5 Conservation jobs in South Africa

Purpose

Lead conservation operations across the reserve.

Preserve ecological integrity.

Protect wildlife health and maintain functioning habitats.

Ensure legal compliance and accurate reporting.

Key responsibilities

Wildlife monitoring & protection

• Use camera traps, satellite tracking, radio collaring, and direct observation.

• Patrol on foot and by vehicle. Log health, sightings, and incidents.

• Analyse data to guide decisions and actions.

• Coordinate veterinary support for interventions and disease control.

Habitat management

• Map and assess grassland, riparian, and sensitive zones.

• Plan and execute restoration and erosion control.

• Monitor grazing pressure and adjust management to sustain vegetation.

• Plan and implement safe controlled burns.

• Manage water points and test water quality.

• Protect wildlife corridors and connectivity.

Invasive species control

• Identify, report, and remove priority invasives.

• Train field staff for early detection and response.

• Track effort vs. outcome and adapt for long-term control.

Operational conservation infrastructure

• Inspect and maintain perimeter and internal fencing.

• Keep water provisioning reliable, track feed and consumables.

• Inspect roads and drainage, coordinate grading and erosion fixes.

Compliance & permits

• Maintain compliance with SA conservation law (e.g. TOPS) and CapeNature requirements.

• Manage permit applications, renewals, and conditions.

• Keep accurate records on wildlife, habitat, and incidents.

Education, research & tourism support

• Support researchers with logistics and field data.

• Occasional guiding when required

Reporting & administration

• Submit monthly and quarterly conservation reports with metrics and photos.

• Maintain logs, maps, and registers (wildlife, habitat, infrastructure, compliance).

• Recommend improvements based on field observations and data.

What you'll bring

• Degree/diploma in Nature Conservation, Environmental Science, or related field.

• 3–5 years in a conservation role; Big Five reserve experience preferred.

• Strong grasp of SA environmental regulations and permits.

• Hands-on field skills: fencing, water systems, basic roadworks, erosion control.

• Proficient with camera traps, data collection, and spreadsheets (Excel/Google Sheets).

• Valid driver's licence; confident 4×4 driving preferred.

• First Aid Level 1 (or willing to obtain).

• Clear communicator. Organised. Calm under pressure. Team-first.

Key competencies

• Ecological knowledge of the Karoo biome.

• Practical leadership and field decision-making.

• Proactive, resilient mindset.

• Systems thinking and strong written reporting.

What we offer

• Impactful conservation work on a private Big Five reserve.

• On-site single accommodation, selective meals(dinner when on evening duty)

• Market-related salary; training and growth opportunities.

• Uniforms and laundry

How to apply

Email your CV, a short cover note, and two contactable references to

with subject "Conservation Officer – Mont Eco.

Our Client is a mixed-use development in Cape Town combining office, retail, residential and leisure components in an integrated, stimulating and aesthetically pleasing urban environment. They are looking for a Nature Conservation Officer to assist in the management, promotion and improvement of the environmentally important areas within Century City through conservation, publicity and scientific monitoring. Job requirements:

• Contribute to planning and policy development for the sustainable management and maintenance of the wetlands and the canal system.
• Monitor biodiversity and assist in the development of maintenance plans.
• Assist in the in re-establishing of rare and endangered plant species within the ephemeral pans.
• Implement the ongoing development and maintenance of the precincts infrastructure as an educational & recreation destination
• Provide support to the other environmental teams
• Conduct ECO site audits in the line with CEMP’s for construction sites.
• Proactively contribute as a member of the management team to achieve companywide strategies and objectives.

• National Diploma: Nature Conservation or equivalent qualifications.
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in managing a Conservation area.
• Code 8 Drivers license (Code 10 would be an added advantage).
• MS Office literate.

• Strong organizational, supervision, problem-solving and self-motivational skills are essential.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with staff.
• The ability to work efficiently and productively, within a team and without supervision at times.
• Ability to conduct research and produce environmental reports, worksheets and interpretive displays.
• General maintenance knowledge would be an added advantage.

African Parks is on a mission to restore one of Africa’s most iconic species, and we need YOU to help make it happen. We’re hiring a Conservation Monitoring & Data Manager to join our Rhino Rewild Program, a groundbreaking initiative that will shape the future of rhino conservation across the continent.

This is more than a job; it’s a chance to turn data into action and drive real-world impact. As the Data Manager, you’ll lead the charge in transforming raw information into insights that guide rewilding efforts at scale over the next eight years. Your work will directly influence how rhinos reclaim their rightful place in Africa’s wild landscapes.

What’s in it for you?

• A fixed-term, 3-year contract  based at the heart of the Rhino Rewild Project site.


• The opportunity to innovate and optimize the entire data pipeline, ensuring every decision is backed by solid evidence.


• A dynamic environment where pragmatism meets purpose, and your proactive approach will help shape conservation history.

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Flexible and forward-thinking, ready to tackle challenges head-on.


• Passionate about conservation and skilled in data management.


• Committed to excellence and eager to make a measurable difference.

Eligibility:  Applications are open to South African citizens, residents, or valid work permit holders.

If you’re ready to combine your expertise with a cause that matters, apply now and help us write the next chapter in Africa’s conservation story.

Responsibilities

-    Produce monthly reports based on data obtained both on Rhino Rewild Project site as well as those received from engagement with recipient areas.

-    Focus on collection of long-term information of animals rewilded to recipient areas.

-    Management and administration of EarthRanger and other conservation monitoring tools.

-    Develop standardised dashboards & analytical reports for the Rhino Rewild portfolio based historical and present data collected on both project and rewilded sites. These will primarily be            developed using ArcGIS, R, Python and Microsoft Power BI, and serve to support project management team in making strategic, data-driven decisions.

-    Ensure data integrity by auditing and cleaning key data from the project site and protected areas. This includes managing geospatial layers and databases, cleaning up tracking data and            detecting outliers or discrepancies for the Rhino Rewild team to validate.

-    Developing and managing data pipelines – for example, from surveys in Esri Survey123 to Esri Webmaps/Dashboard/StoryMaps;

-    Digitising and managing spatial datasets and databases across the entire Rhino Rewild Project site and recipient areas

-    Researching and comparing open-source datasets for integration into measuring key metrics and targets.

-    Support the development and roll-out of new data collection tools and recommend improvements to existing ones. This includes writing up guidelines and technical manuals, providing training    to park teams and designing surveys or other data collection tools.

-    Experience with designing dashboards (ideally PowerBI and ArcGIS);

-    Experience in Google Earth Engine, SharePoint and QGIS.

-    Experience in presenting findings in the form of presentations and feedback sessions.

-    Strong conservation knowledge and background

-    A degree in ecology, conservation, sustainability or social sciences.

-    A passion for nature conservation and keenness to apply knowledge to tangible work being done in protected areas across Africa.

-    Skilled in analysing and cleaning large data sets.

-    Familiar with coding languages for analysis and/or integrations like, in order of preference: Python, R, JavaScript, SQL.

-    Working knowledge of ArcGIS Pro and the Esri online environment.

-    Keen attention to detail and desire to take ownership of projects and datasets.

-    Excellent data visualisation and presentation skills.

-    Affinity and experience with ecological data collection.

-    Experience in compiling presentations and reports based on data sets.

Desirable

-    Clarity in spoken and written communication, fluent in English.

-    Experience in working with rhino and knowledge on broader rhino conservation issues.

-    Comfortable living in isolation working in small teams but also working on tasks individually.