A challenging opportunity currently exists for a confident, team-oriented and highly motivated Land Manager: Parks to provide dedicated legal support to the Park Planning Unit for protected area expansion implementation. The three-year contract's main focus will be establishing the new National Park in the Grasslands. SANParks park expansion mechanisms include land purchase, land donations and voluntary agreements with communities and landowners. The successful candidate will report to the Senior Manager: Environmental Law and be based at Gqeberha (PE), or Pretoria Offices.
Closing date: 25 August 2022
Applications must be accompanied by an application letter and CV, certified ID copy, and relevant qualifications to be submitted to the following address: Mr Thami Mohlabi South African National Parks P O Box 787 PRETORIA, 0001 E-mail: thami.mohlabi@sanparks.org
NB: If you have not been responded to within 14 days of the closing date, please accept that your application has been unsuccessful.
Requirements:
Be in possession of a Legal degree (B Juris, B Proc, LLB) and an Admitted Attorney
Minimum of 5 years of experience in the environmental, conservation or biodiversity sector (clearly state in CV)
Experience with protected areas or biodiversity stewardship (clearly state in CV)
Intimate understanding of the National Environmental Management Act, Act 107 of 1998 with specific experience of Environmental Impact Assessments (clearly state in CV)
Intimate understanding of the National Environmental Management Protected Areas Act, Act 57 of 2003 (clearly state in CV)
Ability to speak, read and write English
Computer literacy in MS Office
Excellent communication skills (writing and presentation skills)
A valid driver's license (Code EB) accompanied by a willingness and ability to travel
The ability to work well under pressure
Responsibilities:
Support the establishment of the new Grasslands National Park through:
The preparation and review of written agreements are required for the declaration of private land as part of the national park.
Associated document (e.g. landowner resolutions, special powers of attorney, etc.) preparation and review.
Review of management agreements prepared between SANParks and landowners.
Notary support and the completion of the title deed endorsement processes.
Legal advice on the process and requirements necessary to declare state-owned land assigned to traditional authority.
Other legal matters that may need to be addressed (e.g. property rates exemptions).
Draft contractual national park agreements and provide support to Park Planning in contractual national park negotiations for other parks
Provide legal support for land acquisition processes and procedures including drafting of purchase agreements
Provide legal support for the renewal of legacy contract national park agreements
Provide legal advice, assist with commenting on biodiversity-related law and policy processes and conducting legal research
Manage the processes for the declaration of state land, the declaration of state-owned communal land and the declaration of private land
Monitor the implementation of the contractual national park agreements with park management
Lead bilateral engagements with DFFE legal team and participate in the National Biodiversity Stewardship Legal Reference Group and Technical Working Group meetings
Assist with resolving administrative issues, bottlenecks in the vesting of land, intergovernmental disputes and other obstacles to the declaration process through the provision of appropriate legal opinion and research.
Ensure that the SANParks contractual process is implemented in line with the National Environmental Management Protected Areas Act, Act 57 of 2003 and best practices.
Legal guidance on highly strategic EIA commenting, appeal processes and land use planning aspects
Provide relevant legal advice as well as the drafting of biodiversity offsets agreements and associated agreements, as well as legal advice on the establishment of a biodiversity offset banking pilot project
