Project Manager: Water

**Job Advert Summary**:
(This is a 17-month fixed term contract position based in Pietermaritzburg/ Hilton)

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**:
This position aims to lead the WWF- Mondi Partnership on effective water stewardship outcomes in prioritized Strategic Water Source Areas, with specific focus on implementation of stewardship initiatives, convening of muti-stakeholder platforms, strengthening water governance and improving ecological infrastructure for the uMhlathuze catchment supply systems. This position will support the development of 2030 strategic ambitions within the Mpumalanga/ Northern Drakensberg landscape, with specific focus on securing over 1 million hectares of Strategic Water Source Areas for inclusive conservation benefits by scaling stewardship approaches in Forestry production landscapes including implementation of rangeland management, improved biodiversity management practices and OECMS (Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures) to deliver benefit for people and nature.

**Minimum Requirements**:

- Postgraduate degree in environmental science, biodiversity management/ water resource management /agriculture/environmental learning and social change.
- 6-8 years of relevant experience of working with different land use sectors and government, on water and biodiversity stewardship issues and water resource management related policies and legislation.
- Experience in strategy development as well as knowledge of key issues in biodiversity and water stewardship, integrated land management, and sustainability is crucial for productive engagements across different landowners/users.
- Experience of convening a community or practice, and its relationship to social and impactful change.
- Proficiency in GIS tools and spatial understanding is necessary
- Strong stakeholder engagement abilities, and comfortable to start and maintain relationships
- Experience in strategy development as well as knowledge of key issues in water stewardship, water resource management, and sustainability crucial for productive engagements in the business, agriculture and forestry sectors.
- Excellent report writing and tracking of project indicators and matrix.
- Ability to effectively convey vision, ideas, goals and issues as well as produce concise and effective reports and presentations.
- Ability to understand and articulate the business case of projects.
- Excellent administration and coordination of groups and individuals by promoting teamwork, delegating tasks, resolving conflict and setting targets and goals.
- Ability to engage across various levels, as well as the ability to negotiate the use of resources, and budgets.
- Written and oral proficiency in English is required for this role. Proficiency in isiZulu is an advantage.
- Ability to initiate new working relations and self-manage areas of work critical to achievement of deliverables.
- Ability to build relationships and trust with key stakeholders, including convening role-players across sectors, organisations, and locations.
- Ability to work collaboratively and facilitate solutions focused engagements in multidisciplinary and diverse working environments.
- Ability to organize tasks in the right order, and to hit the right outcome at the right time.
- Able to drive 4x4 and comfortable driving long hours
- Must be willing to relocate to KZN (Pietermaritzburg or Hilton)
- You recognise yourself in the values of WWF: Courage, Integrity, Respect, Collaboration and Inclusion

**Duties and Responsibilities**:
- Effective water governance decision-making is influenced through the DWS-WWF partnership at regional and national level (i.e. regular meeting engagements and providing strategic inputs on water allocation, monitoring, water demand management, catchment management plans, dam release management, implement water resource objective, etc)
- WWF is leading CMF chairing to support catchment stakeholders in water issues; Mandated water management institutions are engaged and supported (WUA, Irrigation boar