Director: Biodiversity Risk Management

Requirements

• An undergraduate qualification (NQF7) in Environmental Science / Environmental Management or a relevant qualification within the related field as recognised by SAQA.
• A minimum of five (5) years’ experience at Middle/Senior managerial level within the relevant field.
• Successful completion of the Senior Management Pre-entry Programme as endorsed by the National School of Government (NSG) submitted prior to appointment.
• Knowledge on Natural resource management planning and implementation;
• Natural resource management or Natural resource-based rural development;
• Programme- based natural resource, operational management and/or planning;
• Value- added industry experience and expertise.
• Ability to develop and apply policies.
• Advanced skills in financial management and project management.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Public Finance Management Act.
• Good Communication Skills (written and spoken).
• Ability to gather and analyse information.
• Proven leadership skills.
• Ability to provide overall strategic guidance and lead multidisciplinary team.

Duties

• Provide strategic leadership, technical guidance and oversight to the biodiversity and climate change policy responses.
• Provide strategic direction, technical guidance and oversight for the implementation of bio-safety legislation, ensuring effective guidance, monitoring, and governance of alien and invasive species.
• Develop and coordinate a national response strategy for management of Alien and invasive species and GMOs in South Africa.
• Develop and implement policies, legislation, regulations and risk assessment frameworks, including the provision of issuing authority functions for alien invasive species.
• Develop positions and lead negotiations on thematic areas that are part of the Biodiversity Risk Management Directorate.
• Develop reports for multilateral platforms on the implementation of decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties.
• Oversee cross-functional mainstreaming resilience against global change challenges, including alien and invasive species, genetically modified organisms, and climate change, across all line functions.
• Facilitate co-development projects and proposals for funding to implement sector strategies that enhance resilience to global change challenges.
• Serve/co-chair project steering committees of strategic projects that contribute towards the implementation of government strategies.

How to apply

New to the Z83 form? Read the application guide.

Enquiries

Notes from the department

• Interested applicants must submit their applications via the above link.
• Applicant must ensure that they complete all sections on the online Z83 and attached a detailed CV with at least three (3) contactable references.
• Failure to complete or disclose all required information will automatically disqualify the applicant.
• No late applications will be accepted.
• Shortlisted candidates will be required to submit certified copies of qualifications, identity document and driver’s license on or before the day of the interview.
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to have foreign qualifications evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
• The National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.
• Preference may be given to appointable applicants from the underrepresented designated groups in terms of the Department’s equity plan.
• Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
• Correspondence will be limited to successful candidates only.
• Short-listed candidates will be subjected to screening and security vetting to determine their suitability for employment, including but not limited to:
• Criminal records;
• Citizenship status;
• Credit worthiness;
• Previous employment (reference checks); and Qualification verification.
• Short-listed candidates will be expected to avail themselves at the Department’s convenience.
• Entry level requirements for SMS posts:
• In terms of the Directive on Compulsory Capacity Development, Mandatory Training Days & Minimum Entry Requirements for SMS that was introduced on 1 April 2015, a requirement for all applicants for SMS posts from 1 April 2020 is a successful completion of the Senior Management Pre-Entry Programme as endorsed by the National School of Government (NSG) prior to appointment.
• The course is available at the NSG under the name Certificate for entry into SMS and the full details can be obtained by following the below link: https://www.thensg.gov.za/training-course/sms-pre-entryprogramme.
• All shortlisted candidates, including the SMS, shall undertake two pre-entry assessments.
• One will be a practical exercise to determine a candidate’s suitability based on the post’s technical and generic requirements and the other must be an integrity (ethical conduct) assessment.
• All shortlisted candidates for SMS posts will be subjected to a technical exercise and interview.
• Following the interview and technical assessment for all SMS posts, a maximum of three (3) SMS candidates will undergo psychometric assessments to assess cognitive capabilities, behavioural preferences, emotional intelligence, and integrity in compliance with the DPSA Directive on the implementation of competency-based assessments.
• Persons appointed will be subjected to a security clearance, the signing of performance agreement and employment contract.
• The Department reserves the right not to make an appointment.
• If you have not been contacted within three 3 months after the closing date of the advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.
• By submitting the employment application form, you agree and consent in terms of Section 11(1) of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), 2013 (Act 4 of 2013), for your personal information which you provide to the DFFE to being processed by the department and its employees, agents, Cabinet committees, and subcontractors for recruitment purposes, in accordance with the POPIA of 2013.