Conservation South Africa (CSA), a local affiliate of Conservation International (CI), is committed to helping societies adopt a more sustainable approach to development - one that considers and values nature at every turn and improves human well-being through the conservation of healthy ecosystems and the goods and services they provide. CSA seeks to influence policy, develop markets, engage the private sector, and support communities to develop and implement conservation-based economic growth models. The Herding for Health program (H4H) a partnership between CI and The Peace Parks Foundation is a community-driven livestock management model that supports the livelihoods of rural communities living in and around protected areas, while restoring grasslands, savannas and shrublands, and conserving biodiversity through herding, capacity building, and collective governance. CSA partners with communities and communal livestock farmers to tackle the adverse effects of climate change, through nature-based solutions and through our H4H concept which promotes stewardship of biodiverse communal rangelands through Conservation Agreements.
POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Springbok, South Africa
The Senior Manager, Communal Livestock and Rangelands for the Namakwa Landscape reports to the Namakwa Green Economic Development Director. This person will be responsible for the implementation of the H4H approach in general, and also for implementing this approach within CSA Jobs for Nature initiatives, which restore and secure key high biodiversity areas while creating economic relief and long-term job opportunities for local people. They will work closely with communal livestock farmers, climate specialists and biodiversity specialists to co-design and implement appropriate responses on 700, 000 ha of communal grazing lands in the Namakwa District where climate stress, biodiversity loss, and weak livestock markets are a daily reality.
The key responsibilities for this role include driving strategic implementation, optimizing budgets and cost management, proactively mitigating risks, ensuring robust governance, and conducting rigorous monitoring and evaluation, whilst promoting overall operational excellence.
Responsibilities
Strategy implementation
- Co-design appropriate H4h interventions, together with local communal farmers and experts.
- Investigate and identify the best livestock regenerative practices for the succulent Karoo, and support farmers in implementing these practices in the communal areas.
- Map stakeholders in the landscapes and build relationships in support of H4H implementation, while maximizing resources and avoiding duplication.
- Conduct farmer engagements in collaboration with the Stewardship Specialist to strengthen existing and create new governance structures that enable farmer-led H4H implementation.
- Create guidelines for implementation areas we work in in the Namaqua District that will promote sustainable land use and animal care, using the existing Biodiversity and Grazing guidelines as a basis.
- In collaboration with the Restoration Manager, Stewardship Specialist and stakeholders, develop and oversee the implementation of an animal health program that will ensure the well-being of livestock production.
- In collaboration with farmers, establish fit-for-landscape best practices to improve animal production.
- Develop best practice communal farming guidelines that will optimize collective efforts for biodiversity and sustainability outcomes, optimizing the resources available in the landscape.
- Build trust amongst farmers, non-profit organizations, government, and the private sector.
- Convene a panel of experts for the design of a sustainable plan, mapping a comprehensive path to sustainable farming best practices for communal areas in the Namakwa District.
- Support the development of a Sustainability Plan for the Landscape.
- Together with relevant partners, establish market access opportunities for the farmers and mechanisms to unlock opportunities along the livestock value chain.
- Implement agreed-on approaches and manage all aspects of the project.
- Develop detailed site-level project plans, schedules, and budgets in collaboration with the Landscape Director and the Project Director and monitor budget implementation against key milestones and performance metrics.
- Coordinate resources, including site project teams, consultants, and vendors, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to CI protocols.
- Coordinate the project report writing process for the Landscape to align with donor requirements, with guidance from the Project Director and Landscape Director.
- Manage vendors and consultants to ensure timely delivery.
- Maintain accurate project documentation, progress reports, and meeting minutes.
- Ensure a robust project governance structure is set up to support implementation at landscape level with relevant stakeholders represented.
- Implement quality control processes to ensure quality deliverables to the Donor.
- Proactively identify risks and establish a risk register that is updated regularly and implement mitigation strategies to ensure project success.
- Monitor, evaluate, and share lessons to support adaptive learning by conducting project reviews and lessons learned sessions to identify areas of improvement, and implement changes needed.
- Together with the H4H team in the Landscape, collect data and track indicators identified in the Monitoring and Evaluation framework for the H4H program and Donor.
- Conduct knowledge exchange events with farmers in the landscape and other implementors in the German Climate Fund project, as well as the overall H4H program.
- Ensure all documents are collated in line with the document management system.
- Ensure project adherence to relevant environmental and social safeguards and implement relevant grievance mechanisms.
- Ensure project adherence to relevant CI policies and protocols.
- Demonstrated managerial capability with an ability to provide clear and compelling direction, and empower others to translate a vision into results.
- Foster a collaborative working environment and motivate teams to achieve project objectives, providing team guidance and support, as needed.
- Ability to manage and resolve conflict with a range of stakeholders and staff.
- Ability to implement adaptive management techniques that lead to staff being able to meet project objectives, despite challenges that may occur.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Traveling locally on remote dirt roads.
- Working in natural environments, exposed to the elements.
- Periodic travelling both nationally and internationally
- This position follows a hybrid work structure, working some days from the office and some remotely. Guidance will be shared during the interview process.
- This is a fixed-term assignment, "expected to be a 3-year assignment, anticipated to begin July 1, 2024 and end on June 30, 2024".
Required
- A Bachelor's degree in Rangeland, Animal, Conservation Science, or relevant humanities with adequate work experience.
- 5 to 7 years of experience in a project management role within the Agricultural Value Chain Development, Community Conservation, Rangeland, Animal Health or Livestock Management arenas.
- Up to 2 years of supervisory experience.
- Understanding of local ecosystems, as well as both national and international stewardship models and communal farming systems.
- Knowledge of livestock management systems, livestock health and disease, and best practices, especially in cattle, sheep and goats.
- Excellent project management, financial, and reporting skills.
- Excellent negotiation skills: ability to bring together divergent groups, build consensus, and resolve conflict.
- Ability to inspire and compel others, especially communal farmers, to change behavior for the benefit of the greater good.
- Ability to distill multiple, historic resources and information into easily accessible best practices.
- Able to take a systems-level approach and think strategically.
- Solid knowledge of MS Office, especially Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Excellent communication skills in Afrikaans and English, both written and spoken.
- Drivers license
- Experience in the implementation of land management and land restoration projects.
- Experience in the implementation and management of livestock (agricultural) value chain interventions.
Application Deadline: June 20, 2024 (11:49 PM EST)
See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE
Conservation International is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility-committed employer. We are proud to have a diverse, global workforce where employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, position requirements, business needs, market conditions, merit, and other legitimate nondiscriminatory factors.
As a science-based organization, CI follows CDC recommendations for COVID-19 and other vaccines. Accordingly, for the health and safety of our employees, their families, and our community, subject to applicable local law, all Conservation International staff are expected to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, vaccination is no longer a mandate or condition of employment and employees are not required to provide proof of vaccination. This means we will not require an individual to be vaccinated to enter a CI office, attend CI events or travel on CI-related trips. This applies for our community partners as well. This vaccine expectation applies to all team members working remotely, in a hybrid work arrangement, and on-site. Job applicants are NOT required to state their COVID-19 vaccine status in their application.
