Senior Field Technician

NatCarbon Africa; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

NatCarbon Africa seeks a Senior Field Technician for the Spekboom Restoration Project in the Eastern and Western Cape. You will lead a small field team, coordinate monitoring activities, and mentor Junior Field Technicians in vegetation surveys, biomass measurements, and biodiversity assessments.

The role combines hands-on data collection with leadership, maintaining data integrity and adapting methodologies as needed. Travel across the Eastern and Western Cape is expected.

Qualifications

• A relevant tertiary qualification in ecology, forestry, botany, environmental science, conservation, or related fields.
• An MSc in related fields is advantageous.
• Minimum 2–5 years’ experience in ecological monitoring, restoration, or related fieldwork.
• Proven experience leading or supervising small teams in a technical or fieldwork context.
• Proficiency in GIS, GPS, and other field monitoring equipment.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coordinate and mentor a team of Junior Field Technicians for field monitoring activities.
• Plan and implement daily, weekly, monthly schedules.
• Supervise data collection, ensure quality and timely delivery within budget.
• Oversee field logistics (vehicle, equipment) and coordination with operations.
• Conduct vegetation surveys, biomass measurements, biodiversity monitoring, and survival surveys.
• Develop and test field methodologies and pilot emerging technologies.
• Provide technical guidance to inform adaptive management decisions.
• Contribute to technical reports and project documentation.
• Support the Project Team and participate in relevant field events.
• Frequent travel within the Eastern and Western Cape; irregular hours.

Skills

Leadership

English communication

Organisational skills

Data management

Attention to detail

Independent work

Outdoor fitness

Initiative

Education

Bachelor's degree in Ecology/Environmental Science

MSc advantageous

Tools

GIS software

GPS devices

Data analysis tools

Job description

Job Title: Senior Field Technician, Spekboom Restoration Project

Division: Technical and Carbon Division

Location: Gqeberha, Eastern Cape

Reports to: Ecological Manager

Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary adventure that will revitalise landscapes, combat climate change, and promote sustainable agriculture? Join NatCarbon Africa: a mission-driven, proudly African organisation dedicated to high-quality implementation of large-scale carbon, climate, and biodiversity projects. We embrace the power of innovative technology to enhance project execution. Community engagement lies at the heart of our projects, driven by a genuine commitment to meaningful and inclusive participation and co-benefits, such as biodiversity conservation and socioeconomic upliftment.

NatCarbon Africa seeks a Senior Field Technician in the Technical and Carbon Department for the large-scale Spekboom Restoration Project in the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa.

With our partner, Imperative Global, our aim is to restore up to 100,000 hectares of degraded subtropical thicket biome. The Project entails planting Spekboom (Portulacaria afra) on privately owned land to improve ecosystem functioning and agricultural productivity over time, promote biodiversity, improve soil filtration, enhance water storage capabilities, and to reduce soil erosion. The Project is estimated to permanently store large quantities of Carbon Dioxide over the Project life, thus positively contributing towards climate change mitigation.

Position Summary

The Senior Field Technician will report directly to the Ecological Manager and will be responsible for leading, coordinating and mentoring a team of Junior Field Technicians in the planning, implementation, and reporting of in-field monitoring activities. These activities include vegetation surveys, biomass measurements, biodiversity assessments, carbon accounting, and survival surveys across the project area. The Senior Field Technician will ensure all team deliverables are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest technical standards. The role combines field-based leadership with hands-on data collection, quality assurance, and mentoring responsibilities.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Serve as the field point of contact between the Ecological Manager and the Junior Field Technicians.

• Plan, lead, and coordinate the daily and long-term field activities of Junior Field Technicians, including weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual schedules.

• Supervise, mentor, and provide on-the-job training to Junior Field Technicians to build capacity and ensure consistent, high-quality data collection.

• Oversee fieldlogistics, including vehicle scheduling, equipment maintenance, and coordination with the Project Operations Team.

