Landscape Manager

Job Title: Landscape Manager

Location: South Africa

Duration of contract: 2 years, with possible extension

Starting date: As soon as possible

Travelling: Not more than 20% from overall work time

DRS is looking for a Landscape Manager who will be responsible for providing leadership, management and accountability for the activities and performance of conservation program South Africa. The Landscape Manager will also provide strategic oversight and direction for the implementation of the program, ensuring that each of the components are implemented in line with global standards taking account of the local conditions. An ideal candidate should have a proven managerial, administrative and field experience in conservation and should also have experience of managing multi-disciplinary teams.

Main Roles and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate implementation of organization’s landscape conservation program and engage with Wildlife authorities, County Governments and Local government authorities, conservation partners working and investing in the landscape.
• Provide technical oversight to the Landscape by focusing on: application of sustainable natural resources management; strengthening natural resource governance, participatory land and resource use planning.
• Work with M&E officer to implement a resource monitoring system for the landscape.
• In consultation with supervisor, further develop strategic partnerships in the landscape.
• Supervise the team on the ground to improve and strengthen stakeholder forums for ongoing dialogue between Wildlife Authorities and private sector stakeholders.
• Manage day-to-day operations of the program.
• Work with the Program Design team to generate project concepts for funding proposals.
• Work with the Strategy team to implement organization’s next 5-year strategy for the landscape.
• Work with the Communications and Marketing teams to communicate messages through newsletters, reports and regular updates.
• Represent the organization at County and Local government level, and development of local level policies, with emphasis on wildlife and biodiversity conservation.
• Work with the Finance Department to develop and track working budgets.
• Work with the Program Management and Grants Management teams to ensure annual work plans and budgets are produced in a timely way and are uploaded in project management systems.

Qualification, Experience and Skills:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Conservation, or related fields. Master’s degree would be an advantage.
• 10+ years of proven managerial, administrative and field experience in conservation.
• Experience managing large multi-disciplinary teams.
• A task oriented, result focused and collaborative leadership approach with a thorough understanding of project management disciplines.
• Experience and a proven success record in working and implementing projects.
• Experience of successfully managing large projects and delivering timely and verifiable results.
• Demonstrated knowledge and mastery of global standards and practices for conservation including in protected area planning and management, participatory land use planning, community conservation, rights-based approaches, and integrated conservation and development.
• Demonstrated ability to build capacity of multiple stakeholders and facilitate multi-stakeholder processes to engage in landscape planning and management.
• Conservancy management experience a strong advantage.
• Experience working with Government agencies.
• Proficiency in English (spoken and written).