Heritage Officer (Development Applications Unit) at South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA)

About the position

Job Title: Heritage Officer: Development Applications Unit (DAU).

Department: Heritage Conservation Management.

Location: Cape Town and Pretoria SAHRA office. (Position can be based in either Cape Town or Pretoria) - depending on the candidate's current location.

Approved Grade: C3.

The total cost of salary: R277 983.00 per annum.

Applications closing date: Monday, 17 July 2023 at 5PM.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE JOB:
To assist the manager and senior heritage officer of the Development Applications Unit (DAU) to manage heritage resources in relation to s38 development applications, and to provide technical and administrative support to the unit.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS:
KPA 1: Regulations and Compliance.
KPA 2: Heritage Resources Management.
KPA 3: Nation Building and Social Cohesion.
KPA 4: Heritage Resources Promotion.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS:
Note: The following list of Key Performance Areas and job activities are not exhaustive. SAHRA may instruct the employee at any time to carry out additional duties or responsibilities, which fall reasonably within the ambit of the job, or in accordance with operational requirements.

Key Performance Indicator (KPI)
Regulations and Compliance:

• Assist Unit manager and Senior Heritage Officer to implement norms, standards, and policies.
• Monitor Heritage Sites impacted by development activities.
• Ensure report on site monitoring is written.
• Review and update norms, standards, and policies every 2 years, or determined by unit manager.
• Liaise with site managers and landowners regarding site monitoring.
• Ensure site monitoring reports are complete and added to database.
• Queries with public and professional bodies settled timeously.

Heritage Resources Management (Section 38):

• Review and process all section 38 applications assigned to the case officer.
• Attend to queries from applicants and other officials regarding the section 38 process.
• Assist unit manager and senior officers to Liaise with other relevant governmental departments regarding section 38 process and applications.
• Ensure the timeous communication of case decisions and comments with applicants and relevant officials.
• Queries with public and professional bodies settled timeously.
• Minutes of meetings and emails with other relevant government departments.

Nation Building and Social Cohesion:

• Attend national and international conferences.
• Attend local and regional workshops and training programmes.
• Assist unit manager and senior heritage officer with work with international bodies and other countries to promote DAU and build capacity.
• Assist unit manager and senior heritage officer to build partnerships with communities and other stakeholders (e.g., Department of Environment Affairs, Mineral Resources Departments and local authorities).
• Reports on conference attendance.
• Reports on workshops and training programmes.
• Minutes of meetings and emails.
• Minutes of meetings and emails in relation to partnerships.

Heritage Resources Promotion:

• Assist unit manager and senior heritage officer in identification of need and development of promotional material e.g., pamphlets, brochures, publications.
• Assist unit manager and senior heritage officer to research and write at least one publication per year, or as planned per the unit operational plan
• Promotional material developed as and when required.
• Annual publication submitted for publication as and when required.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
At least an Honours degree in Heritage Related Field (Archaeology, Palaeontology, Historical Built Environment, Anthropology) preferably with a focus on Heritage Resources Management.
Minimum of 3 years' work experience in the field of Heritage Resources Management.

Other skills required:
Heritage and Environmental Legislation.
Geographical Information Systems.
Stakeholder Engagement.
Project Management and Planning.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read, analyse, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from applicants, regulatory agencies, or members of the public. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information management, public groups, and/or council.

NUMERICAL SKILLS:
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS:
ASAPA (advantageous).
ICOMOS (advantageous).
PSSA (advantageous).
APHP (advantageous).
IAIA SA/EAPASA (advantageous).
SACPLAN (advantageous).
SACAP (advantageous).

LICENSES:
A valid Code B Driver's licence.

COMPUTER SKILL:
Computer literacy with regard to the use of Excel, Word, Power Point, MS Teams.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is:

• Regularly required to sit.
• Reach with hands and arms.
• Often to talk and hear.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Desired Skills:

• Archaeology
• Palaeontology
• Historical Built Environment
• Anthropology
• Heritage Resources Management

Desired Qualification Level:

• Honours