SANCCOB, a leading organisation dedicated to the conservation of seabirds, is seeking an experienced, strategic, and driven Education and Skills Development Manager to join our conservation team. Our coastal and marine ecosystems, and the seabirds that depend on them, face growing pressures, including reduced food availability, pollution, climate change, disease, and human-wildlife conflict. Lasting conservation success depends on people: environmental education builds understanding, changes behaviour and inspires the next generation of conservation leaders, while skills development grows the capacity of the people who protect our oceans and coastlines. This role sits at the heart of that work, reaching learners, schools, communities, visitors, volunteers, and interns. The ideal candidate is a confident leader with a background in education, with a focus on environmental education and an understanding of marine and coastal ecosystems, strong people and communication skills, and a passion for conservation and the marine environment. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in a dynamic, purpose-driven environment and is committed to advancing SANCCOB’s mission of seabird conservation.

Institution The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB)

Location Table View, Cape Town

Job Title Education and Skills Development Manager

Reports To Senior Conservation Manager

Closing Date 25th November 2026

Starting Date As soon as possible (negotiable)

Full-time / Part-time Full-time

Work Hours A standard 40-hour working week, based at our Table View centre. SANCCOB is a response organisation, and occasional weekend or after-hours work may be required.

Travel Willingness and ability to travel to and from schools and off-site venues, and to the Eastern Cape branch when needed.

THE POSITION

As the Education and Skills Development Manager, you will need a clear understanding of SANCCOB’s operations, mission, vision, and strategic objectives. You will be responsible for designing, leading, and scaling SANCCOB’s education strategy and programmes, and for overseeing the Skills Development Programme for volunteers, interns, and learners. You will lead the Education team and provide oversight and guidance to the Volunteer and Intern Coordinator. This is a management-level position.

KEY RESULT AREAS – OUTPUTS

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Education Programmes and Strategy

Design, develop and implement an education strategy.
Design, develop and implement curriculum-aligned educational programmes in line with SANCCOB’s mission and conservation strategic objectives.
Ensure alignment of educational programmes and messaging between SANCCOB Western Cape and Eastern Cape with regards to school groups and tours.
Develop interactive tours of the SANCCOB facilities.
Lead, train and mentor education staff, interns, and volunteers to professionally execute educational programmes in line with best teaching practice.
Ensure income and visitor/learner number targets (tours and school groups) are met.
Actively fundraise to enhance and expand educational programmes, including prospecting donors, writing proposals and reporting back.
Strategically network with key stakeholders and develop partnerships to enhance and expand SANCCOB’s educational programmes.
Ensure that SANCCOB’s educational impact is appropriately measured, assessed, and increased.
Support educational pop-ups and activations at schools and learner events.

Administrative Functions

Prepare and manage the Education and Skills Development department’s annual budget.
Manage inventories of all education department equipment and ensure that systems are in place to take care of the equipment.
Produce internal and external reports and statistics, including the monitoring and evaluation of educational programmes.
Ensure that all aspects of educational programmes are successfully coordinated in line with programme specifications (transport, meals, resources, etc.).

Events

Lead the planning, development, coordination and execution of education and awareness events, including the annual African Penguin Awareness Day and the Penguin Palooza, with support from other SANCCOB departments and external partners.

Skills Development Programme

Provide oversight of the successful implementation and management of all aspects of the Skills Development Programme, with the Volunteer and Intern Coordinator as the day-to-day lead. This includes engagement with stakeholders such as volunteer and internship agencies, universities, conservation entities, zoos and aquaria, volunteers, interns, learners, and experienced animal professionals.
Ensure the continued development and growth of the Skills Development Programme, and that it is a positive and successful experience for all stakeholders.
Work towards accrediting training courses at SANCCOB, aligned with the current training programmes offered.
Ensure sufficient volunteer, intern and learnership capacity is always available to effectively support SANCCOB’s operational requirements.
Provide leadership and guidance to the Volunteer and Intern Coordinator.
Manage external surveys and exit interviews and provide feedback reports and actions to continuously improve the Skills Development Programme.

General

Perform any other tasks necessary for the conduct of SANCCOB’s business, as directed by the employer from time to time.
Professionally represent the SANCCOB brand by adhering to SANCCOB’s core values.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The successful candidate will require the following:

A real passion for conservation and environmental education.
Strong leadership skills, with the ability to manage, motivate and hold a team accountable for targets.
The ability to provide strategic input and work effectively with senior management.
The ability to work in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing priorities.
Critical and analytical thinking.
Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships at all levels of an organisation and with diverse stakeholders.
Creative and innovative.
Excellent planning and organisational skills, with a proven ability to manage multiple projects, budgets, and deadlines.
Self-motivated and proactive, with a focus on achieving goals and driving results.
A professional presence and strong public communication skills.
A clear credit and criminal record.

WHAT WE OFFER

The opportunity to make a lasting impact on seabird conservation.
A dynamic, creative, and supportive work environment that encourages innovation and excellence.
Opportunities for professional growth and development within the organisation.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Matric/Grade 12 certificate.
Degree or equivalent (NQF level 7) in Education (e.g., B. Ed or PGCE) or Environmental Education.
A degree in a related field (e.g., Nature Conservation, Marine Science or Biology) combined with teaching experience will be considered an advantage.
Sound knowledge of the CAPS curriculum and curriculum alignment.
3 to 5 years’ relevant experience in education, including experience in education management.
Experience in managing and mentoring interns and volunteers.
Experience working with project schools.
Experience in preparing and managing a departmental budget.
Experience in designing or managing training or skills development programmes is an advantage.
Monitoring and evaluation experience.
Experience in fundraising, business planning, and proposal development.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams) and Canva or similar software.
Excellent English writing, reporting, and presentation skills.
Previous experience in a similar role within the non-profit sector is preferred.
Valid driver’s license (Code 8) and own transport, with willingness to drive SANCCOB vehicles when required.
South African citizen or valid South African work permit.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration package commensurate with qualifications, experience and SANCCOB’s remuneration model.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please submit your CV (maximum 3 pages) with contactable referees and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience to accounts@sanccob.co.za. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. SANCCOB is an equalopportunity employer and encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds. We invite you to join our mission to protect seabirds and make a difference for the future of our planet’s ecosystems. SANCCOB reserves the right not to make an appointment should a suitable candidate not be found.

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