Senior Forest Ecologist - Conservation & Restoration Lead

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health benefits

Retirement fund contribution

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly experienced Principal Forest Ecologist to lead scientific direction for conservation, management, and restoration of forest ecosystems across Gauteng properties. The role requires advancing ecological strategies, carrying out critical research, and advising on sustainable forest management.

Successful candidate will lead a team, develop monitoring programs, and contribute to policy development while advancing biodiversity in the Pretoria region and beyond.

Qualifications

• PhD in Forest Ecology or closely related field with specialization in forest ecosystems.
• Minimum 10 years of post-doctoral research and practical forest ecology experience.
• Proven expertise in forest inventory, monitoring techniques, and ecological modeling.
• Excellent scientific writing and publication record.
• Ability to lead teams and collaborate with government, NGOs, and academia.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead long-term ecological monitoring programs for forest ecosystems.
• Conduct research on forest biodiversity, health, structure, and ecosystem services.
• Design and oversee forest restoration and rehabilitation projects.
• Develop forest management plans considering climate change adaptation.
• Provide expert ecological advice to land managers and stakeholders.
• Lead and mentor a team of ecologists and field technicians.
• Publish findings in peer‑reviewed journals and present at conferences.
• Contribute to policy and advocacy for forest conservation in South Africa.
• Manage project budgets, grants, and reporting compliance.

Skills

Leadership

GIS & Remote Sensing

Scientific Writing

Stakeholder Collaboration

Ecological Modeling

Education

PhD in Forest Ecology

Tools

GIS

Remote Sensing

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a highly experienced Principal Forest Ecologist to lead scientific direction for conservation, management, and restoration of forest ecosystems across Gauteng properties. The role requires advancing ecological strategies, carrying out critical research, and advising on sustainable forest management.

Successful candidate will lead a team, develop monitoring programs, and contribute to policy development while advancing biodiversity in the Pretoria region and beyond.