Senior Field Technician - Soil Carbon

About the role

NatCarbon Africa is seeking a Senior Field Technician for its Spekboom Restoration Project in the Eastern and Western Cape, which aims to restore up to 100,000 hectares of degraded subtropical thicket biome. The role leads the Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) work stream within the Ecology Team, reporting to the Restoration Ecologist and working alongside two other Senior Field Technicians. It combines field and laboratory leadership with hands-on data collection and sample processing.

Key responsibilities

• Lead, coordinate and mentor a team of four junior staff in planning, implementing and reporting SOC baseline and monitoring activities, including soil sampling and running the project's soil processing laboratory.
• Develop SOC sampling designs with the Restoration Ecologist and partners, and supervise soil sampling, bulk density and coarse-fragment measurements.
• Run the soil laboratory: sample receipt, drying, sieving, grinding, weighing, sub-sampling and archiving, and manage equipment, consumables and SOPs within budget.
• Ensure accurate data collection, entry and storage, and run quality control procedures such as duplicates, reference samples and reconciliation of records.
• Process SOC data into carbon stock estimates and inputs for project carbon accounting, and contribute to AGB campaigns and technical reports.
• Drive a company vehicle; a pre-employment driving assessment is required and employment is conditional on passing it.

Required profile

• Master's degree in soil science, geology, physical geography, ecology, environmental science or a related field.
• Valid driver's licence; off-road driving experience is advantageous.
• Physically fit and able to work in remote outdoor conditions.

Required skills

• Leadership and team supervision, with strong written and verbal communication in English (Afrikaans or isiXhosa advantageous).
• Time management and data management, with attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and in a multidisciplinary team.