncertainty about their outcomes. SANParks’ scientists thus assist the organisation to critically (i) generate new knowledge, (ii) filter, synthesize and transform scientific information, (iii) help the diffusion, absorption and implementation of knowledge relevant to fulfilling organisational objectives, (iv) connect science with management and policy functions, (v) connect science with conservation stakeholders and society at large; (v) and scan the landscape for emerging issues, research themes and potential threats. As such, they increasingly act as bridging agents, facilitating co-learning across multiple boundaries of science, policy, management and stakeholder groups.

Enquiries: Dr Stef Freitag-Ronaldson (044 302-5652).

You must address your application with the accompanying cover letter; CV; Certified Copies of Driver’s License, ID and relevant qualifications to the following address: Jacqueline.jacobus@sanpark.org

South African National Parks
P O Box 787
PRETORIA
0001

Candidates who have not been contacted within 14 days of the closing date may consider their applications as unsuccessful.