Forester

SUMMARY:
Opportunity Available!! Our leading client in the Forestry Sector is looking to employ a Forester to join their dynamic team in Stutterheim.

POSITION INFO:
Job Responsibilities: 

• Work well with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds and in different situations. 
• Proactive and strong focus on continuous process of improvement. 
• Conduct legal compliance inspections on all operations and activities 
• Direct on-site inspections to ensure that staff and contractors follow proper safety procedures – FSC standards. 
• Manage the silviculture APO and related costs perimeters. 
• Fulfill the duties as contractor manager. 
• Assist the roads/transport manager with managing road and transport equipment when they are working on plantation. 
• Ensure maximum stocking within Silviculture standards is achieved. 
• Inspect operations regularly to identify risks and ensure that timeous action occurs (blanking, pest control management). 
• Plan and conduct regular field inspections to ensure that crops, through the timing of operations (weed control, pest & disease management) achieve maximum yields within cost constraints. 
• Ensure that the plantation budget is managed effectively by ensuring expenditure target rands/hectare are achieved. 
• Adhere to, monitor and report back on compliance aspects such as safety, productivity, quality, environmental aspects and social performance and standards. 
• Ensure that company assets such as vehicles, buildings, villages, and company houses are maintained and managed effectively according to set standards (hygiene & legal compliance) and within budget constraints. 
• Direct involvement with Fire Management 
• Motivate, mentor, and manage own team Supervisor in terms of technical aspects of Silviculture, Estate Management and Fire protection requirements of the job.

• Must be in possession of a Matric Certificate/Grade 12. 
• Must be in possession of a Degree or Diploma in Forestry (National Diploma or BSc Degree) 
• Must be in possession of a valid driver’s license. 
• Minimum of 5 years’ proven operational plantation management experience with exposure to silviculture, conservation, harvesting, fire protection and roads maintenance activities. 
• Previous experience as a Forester managing own operations will be an added advantage. 
• Computer literacy (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). 
• Geographic Information Systems knowledge will be an advantage. 
• Firefighting experience essential – ICS300. 
• Willing to work as per operational requirements and perform firefighting standby duties as and when required. 
• Knowledge of contractor management an added advantage. 
• Must have financial administration knowledge and skills. 
• Experience in stakeholder relations. 
• Ability to communicate in Xhosa will be an added advantage.