The Cape Leopard Trust
The Cape Leopard Trust Boland Project is looking for a confident, self-driven individual to coordinate and execute an intensive field project to survey and remove illegal wire-snares. This project forms part of a conservation and monitoring project run by the CLT Boland Project in the Cape Winelands and Overstrand regions of the Western Cape.
The area of interest includes within its core various Protected Areas (Limietberg, Hottentots-Holland, Jonkershoek and Kogelberg Nature Reserves managed by CapeNature as well as the Helderberg and Steenbras Nature Reserves managed by City of CapeTown). The remainder of the focus area is private land representing natural habitat, transformed agricultural lands, urban development and infrastructure, or commercially modified land. Snare patrol and removal activities will be focussed on private property bordering Protected Areas, as well as the edge habitat of Protected Areas. The incumbent will thus be required to travel significant distances on a weekly basis. (Some of the urban areas adjacent to the focus area are Wellington, Paarl, Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Grabouw, Villiersdrop, Rawsonville)
Applicants are expected to have a high level of physical fitness and have the ability and inclination to hike, off trail, on average 5-15km/day, 4 days/week with a backpack. The Snare Patrol Officer will be trained to collect, record and analyse data through the combined CyberTracker and SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) platforms and will report to the Boland Project Coordinator.
The position will entail:
- Leading daily foot patrols with CapeNature field rangers on participating private property bordering Protected Areas, as well as the edge habitat of Protected Areas, in search of illegal wire-snares (4 days per week)
- Recording relevant data on snares and wildlife encountered on patrols
- Removal of snare material from the field
- Liaising with private property owners/managers and reserve managers
- Alerting the Boland Project coordinator of live, trapped animals and assisting, were necessary, with release or call-out of CapeNature or SPCA or Animal Welfare Society
- One office day per week, devoted to data download and analysis as well as compiling and submission of weekly progress and status reports to the Boland Project coordinator, planning and arranging the following week’s patrols.
Requirements:
- A suitable minimum qualification (BTech or BSc) in nature conservation, ecology, biodiversity or related field
- Previous field work experience is desirable
- 1-3 years’ work experience is advantageous.
- Valid and clean driver’s license (manual transmission), with gravel road driving experience (candidates with no license or only a learner license will not be considered)
- Knowledge of and ability to identify mammals and their sign in the focus project area
- Good leadership and team management skills
- Ability to work independently or as part of a team
- Competent with using handheld GPS unit
- Fluency in English with at least conversational Afrikaans speaking abilities
- Excellent verbal and written communication
- Good people skills
- Diligent, with fine attention to detail and meticulous record keeping skills
- Willingness to travel and work flexible hours
Remuneration:
R10 500 – R12 500 gross per month, based on qualification and experience
Application:
Individuals who believe they meet these requirements should send a CV (with two contactable references) together with a cover letter and a copy of their driver’s license to Anita Wilkinson, Boland Project Coordinator, at anita@capeleopard.org.za. Please put “Snare Patrol Officer Application” in subject line of email.
Closing date: Wednesday, 3 April 2019
Availability for Skype interview: 9 or 10 April 2019 (shortlisted candidates only)
Available to start: 1 May 2019 (or as soon as possible thereafter)
Please note that no accommodation is included with this position. The snare patrol officer will have access to a dedicated project vehicle for all patrol-related travel, but excluding travel to and from the general study area. Preference will thus be given to candidates living close to the study area, or who are willing to relocate.
If you have not received an invitation to an interview within 4 working days of the closing date, please assume your application was not successful.
The Cape Leopard Trust is guided by the principles of employment equity. Information on our organization is available on our website: www.capeleopard.org.za.
The Cape Leopard Trust reserves the right not to make an appointment to the position as advertised