Programme Manager

Wild Dreams Hospitality; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 223,000 - 335,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Live-in position

Job summary

Wild Dreams Hospitality in KwaZulu-Natal Midlands seeks a senior conservation professional to lead a new field-based programme. You will manage budgets, donor engagement, and data while supervising staff and coordinating field operations.

The role requires MSc or Honours in conservation, strong budgeting, reporting, and fieldwork experience, plus a valid 4x4 driving licence. Live-in, salary negotiable based on experience.

Qualifications

• Honours or MSc in conservation, ecology, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in project management, essential.
• Experience with budgeting, financial management, and grant management.
• Strong report writing, data management, and analysis skills.
• Physically fit and willing to conduct regular fieldwork under variable conditions.
• Valid driver’s licence with 4x4 driving experience essential.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day programme implementation, ensuring activities are delivered on time and within budget.
• Manage and support programme staff, including performance, scheduling, and capacity building.
• Identify and secure funding opportunities, including grant applications and donor proposals.
• Manage grants end-to-end, including compliance, reporting deadlines, and funder relationships.
• Compile and submit accurate, timely grant and funder reports.
• Manage programme budgets, financial tracking, and expenditure oversight.
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, sponsors, landowners, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Maintain and develop data management systems for monitoring and research data.
• Conduct research report writing and analysis, including camera trap survey data, to support conservation decision-making.
• Conduct regular fieldwork, including camera trap deployment, monitoring, and site visits.
• Champion project management best practice, using structured systems to track deliverables and deadlines.

Skills

Project management

Budgeting

Grant writing

Data analysis

Report writing

Fieldwork

Driver's licence (4x4)

Relocation

Independent work

Team collaboration

ClickUp

EarthRanger

R (data analysis)

Wildlife experience

Education

Honours or MSc in conservation/ecology

Tools

ClickUp

EarthRanger

R

Job description

This is a senior, hands-on role for a motivated conservation professional who is equally comfortable in the field, managing budgets and data, and engaging with donors and partners. The successful candidate will bring strong project management skills, a passion for conservation, and the ability to lead a programme from the ground up in a remote KZN Midlands environment.

Core Criteria:

• Honours or MSc degree in conservation, ecology, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience in project management, essential
• Experience with budgeting, financial management, and grant management
• Strong report writing, data management, and analysis skills
• Physically fit and willing to conduct regular fieldwork under variable conditions
• Valid driver's licence with 4x4 driving experience essential
• Willing to relocate to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
• Self-motivated, organised, and able to manage competing priorities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Comfortable working independently and as part of a small team
• Experience using ClickUp or similar project management platforms advantageous
• Experience with EarthRanger advantageous
• Working knowledge of R for data analysis advantageous
• Experience working with vultures and/or big cats advantageous
• Experience with environmental education advantageous

Core Responsibilities:

• Oversee day-to-day programme implementation, ensuring activities are delivered on time and within budget
• Manage and support programme staff, including performance, scheduling, and capacity building
• Identify and secure funding opportunities, including grant applications and donor proposals
• Manage grants end-to-end, including compliance, reporting deadlines, and funder relationships
• Compile and submit accurate, timely grant and funder reports
• Manage programme budgets, financial tracking, and expenditure oversight
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, sponsors, landowners, partners, and other stakeholders
• Maintain and develop data management systems for monitoring and research data
• Conduct research report writing and analysis, including camera trap survey data, to support conservation decision-making
• Conduct regular fieldwork, including camera trap deployment, monitoring, and site visits
• Champion project management best practice, using structured systems to track deliverables and deadlines

Remuneration & Benefits:

• Salary: R20,000 - R30,000 per month, negotiable dependent on experience (open to candidates with higher salary expectations if they are the right fit)
• Live-in position