Website South African National Parks (SANParks)
South African National Parks is one of the world's leading conservation and scientific research bodies and a leading proponent of maintaining the indigenous natural environment. South African National Parks, (SANParks), manages a system of parks which represents the indigenous fauna, flora, landscapes and associated cultural heritage of the country. Of all the national parks, most have overnight tourist facilities, with an unrivalled variety of accommodation in arid, coastal, mountain and bushveld habitats.
Requirements
- Master’s Degree qualification in business or social science field or similar (PhD will be an advantage).
- At least 15 years of proven experience in the project management of large-scale ecotourism projects, destination marketing and/or management of a public sector institution.
- Knowledge of conservation, tourism, and sustainable development policies
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong stakeholder management and reporting skills.
Responsibilities
- Whilst the focus of the assignment will be on KNP’s Centenary Anniversary, it will be important to use the anniversary to ensure that all of SANParks’s 21 National Parks and 10 Marine Protected Areas (MPA) benefit.
The centenary celebration should:
- Reflect on the origins and formation of the Kruger National Park.
- Celebrate conservation milestones and biodiversity achievements.
- Highlight the introduction and growth of tourism in the park.
- Showcase the transition from fortress conservation to inclusive conservation, emphasising community involvement and co-management.
- Honour the cultural, historical, and ecological significance of the park.
- Promote education, awareness, and public engagement throughout the year.
- The Creation of a coffee table book, a visual journey through the different timelines in the development of the Kruger National Park, will serve as testament to the park’s rich history and its evolution over the past century.
The expert will be responsible for the procurement and management of relevant service providers required to fulfil the following services:
Strategic Planning & Coordination:
- Develop a comprehensive KNP Centenary Action Plan, including objectives, themes, timeline, and milestones.
Branding, Marketing & Communications:
- Review SANParks’s current brand identity aligned to achieving the Vision 2040 objectives.
Product Development & Investment Promotion:
- Review of existing tourism products and infrastructure within KNP aimed at enhancing visitor experiences. The review should inform the investment promotion strategy.
- Resource Mobilisation Internal Coordination and Capacity Building:
- Work closely with SANParks Resource mobilisation team, KNP’s project management team, finance, communications, and conservation departments to ensure alignment and readiness for fundraising activities.
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Design and implement a stakeholder engagement plan targeting government, traditional leaders, communities, NGOs, academic institutions, tourism bodies, and the private sector, among others.
Monitoring, Reporting & Legacy Planning:
- Design a monitoring and evaluation framework for centenary activities.
