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.