About the Role
The Department of Agriculture is looking for a dedicated Land Reform Specialist based in Pretoria, Gauteng. This vital role is at the forefront of land reform initiatives in South Africa, contributing to the enhancement of social justice and economic transformation within communities. As a Land Reform Specialist, you will ensure compliance with legal standards and policy frameworks, ultimately fostering a fair and equitable land distribution system that benefits numerous South Africans.
In this position, your expertise will directly influence the quality and effectiveness of land reform projects. By conducting thorough reviews and assessments of submissions, you will play a key role in identifying and mitigating risks, thus supporting the government’s mission to address historical injustices. Your work will not only impact policy but will also contribute to the empowerment of communities reliant on land for their livelihoods and growth.
About the Department
The Department of Agriculture is committed to promoting sustainable agricultural practices and ensuring food security across the nation. With a focus on equitable land distribution and support for rural development, the department plays a crucial role in shaping policies that affect millions of South Africans. Working within this department means you will be part of a mission that aims to uplift communities, enhance livelihoods, and promote environmental stewardship, making your contributions both meaningful and impactful.
What You’ll Do
- Conduct quality assurance of submissions for legal compliance and alignment with departmental policies.
- Review and assess submissions for the National Land Acquisition and Allocation Control Committee (NLAACC) and joint venture agreements.
- Identify legal, financial, governance, and operational risks in agreements and recommend corrective actions.
- Prepare quality assurance reports and monitor implementation of recommendations.
- Manage and investigate enquiries related to complaints about land reform projects.
- Facilitate engagement sessions among beneficiaries, strategic partners, and government stakeholders to resolve disputes amicably.
- Develop and draft policy documents, operational manuals, and training materials to support land reform initiatives.
- Coordinate training workshops and capacity-building sessions for provincial officials.
What You’ll Need
- A Grade 12 Certificate and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Bachelor of Commerce in Law.
- A minimum of 3 years’ relevant experience in land reform or public service management.
- A valid driver’s license.
- Strong knowledge of contract management and policy development.
- Excellent communication and facilitation skills, both verbal and written.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Proven skills in conflict management, problem-solving, and report writing.
How to Apply
Applications can be submitted by hand delivered during office hours to: 600 Lilian Ngoyi Street (formerly known as Van der Walt Street), Berea Park, Pretoria, 0002 or by email to [email protected].
Requirements
Minimum requirements: Applicants must be in possession of a Grade 12 Certificate and a LLB or Bachelor of Commerce in Law.Minimum of 3 years’ experience in the relevant filed.
A valid driver’s licence.
Job related knowledge: Knowledge of contract management.
Knowledge of public service management framework.
Knowledge of policy development.
Job related skills: Communication (verbal and written).
Facilitation and presentation.
Financial management.
Team management.
Conflict management.
Problem solving.
People management.
Computer literacy (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project).
Job Duties
Conduct quality assurance of submissions for legal compliance.Review and assess submissions enroute to National Land Acquisition and Allocation Control Committee (NLAACC) and joint venture agreements, for legal and policy compliance.
Conduct verification that supporting documentation is complete and legally sufficient.
Verify alignment of agreements with applicable legislation, departmental policies, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Identify legal, financial, governance, and operational risks contained in agreements and recommend corrective actions.
Prepare quality assurance reports with recommendations to correct deficiencies or achieve compliance for management approval.
Monitor implementation of quality assurance recommendations.
Provide technical advice on compliance and contract management matters.
Manage, analyse, investigate, and report on enquiries relating to complaints.
Receive, register, and acknowledge complaints and enquiries relating to Strategic Institutional Partnerships and land reform projects.
Conduct preliminary assessments and determine the nature and severity of complaints.
Gather and analyse relevant information, reports, agreements, and supporting documentation to identify root causes of disputes, complaints, and implementation challenges.
Conduct investigations through stakeholder consultations, interviews, and site visits where necessary.
Determining the legal, regulatory, and policy framework applicable to each matter.
Draft investigation reports with findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Maintain accurate reports of complaints and case outcomes.
Provide advisory support to provinces regarding complaint management processes.
Manage informal dispute resolution processes.
Receive and assess disputes.
Facilitate engagement sessions between beneficiaries, strategic partners, communities, landowners, and government stakeholders.
Identify and analyse causes of conflicts arising from partnership agreements and project implementation.
Mediate and negotiate amicable resolutions to disputes before escalation to formal legal processes.
Develop dispute resolution strategies and action plans.
Ensure all parties are informed of their rights, roles, and obligations.
Draft settlement agreements and record outcomes of mediation processes.
Monitor compliance with agreed resolutions and remedial actions.
Escalate unresolved matters through appropriate governance and legal channels.
Prepare and maintain records and reports on disputes managed and resolved.
Promote stakeholder relations and collaborative problem-solving approaches.
Development of policy and operational documents.
Research and analyse policy gaps, implementation challenges, and emerging trends affecting Strategic Institutional Partnerships.
Draft, review, and update policies, frameworks, guidelines, SOPs, terms of reference, templates, and operational manuals.
Conduct benchmarking exercises against best practices and legislative requirements.
Facilitate stakeholder consultations during policy development processes.
Incorporate legal, governance, financial, and operational considerations into policy documents.
Prepare policy submissions, concept documents, discussion papers, and implementation plans.
Develop monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for policy implementation.
Coordinate policy approval processes and stakeholder engagements.
Review existing policies and recommend amendments where necessary.
Provide technical support and guidance on policy interpretation and implementation.
Training and capacitating provinces through workshops.
Identify training and capacity-building needs within provincial and district offices.
Develop training materials, presentations, manuals, toolkits, and guidelines.
Facilitate workshops on land acquisition SOP, land allocation SOP, policy implementation and joint venture agreements.
61 Conduct awareness sessions on legislative and policy developments.
Provide technical support and mentoring to provincial officials.
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of training interventions.
Prepare workshop reports and recommendations for continuous improvement.
Coordinate stakeholder participation and logistics for workshops.
Build institutional capacity through knowledge sharing and best practice dissemination.
Prepare and maintain reports on the outcomes.
