Assistant Director : Project Coordination – Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction Project

South African National Biodiversity Institute; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental organization in Pretoria is seeking an Assistant Director for Project Coordination in their Eco-Disaster Risk Reduction project. The ideal candidate will coordinate donor compliance and support project management, with a strong background in project management, stakeholder engagement, and communication skills. A degree in relevant fields and substantial experience are required. This role offers a chance to contribute significantly to climate resilience initiatives in South Africa.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of work experience in the relevant field.
• At least 3 years at supervisory level.
• Knowledge of project management methodologies and frameworks.
• Familiarity with South African regulatory environment.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate donor compliance, reporting and governance processes.
• Draft project budgets, reports, and documentation.
• Support project level monitoring and evaluation.
• Provide general support to project management.

Skills

Project management skills

Grant management skills

Stakeholder engagement

Problem-solving abilities

Organizational skills

Verbal and written communication

Computer literacy

Education

Degree in Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Management or equivalent qualification

Postgraduate qualification in Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Management or equivalent

Tools

MS Word

MS Project

PowerPoint

Excel

Internet

Outlook

Job description

Overview

Job title : Assistant Director : Project Coordination – Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction Project

Job Location : Gauteng, Pretoria

Deadline : October 19, 2025

Organization context - The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is leading the implementation of a project entitled “Scaling up Ecosystem-based Approaches to managing climate-intensified disaster risks in vulnerable regions of South Africa” (the Eco-DRR project). The USD 40.1 million project is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), with cofinancing from SANBI, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), for a period of 8 years from 2025 to 2033. The goal is to improve the resilience of communities that are vulnerable to climate change-exacerbated floods, droughts and wildfires through Ecosystem-based Adaptation and Eco-Disaster Risk Reduction measures. SANBI is looking for a self-motivated individual to provide support to all aspects of Eco-DRR project coordination, with emphasis on ensuring compliance with donor reporting requirements including monitoring and evaluation, relationship management, and project governance and oversight structures.

Note - This position requires a degree in Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Management or equivalent qualification with NQF 7. A postgraduate qualification with NQF 8 will be an added advantage. Candidates should have relevant work experience as described below.

Qualifications

• Degree in Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Management or equivalent qualification (NQF 7). A postgraduate qualification in Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Management or equivalent (NQF 8) will be an added advantage.
• Minimum 6 years of work experience in the relevant field, with at least 3 years at supervisory level.
• Competencies include: project management and grant management skills; interest in Climate Change Adaptation and environmental/developmental issues; reliability and flexibility; familiarity with South African regulatory environment for Environmental and Social Safeguards policy implementation; extensive knowledge of project management methodologies and frameworks; understanding of public sector policies (HRM, SCM, ITM and Corporate Governance); strong organizational skills; problem-solving and multi-stakeholder coordination abilities; stakeholder engagement and relationships management; budgeting and financial reporting attention to detail; ability to plan, coordinate, and manage multiple projects; monitoring and evaluation capability for multi-project portfolios; capability to work under pressure with diverse teams; knowledge of donor funding, stakeholder management, and related procedures.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; high computer literacy (MS Word, MS Project, PowerPoint, Excel, Internet, Outlook); valid driver’s license with at least one year of driving experience and willingness to travel.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinate donor compliance, reporting and governance processes and requirements for the Eco-DRR project.
• Contribute to Eco-DRR project planning, and the drafting of project budgets, reports and other project documentation as required.
• Coordinate project level monitoring and evaluation, supporting the implementation of the Eco-DRR project’s knowledge management strategy.
• Provide general support to the management of the Eco-DRR project.