Boma and Bandingilo National Parks are located in South Sudan’s equatorial region with a combined area of 30, 000 KM ². The parks host the second largest wildlife migration in the Africa that covers over 120,000 KM2, and provide habitat for large populations of hartebeest, buffalo, elephant, giraffes and lions.
The Land-use planner will primarily be responsible for managing the process of Land-use planning following the steps as described below. The Land-use planner will work under the landscape coordinator and with the community, law-enforcement, conservation and GIS and Eco/Tango managers to coordinate at all levels.
MAIN ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Define data collection objectives, protocols, plans and coordinate data collection on the natural environment, wildlife, and human landscape with other operational staff;
• Determine the appropriate type, level and timing of land-use planning that is achievable and the legal means to accomplish the task;
• Understand and influence the legislative process and existing legislation to design and validate a land-use planning process that will be anchored in the Wildlife Conservation and Land Acts;
• Assemble the necessary forum at national, regional and local levels to attain legitimate licence to plan at the appropriate level;
• Design a consultation process based on free, prior and informed consent to secure social license to plan;
• Determine stakeholders and undertake consultation;
• Write a draft land-use management plan as appropriate that includes the management mechanisms for the various land-use designations;
• Obtain official validation of the plan;
• Work with appropriate teams with the project structure to implement using a phased-approach the land-use management plan.
Requirements:
ACADEMIC & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
• Degree in land-use planning, GIS, Conservation or other appropriate education;
• Experience in landscape level planning in Africa;
• Broad data management and analysis skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work under extreme conditions in the field for extended periods of time with little external support;
• Experience working with similar groups of teams and coordinating results.
Inter-personal & technical skills required
• GIS skills including ArcGIS, QGIS, EarthRanger, and data collection software as well as graphics and photo cataloguing programs;
• Demonstrated experience in developing land-use management plans;
• Experience with data collection methodologies used in land-use management planning;
• Demonstrated experience in leading consultation processes with communities and likely stakeholders in a land-use management context;
• Truly interested in living with local people and integrating oneself with the land-use management planning process;
• Culturally perceptive, able to communicate effectively across the multi-ethnic landscape east of the Nile River;
• Able to gain the trust of the stakeholders;
• Emotional intelligence, patience & communication skills, using calm, listening but firm and solutions-centered demeanor for effective team management;
• Disciplined work ethic;
• Organized and structured, with attention to details and procedures;
• Able to work independently as well as a team player;
• Showing a high level of respect for his/her staff and people, demonstrating team approach to staff management;
• Strong willingness to live and work for long periods in remote areas that are sometimes dangerous and unpredictable;
• Excellent writing, reporting and presenting skills;
• Good command of written and spoken English; Arabic or other local language beneficial.
