Mainstream Specialist Level

The Mainstream Specialist works to ensure that biodiversity conservation knowledge and planning systems are integrated into landscape and protected area management via strengthening intergovernmental cooperation mechanisms, maximising the potential of strategic partnership projects, and supporting efficient uptake of conservation intelligence outputs within and external to CapeNature.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**:
**KRA 1: Gather, process, and develop the integration of spatial and related knowledge, planning and monitoring products and systems to advance the practice of biodiversity conservation and integrated catchment management.**
- Lead and contribute to the development of an annual Western Cape State of Conservation Report.
- Lead the development of the five yearly Western Cape State of Biodiversity Report.
- Lead and mainstream within CapeNature a common understanding of Biodiversity Management and Action Plans.
- Contribute to the updating of the five yearly Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan.
- Contribute to development of five early Western Cape Protected Areas Expansion Strategy.
- Contribute to the implementation of Annual Landscape Stewardship Plans.

**KRA 2: Provide ecological decision support for effective landscape conservation and ensure sound scientific analysis of data through coordination to guide management planning and assessment.**
- Lead the development and dissemination of CapeNature Biodiversity Governance Position Statements, aligned with international best practice guidelines and multilateral environmental agreements.
- Lead and contribute to the development and maintenance of Standard Operating Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures in CapeNature.
- Contribute to Western Cape policy development and decision-making.

**KRA 3: Generate impact through the enablement, development and integration of leading-edge information, technologies, practice, policy, science, and innovation.**
- Mainstream leading edge, professional, formal scientific research (internally and externally), technical reports, memoranda, assessments and publications, peer reviewed scientific publications, presentations, and presentations at appropriate Provincial/National/International Biodiversity Conservation Conferences to advance the practice of biodiversity conservation.
- Develop and deliver biodiversity conservation mainstreaming products and capacity building interventions for specific stakeholder groups.
- Contribute to the research, development, and implementation of Strategic Adaptive Management Models for biodiversity, conservation, and integrated catchment management.
- Contribute to and mainstream the implementation of an effective web-based integrated conservation and biodiversity data management system with strategic partners, biodiversity research entities and other biodiversity institutions (locally, nationally, and globally) for CapeNature.

**KRA 4: Engage and collaborate with strategic partners for advancing, securing, and enabling the development and deployment of biodiversity conservation capabilities.**
- Lead and support the development, deployment, and integration of Biodiversity Capabilities products into Conservation Operations and Landscape Conservation Management.
- Represent CapeNature’s mandate and interests on appropriate National and Provincial Forums.
- Mainstream and support the prioritisation of strategic partnerships and finalisation of MOUs.
- Facilitate the development of appropriate external funding proposals and implement externally funded projects when applicable.

**KRA 5: Develop and implement biodiversity capability, capacity and the integration of innovation and technology.**
- Lead the mainstreaming and uptake of optimal procedures, practices and processes for effective biodiversity monitoring and surveillance.
- Lead, develop, contribute to, and deliver stakeholder capacity building and awareness about healthy natural ecosystems, habitats and landscapes, and ecosystem services.

**REQUIREMENTS**:

- Natural Science degree in the field of Conservation Science, Ecological Science, Biological Science or Zoological Science (NQF 7 preferably 8) with at least three years’ professional post qualification experience.
- Demonstrable project management and organizational skills.
- Good understanding of systematic conservation planning.
- Good understanding of the ecological systems and processes of the Western Cape.
- Excellent written and verbal communication and inter-personal skills.
- Substantial experience and/or training in facilitation, leading workshops, and negotiation.
- Proficiency in at least two of the three official languages of the Western Cape.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
- A valid driver’s Code 8 license.
- Self-motivated and requiring a mínimal amount of supervision and technical management; and
- Comfortable working in a team with a willingness and patience to capacitate colleagues and stakeholders.

**COMPETENCIES**
- Good oral and writte