Senior Field Technician - Spekboom Restoration Project

About the role

NatCarbon Africa is looking for a Senior Field Technician for its Spekboom Restoration Project, a large-scale initiative to restore up to 100,000 hectares of degraded subtropical thicket biome in the Eastern and Western Cape. The project plants Spekboom on privately owned land to improve ecosystem functioning, biodiversity, soil filtration and water storage, and to sequester carbon. The Senior Field Technician reports to the Ecological Manager and leads, coordinates and mentors a team of Junior Field Technicians in field monitoring, including vegetation surveys, biomass measurements, biodiversity assessments, carbon accounting and survival surveys.

Key responsibilities

• Serve as the field point of contact between the Ecological Manager and the Junior Field Technicians.
• Plan, lead and coordinate daily and long-term field activities, including weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual schedules.
• Supervise, mentor and train Junior Field Technicians to ensure consistent, high-quality data collection.
• Oversee field logistics, including vehicle scheduling, equipment maintenance and coordination with the Project Operations Team.
• Conduct and supervise vegetation surveys, biomass measurements, biodiversity monitoring and survival surveys.
• Ensure timely, accurate data entry and storage, and carry out quality control checks.
• Develop, test and refine field methodologies, protocols, tools and templates, including pilot testing emerging technologies.
• Give technical guidance to the Ecological Manager and contribute to technical reports and project documentation.

Required profile

• Tertiary qualification in ecology, forestry, botany, environmental science, conservation or a related field; an MSc is advantageous.
• 2-5 years' experience in ecological monitoring, restoration or related fieldwork.
• Proven experience leading or supervising small teams in a technical or fieldwork context.
• Strong understanding of ecological restoration practices and data collection methods.
• Knowledge of the Thicket Biome and ability to identify key plant species is highly advantageous.
• Valid driver's licence; off-road driving experience is advantageous.

Required skills

• Proficiency in GIS, GPS and other field monitoring equipment.
• Advanced computer literacy, especially in data management and analysis tools.
• Leadership, communication, organisational and analytical skills; English required, Afrikaans and isiXhosa advantageous.

What we offer

• Competitive pay depending on experience, plus health care and life insurance, retirement contributions, paid time off and professional development funds.
• Salary increases and/or promotions for exceptional performance.

Travel within the Eastern and Western Cape is anticipated, including to remote locations, and work hours may be irregular.