Community Engagement Specialist

**Job Advert Summary**:
(34 Months contract position based in WWF Office in White River, Mpumalanga)

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 the Khetha Programme Manager.

**Minimum Requirements**:

- Qualification a conservation or social science field, postgraduate qualification would be advantageous.
- Working knowledge of the Southern African conservation sector, with a focus on relationships and dynamics between local people and protected areas.
- Minimum of ten years’ experience in a senior community engagement related role in NGO sector.
- Ten years’ experience in managing projects in complex settings with culturally diverse groups. This should include a track record of successfully brokering/negotiating collaborations in a highly political / pressured environment with NGO’s, government, private sector and communities.
- Working knowledge of social and human-rights safeguarding processes and tools.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to communicate, advocate and influence debates amongst the diverse community of practitioners.
- Working understanding of South African land reform and rural development policies, guidelines and best-practices.
- Superior writing and verbal skills in English and ideally an African language. This should include superior report writing skills.
- Superior conflict management and mediation skills.
- Strong strategic planning, project management and administrative skills.
- Strong event planning and coordination 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, often in remote and rural areas.
- 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**:

- Project manage all community-oriented initiatives implemented by consultants and partners, including all the aspects of the contract life cycle, and monitoring the achievement of deliverables according to standards of the highest quality.
- Conduct regular site visits (at least monthly) with project partners for all ongoing projects.
- Provide regular feedback regarding projects and consultancies (at least weekly) regarding challenges, opportunities and overall progress to Khetha programme management and relevant team members.
- Support seconded employees with their Khetha-related work and ensure they are optimally included in Khetha-related projects.
- Participate in the implementation of the GEF 6 program in areas that focus on community governance, training and community engagements
- Support and participate in the GEF 6 Fence Monitors program and play in a leadership role in the