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CONSERVATION MANAGER. Permanent Position | Big 5 Wilderness Reserve | South Africa Reporting to: Reserve Manager Closing Date: Friday, 18 December 2026 Remuneration: Market-related and highly negotiable, based on qualifications and experience Accommodation: Provided on-site within the Reserve About the Reserve The Reserve's vision is to create a place where wilderness thrives, the land is regenerated, and surrounding communities prosper. Committed to protecting biodiversity, setting high standards in reserve management and maintaining strong governance, the Reserve embraces the spirit of Ubuntu. People are treated with care and respect, recognising that success is achieved through collaboration. The Reserve is now seeking an experienced Conservation Manager to lead its conservation team and support the ecological integrity of a large, open-system Big 5 Wilderness Reserve. The Role The Conservation Manager will lead protected-area and wildlife management, applying scientific research, ecological monitoring and adaptive management to protect and improve the Reserve's ecosystems, flora and fauna. The position requires a strong scientific background combined with excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder engagement skills. The successful candidate will interpret ecological data and translate scientific findings into practical recommendations for management and landowners. They will also represent the Reserve within the broader scientific and conservation community. As the Reserve comprises multiple private properties with differing objectives, the Conservation Manager must build relationships, negotiate practical solutions and align conservation priorities with the Reserve's overall vision and mission. Patience, diplomacy and a long-term perspective are essential. Key Responsibilities Team Leadership Lead; manage and develop the Conservation Team. Set priorities, delegate responsibilities and manage performance. Build team capability through coaching and training. Science; Data and Monitoring Develop and implement monitoring programmes covering ecosystems, habitats, wildlife populations, rare and threatened species, disease surveillance and climate-related impacts. Conduct and oversee wildlife counts and interpret ecological trends. Analyse data and provide scientifically sound recommendations for management decisions. Maintain accurate biodiversity records and improve data collection systems, including EarthRanger. Establish research priorities and manage applications from visiting scientists. Prepare clear conservation reports for scientific and non-scientific audiences. 3. Conservation and Wildlife Management Develop; implement and review conservation management plans aligned with the Reserve Management Plan and Annual Performance Objectives. Oversee habitat restoration, alien invasive plant control, bush encroachment management and species reintroduction programmes. Develop and implement the Reserve's fire management regime and serve as Fire Control Officer, supported by other departments. Advise on wildlife introductions, translocations and removals, informed by research and monitoring results. 4. Landowner Engagement Engage with landowners to understand their objectives, perspectives and obligations. Build trust and negotiate practical, mutually agreed conservation solutions. Align proposed initiatives with the Reserve's vision and mission. Where required, engage with surrounding communities to promote conservation awareness and help reduce human-wildlife conflict. 5. Scientific Networks and Collaboration Represent the Reserve at local, regional and national conservation forums, meetings and conferences. Collaborate with peer reserves within the larger open-system wilderness area. Develop partnerships with researchers, universities and conservation organisations. Contribute to scientific and public-facing publications where appropriate. Present conservation findings and recommendations to landowners, government agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders. Identify funding opportunities and manage grants for conservation and biodiversity projects. 6. Policy and Compliance Ensure compliance with applicable national and international conservation legislation, regulations and Reserve policies. Develop and implement biodiversity conservation and wildlife management strategies. Support biodiversity conservation policy initiatives at local and national levels. Qualifications and Experience Applicants must meet one of the following academic and experience requirements: A Master's degree, completed or nearing completion, in Conservation, Applied Ecology, Wildlife Management, Conservation Biology, Environmental Science, Botany, Zoology or a related field from a recognised South African institution, ideally with at least eight years of relevant conservation management experience; or A BTech, BSc Honours or equivalent qualification in a related field from a recognised South African institution, with at least 15 years of relevant conservation management experience. A PhD will be an advantage. Additional requirements include: Extensive scientific knowledge of ecology •Specific experience in veld management, ecological restoration and wildlife management in a Big 5 conservation environment, with strong knowledge of South African ecosystems and biodiversity. •Proven leadership and people management experience, ideally leading a conservation or field team. •Proven experience engaging and negotiating with landowners, boards or other non-scientific stakeholders. •Solid grasp of South African environmental legislation and the statutory requirements for protected area management, formal assessments, annual work plans and reporting. •Proficiency in MS Office, GIS (ArcGIS or QGIS), statistical software such as R and EarthRanger, and experience using drones and camera traps for monitoring and research. •Excellent communication in English, written and verbal. Afrikaans and Shangaan would be an advantage. •SAPS Firearm Competency (bolt action), a valid driver’s licence and 4x4 driving competency are a necessity. Code 10 licence preferred. •Advantageous: established links with SANParks, SANBI, research institutions and conservation NGOs; professional registration with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) in Ecological Science or Conservation Science; and experience supervising postgraduate students. Skills and Competencies: •Strong people and engagement skills: listening to different perspectives, and negotiating, persuading and supporting people towards practical solutions, across all occupation levels. •Ability to explain scientific concepts with data trends, real examples and big picture thinking, using non-scientific language with landowners and other non-scientific audiences. •Strong presentation and writing skills, with the confidence to present to landowners, peer reserves and scientific forums. •Strong leadership and management skills, including planning, delegation, managing team performance and delivering projects with several partners. •Patience and a long-term view. •A broad knowledge base covering climate change, sustainable development, impact assessments, veld management, wildlife conservation and the conservation economy.
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