• Conduct and supervise vegetation surveys, biomass measurements, biodiversity monitoring, and survival surveys, ensuring all deliverables meet project timelines and technical standards.

• Ensuretimely,accurate, and consistent data collection, entry, and storage, and conduct quality control checks tomaintaindata integrity.

• Develop, test, and refine field methodologies, protocols, tools, and templates, including pilot testingemergingtechnologies and implementing ad hoc experiments to advance project outcomes.

• Providetechnical guidance and feedback to the Ecological Manager to inform adaptive management decisions around project activities.

• Contribute to technical reports, summaries, and other project documentation based on field data and observations.

• Provide operational and field support to the Project Team asrequired, following guidance from the Ecological Manager.

• Participate in technical sessions, workshops, conferences, and other relevant events to advance the field of thicket ecosystem restoration academically and commercially.

General

• Embrace a culture of continuous learning by adapting to evolving job responsibilities, driven by NatCarbon’s commitment to innovation, personal growth, and shifting project priorities.

• Some travel within the Eastern and Western cape anticipated, including to remote locations. Travel may on occasion cross weekends and holidays to accommodate schedules. Work hours may be irregular.

• This outline of duties, and responsibilities is not intended to be exhaustive. The employer reserves the right to assign the employee additional duties or responsibilities at any time, provided they are reasonably aligned with the scope of the role or necessitated by operational requirements. The functions and responsibilities detailed within this job description may be subject to modification at the employer’s discretion, based on evolving operational requirements, while remaining consistent with the parameters of the employee’s position.

Skills

• Excellent leadership skills, with the ability to manage and motivate a small team.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English (AfrikaansandisiXhosaadvantageous).

• Strongorganisationaland time-management abilities.

• Excellent data management and analytical skills.

• High levelof attention to detail and commitment to data quality.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.

• Physically fit and comfortable working in challenging outdoor conditions.

• Demonstrates initiative, integrity, and a passion for ecological restoration and making a positive impact.

Qualifications

• A relevant tertiary qualification in ecology, forestry, botany, environmental science, conservation, or related fields.

• An MSc in the related fields is advantageous.

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum of2–5 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 methodologies.

• Proficiencyin GIS, GPS, and other field monitoring equipment.

• Advanced computer literacy, particularly in data management and analysis tools.

• Knowledge of the Thicket Biome and the ability toidentifykey plant species is highlyadvantageous.

• Valid Driver’s Licence (off-road driving experienceadvantageous).

Working Conditions

• Frequent travel within the Eastern and Western Capeanticipated, including to remote locations. Travel may on occasion cross weekends and holidays to accommodate schedules. Work hours may be irregular.

You will joina great team! We are:

• From diverse locations and backgrounds, but all experts in our respective fields. We bring together a wide range of cross-sector experiences, ideas, and skills.

• Relentless in our pursuit of excellence and innovation, always pushing the boundaries and challenging the status quo. But it is not all work for us – we also believe in celebrating our successes, recognising individual contributions, and taking time to support each other’s growth and development.

• At our core, explorers, constantly learning, evolving, and seeking new ways to deliver impactful solutions. We are not afraid to dream big, take risks, and step out of our comfort zones because we know that together, we can achievegreat things.

Compensation

To help us attract andretaintop talent, NatCarbon Africa pays employees competitively to the market, depending on experience. Salary is onecomponentof NatCarbon Africa’s total compensation package which also includes health care and life insurance, contributions to each employee’s retirement plan, paid time off and funds to support professional development. We will recognize employees who go beyond expected performance with salary increases and/or promotions.

In return, we expect each employee to, at a minimum:

• Meet expectations in terms of work effort and performance.

• Take the initiative to build the skills and knowledge needed to do their job effectively; and

• Embody the values of NatCarbon Africa.

NatCarbon Africa provides equal opportunity for all job applicants and employees and is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination.