Southern Africa Wildlife Trafficking Hub Lead

**Job Advert Summary**:
(12-Month contract position based in WWF Office in White River, Mpumalanga, or hybrid)

WWF is the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organisation, with over 6 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

WWF South Africa is a national office that is part of the WWF network. We are a local NGO that has worked for 50 years with the aim of inspiring all South Africans to live in harmony with nature, for the benefit of our country and the wellbeing of all our people. WWFs work is _for nature, for you_.

Our work is challenging and exciting and we love what we do. To join our team, you need to be brilliant at what you do, passionate, results-orientated and have a positive attitude.

**Background**:
The Khetha program aims to address the impact of wildlife trafficking on people and rhinos and elephants in the Mozambique and South African landscape of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area. The program’s three objective areas are:

- Support innovative partnerships and novel approaches within civil society, communities, the private sector, and government in at least four innovation nodes in the GLTFCA to improve relationships between people and wildlife.
- Support the implementation of critical wildlife trafficking policy frameworks for South Africa and Mozambique to increase crime prevention, detection, prosecution, and collaboration.
- Learn, collaborate, and coordinate with influential institutions in the GLTFCA landscape to strengthen the collective response to wildlife trafficking. This position reports to WWF International, Head of Wildlife Crime Initiative (50%) / WWF SA, Khetha Programme Manager (50%).

**Minimum Requirements**:

- A degree related to themes such as nature conservation, transboundary governance and law enforcement, public management and/or development, etc.
- Minimum of ten years’ experience in implementing projects addressing wildlife poaching and / or trafficking; and / or mobilizing local, national and regional stakeholders to mitigate environmental crime.
- A passion for environmental and conservation issues, and an understanding of the connection between social issues, economics, development, law, compliance and the environment.
- A keen interest in learning about and experimenting with novel ways to make landscapes safer for wildlife and local people.
- Experience in working across a range of sectors, including government, NGO and private industry.
- Strong negotiation and constituency-building skills in a multicultural setting.
- Experience in mentoring, training or coaching would be advantageous.
- Proven fundraising success would be advantageous.
- Excellent planning and organisational skills.
- Ability to work autonomously, creatively and efficiently.
- Superior knowledge of conservation/wildlife management policies and best-practices, especially as it relate to safeguarding high-value species.
- Superior knowledge of social and human-rights safeguarding processes and tools in context of law enforcement and protected area management.
- Superior writing and verbal skills in English and ideally an African language. This should include superior report writing skills.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to communicate, advocate and influence practices amongst diverse conservation practitioners.
- Strong strategic planning, project management and administrative skills.
- Ability to convene and build strong partnerships and interpersonal relationships with all levels of stakeholders from differing contexts and organisations.
- Excellent planning and organisational skills.
- Ability to work under pressure and be flexible in the face of the unexpected.
- Diplomacy and political savvy
- Self-efficacy and ability to work independently.
- Team-player willing to collaborate and regularly interact with other team members.
- A passion for environmental and conservation issues, and an understanding of the connection between social issues, local communities and the environment.
- Ability to undertake extensive travel is essential for this position.
- Valid Driver’s License and Passport.

**Duties and Responsibilities**:
**Southern Africa Wildlife Trafficking Hub Lead (50%)**
- Support the implementation of national wildlife trafficking policies in key countries and critical landscapes across southern Africa;
- Assist in maintaining relationships with key government agencies in collaboration with country offices
- Promote synergies across the region in wildlife trafficking policies and their implementation
- Increase understanding of the national and r