Eastern Cape: Head of Reserve & Conservation posted by Wild Dreams Hospitality

This is an exceptional senior leadership opportunity for a dynamic, motivated conservation professional with a proven track record in protected area management. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading and delivering the reserve’s long-term strategy for the monitoring, management, and restoration of its biodiversity resources and ecosystem processes — contributing to conservation impact at a local, national, and global scale.

Core Criteria:

• Tertiary qualification in nature conservation, ecology, environmental sciences, or a related field
• Minimum 10 years’ senior management experience in protected area or conservation and wildlife management, preferably at a top private reserve or national/provincial park
• Proficient in both English and Afrikaans
• Working knowledge of relevant environmental legislation, including NEMBA and NEMPAA
• Competent in GIS, Earth Ranger, and statistical analysis methods
• Experience in strategic adaptive management methodology
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong project management, planning, and report writing skills
• Excellent leadership and people management skills with a collaborative approach
• Valid driver’s licence with 4×4 experience
• Firearm competency essential
• Commitment to remaining current with the latest conservation science, methodologies, and technologies
• Ability to solve problems effectively under pressure
• Knowledge of the Karoo or other semi-arid environments advantageous
• Experience in ecotourism operations advantageous

Core Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a strategic adaptive reserve management plan pertaining to biodiversity conservation and ecological processes
• Implement and manage all conservation activities and ecological monitoring, including aerial surveys, camera traps, game census, landscape use analysis, and veld condition assessments
• Coordinate and manage biological reporting to feed into the reserve’s monitoring and security tool (Earth Ranger)
• Manage wildlife, including species of special interest, translocations, and introductions
• Oversee ecosystem management, including soil erosion control, alien vegetation control, land restoration, grazing monitoring, and water provisioning
• Coordinate responses to wildfire, flooding, and other natural events
• Cultivate existing research and conservation partnerships and develop new collaborations
• Manage anti-poaching unit strategy and personnel
• Oversee access control, perimeter management, and security control room operations
• Manage teams responsible for conservation infrastructure maintenance, including fencing, road networks, boreholes, and water reticulation
• Oversee maintenance of reserve assets, including radio systems, repeater towers, and other infrastructure
• Manage vehicle fleet and workshop maintenance
• Administer permits and property registrations
• Compile annual budgets, quarterly forecasts, and regular reports
• Lead and foster a culture of excellence across all teams
• Conduct regular management meetings with Heads of Department
• Cultivate strong communication with all internal and external stakeholders

This is a Live-in position with housing provided on the reserve near Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape