Heritage Officer (Heritage Objects Unit) at South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra)

About the position

The closing date for applications will be Monday, 28 February 2023.
Salary per annum: R327 209
Job Grade: C4
Location: Zonnebloem, SAHRA Head Office.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE JOB:
To manage heritage objects and conduct research relating to heritage objects, to provide assistance to the Unit Manager, as well as to provide administrative and technical support to the unit.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS:
KPA 1: Identification and Management of Heritage Objects.
KPA 2: Stakeholder Management.
KPA 3: Research.
KPA 4: Policy Development.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS:
Identification and Management of Heritage Objects:

• Process permit applications received.
• Identify and assess HO in public and private ownership.
• Nominate for declaration.
• Compilation of nomination dossiers.
• Submit to declaration and submissions unit for grading.
• Draft letters for formal declaration (National Heritage Resources Act Section 27 and 29).
• Monitor specifically declared objects and collections.

Stakeholder Management:

• Public participation.
• Liaise with experts, Heritage conservation bodies, State institutions and community organisations.
• Engage with the community via meetings and ongoing engagement.
• Identify gaps and initiate contact with interested and affected parties.
• Respond to queries.
• Media engagement.
• Create awareness and provide input on heritage issues to inter-governmental departments.

Research:

• Conduct background research on HO when necessary.
• Conduct new research to add to existing theory and data relating to the HO.
• Work with other employees in the unit to produce at least one research paper.
• Conduct research for integrated heritage management.
• Conduct historical mapping.
• Keep updated with current trends and changes within the environment.
• Listing of heritage inventory.
• Provide data to Marketing and Communications department relating to HO and collections.

Policy Development

• Participate and inform the development of policy.
• Participate in the update and renewal of HOU SOPs and guidelines.
• Facilitate the development of Conservation Manager Plans (CMP).
• Assist in the development of new policies and guidelines based on changes in the heritage sector.
• Implement the SOPs, guidelines, and policies with relevant stakeholders.

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 a Postgraduate degree, or equivalent, in History, Museum and Heritage Studies or equivalent.
• Minimum of 2 years' work experience in the Heritage Environment (e.g., Museums, Galleries, Archives).

Other skills required:

• Ability to liaise with diverse communities.

• Ability to deal with conflict

• Heritage Conservation management.

• Heritage Legislation.
• Knowledge of types of Heritage Objects.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read, analyse, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

NUMERICAL SKILLS:
Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS:
SAMA (advantageous).
ICOM (advantageous).

LICENSES:
A valid Code EB (08) driver's licence.

COMPUTER SKILL:
Computer literacy with regard to the use of Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

Desired Skills:

• Heritage Studies
• History
• Museum Studies
• Heritage Conservation management
• Heritage Legislation
• Diverse Heritage Objects Knowledge

Desired Qualification Level:

• Honours