WWF South Africa: Graduate Development Programme Coordinator

WWF South Africa is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation and environmental organisations, with almost five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. The organisation’s mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which we all live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

To further support WWF South Africa conservation objectives, the recently established Environmental Leaders Programme, as a cross-cutting programme in the organisation works towards securing and developing the necessary human resource capacity for the sector to ensure progress towards objectives.

The Environmental Leaders Programme is structured around three strands of work focusing on new leaders through its graduate development programme, current leaders through its leadership development programme and organisational strengthening to enable the growth and development of leadership for the environment. The Graduate Development Programme is currently focused on the placement of post graduate interns within WWF-SA and in associated organisations in collaboration with other key environmental agencies.

WWF South Africa seeks to appoint a Graduate Development Programme Coordinator, based in Newlands, Cape Town.

The person will support the work of its Environmental Leaders Programme that aims to support the development of new and current leaders for the environment. The person will report to the Senior Manager -  Environmental Leaders Programme.

This is a one-year full day contract position.

Responsibilities:

Supporting the placement of post graduate interns, through:

• Identify potential host programmes and institutions to foster appropriate career development aspirations of interns;
• In consultation with host programmes and agencies, identify appropriate mentoring, growth and development opportunities;
• Support host programmes and agencies in the recruitment and selection of interns.
• Supporting the induction of post graduate interns, through: 
• Convening regular induction interactions across the group of interns;
• Conceptualising an appropriate programme, securing resources for this programme and facilitating the workshops;
• Support interns in exploring possible career development pathways;
• Support interns in exploring potential placement towards the end of the internship period.

Supporting the strengthening of mentoring practices amongst host organisations and identified mentors:

• Convene regular interactions across host programmes, agencies and mentors to explore improved mentoring practices;
• Conceptualising an appropriate programme, securing resources for this programme and facilitating the workshops;
• Coordinate feedback from mentors and the sharing of lessons learnt through mentoring processes.

Project administration:

• Support contracting processes for the placement of interns in host programmes and agencies;
• Financial management and reporting for the placement of interns in host programmes and agencies;
• Develop and maintain an interns and host programme and agency database.

Cross-sectoral collaboration around related human capital development initiatives:

• Liaise with multiple stakeholders in identifying and placing interns.

Requirements:

• Postgraduate qualification in education, training and development and / or an environmental management or related field;
• Knowledge and understanding of the South African environmental sector, role players and respective mandates;
• Independent thinking and working capabilities as well as the ability to engage across organisations and hierarchical levels;
• Ability to deliver results while managing competing priorities under tight deadlines;
• Collaborative spirit and ability to work in team settings across diverse organisational settings;
• Strong administrative and project management skills;
• Stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills;
• Openness to engaging difference and diversity;
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office, databases and email;
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, both orally and written;
• Fluency in at least two South African languages
• Valid driver’s licence and own transportation is essential.

If you have these attributes and are seeking a career development opportunity to strengthen your experience and capacity in human capital development in the environment sector, submit a CV (maximum three pages), contact details of three referees and motivation letter to hr@wwf.org.za.

WWF seeks to promote diversity among its staff. Candidates who have not received a response within four weeks of the closing date should assume that their application unsuccessful.

WWF-SA reserves the right not to fill this position.

For more about the WWF South Africa, refer to www.wwf.org.za.

For other vacancies in the NGO sector, refer to www.ngopulse.org/vacancies.

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