Conservation Manager

**CONSERVATION MANAGER**

**INTRODUCTION**

An exclusive big five game reserve located near Vaalwater in Limpopo is seeking to employ a Conservation Manager with a minimum of 3 -5 years’ experience in conservation management of a game reserve.

**PURPOSE OF THE JOB**:
To manage all aspects of the Conservation Department and implement conservation interventions as required.

**MAJOR TASK HEADINGS**:

- Habitat modification (slashing, spraying, fertilization, seeding)
- Game management
- Burning and/or fire control
- Alien plant eradication
- Developing and managing departmental budget
- Administration
- Supervision and management of conservation staff
- Maintenance of conservation equipment
- Upkeep of conservation vehicles
- Assistance with community initiatives and environmental awareness programme
- General tasks as required

**PLANNING NECESSARY IN THE JOB**:

- Game and habitat interventions
- Controlled burning
- Departmental budget & cash flow
- Purchases relating to conservation and maintenance
- Monthly timesheets and administration for Conservation staff

**DEADLINES IN THE JOB**:

- Monthly payroll schedules for Conservation staff
- Annual conservation budget
- Reporting to the COO as required

**DEGREE OF SUPERVISION RECEIVED (how, how often, by whom)**:
The incumbent will report to the Chief Operating Officer regularly, be self-motivated and responsible.

The incumbent will liaise with the Chief Executive on conservation matters if required.

**SUPERVISION GIVEN**
The incumbent will be required to supervise the conservation staff and any contractors and/or temporary staff undertaking conservation work and/or maintenance.

**REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE JOB**:
**Education**:
**(a) Minimum**:
Diploma in Conservation

**(b) Ideal**:
BTech or MTech in Nature Conservation or Wildlife Management or similar qualification.

**Experience**:
**(a) Minimum**:
3 Years of experience managing a reserve or property

**(b) Ideal**:
5 years’ experience in the conservation management of a big 5 reserve particularly

relating to the management of fauna, habitat, fire and other associated aspects.

**Languages**:
**(a) Minimum**:
English & Afrikaans

**(b) Ideal**:
English, Afrikaans, Northern Sotho/Pedi

**Communication**:
**(a) Written**:
The incumbent is expected to write reports and to communicate through writing with

a variety of internal stakeholders. As such the incumbent must have good written

communication skills.

**(b) Verbal**:
The incumbent is expected to communicate verbally with members & colleagues on a

regular basis and as such must have good verbal communication skills.

**Habitat enhancement**:

- Assist Research Ecologist with the development of habitat enhancement strategy in

conjunction with the Chief Operating Officer;
- Implement habitat enhancement strategy to increase the productivity and palatability

of the old land habitat and other key nutrient areas through some or all of the following:

- Slashing
- Burning
- Fertilization
- Seeding
- Spraying of Stoebe vulgaris and other woody encroachers and weeds
- Implement salt and lick block distribution strategy
- Bush clearing/ thinning
- Monitoring and control of erosion
- Removal of rubble and wire from the Reserve

**Game management**:

- Renewal of exemption and other permits as necessary;
- Assist with the annual aerial census
- Assist with and supervise game capture operations
- Assist with and supervise game introductions
- Assist with elephant, lion and other contraception
- Supervision and care of game in captivity
- Organize general veterinary work
- Assist with general game interventions
- Culling as required
- Disease control

**Burning &/or fire control**:

- Supervision of naturally occurring fires and strategic intervention as and when

necessary to prevent damage to infrastructure and to prevent fires from escaping off

Welgevonden onto neighbouring properties that do not subscribe to the same fire

philosophy
- Controlled burning for habitat and/or game management or fire breaks
- Establishment and maintenance of a strategic firebreak network and maintain suitable

fire-breaks on the boundaries in the areas where roads are far from the boundary
- Liaison with local FPA
- Liaison with neighbours relating to fires and management thereof

**Alien plant eradication**:

- To identify threats
- Locate areas of alien plant infestation
- Implement measures to eradicate alien plants
- Monitor and control re-growth of alien plants
- Assist with the prevention of the introduction of alien plants at lodges

**Supervision and management of conservation staff**:

- Keep up to date with labour legislation and compliance with Basic Conditions of Employment Act
- Keep a record of attendance and punctuality
- Authorization of leave (annual, sick; compassionate, study)
- Bonuses and overtime
- Disciplinary hearings in the event of misconduct
- Attend to staff grievances
- Ensure that all documents from Conservation staff are submitted