Geospatial Field Technician

Geospatial Field Technician, Spekboom Restoration Project

Technical and Carbon Department, Eastern Cape (Gqeberha), South Africa

Location:

Gqeberha, Eastern Cape

Reports to:

Senior Geospatial Field Technician

Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary adventure that will revitalise landscapes, combat climate change, and promote sustainable agriculture?

Join Nat Carbon Africa: a mission-driven, proudly African organisation dedicated to high-quality implementation of large-scale carbon, climate, and biodiversity projects. We embrace the power of innovative technology to enhance project execution. Community engagement lies at the heart of our projects, driven by a genuine commitment to meaningful and inclusive participation and co-benefits, such as biodiversity conservation and socioeconomic upliftment.

Nat Carbon Africa seeks a Geospatial Field Technician in the Technical and Carbon Department for the large-scale Spekboom Restoration Project in the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa.

With our partner, Imperative Global, our aim is to restore up to 100,000 hectares of degraded subtropical thicket biome. The Project entails planting Spekboom (Portulacaria afra) on privately owned land to improve ecosystem functioning and agricultural productivity over time, promote biodiversity, improve soil filtration, enhance water storage capabilities, and to reduce soil erosion. The Project is estimated to permanently store large quantities of Carbon Dioxide over the Project life, thus positively contributing towards climate change mitigation.

The Geospatial Field Technician reports to the Senior Geospatial Field Technician and is responsible for the collection, processing, and management of high-resolution aerial imagery and associated spatial datasets in support of Nat Carbon's large-scale restoration initiatives. The role combines field-based UAV operations with data processing, analysis, and reporting, contributing to accurate and efficient monitoring across the project landscape. Strong technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills are required, with a focus on ensuring the quality and reliability of spatial data used for ecological monitoring, restoration assessment, and carbon accounting.

• Plan and execute high-precision UAV flights to capture aerial imagery and spatial data across restoration sites.

• Ensure safe and compliant operation of UAV systems in line with regulatory and company standards.

• Conduct pre- and post-flight equipment checks and maintain detailed flight logs.

• Process raw imagery and sensor data to generate orthomosaics, digital surface models (DSMs), and other spatial products.

• Manage and maintain geospatial databases and file systems to ensure data integrity and accessibility.

• Develop and implement geospatial tools, workflows, and templates to improve monitoring and reporting efficiency.

• Integrate aerial data with ground-based monitoring datasets to support vegetation, biomass, and carbon assessments.

• Conduct GIS analyses and produce spatial visualisations and maps for technical reporting.

• Collaborate with the Ecology, Conservation, and GIS and Data teams to align aerial data collection with broader project objectives.

• Contribute to research and innovation in geospatial monitoring methodologies that advance ecological restoration and carbon assessment practices.

• Embrace a culture of continuous learning by adapting to evolving job responsibilities, driven by Nat Carbon Africa’s commitment to innovation, personal growth, and shifting operational priorities.
• Some travel within the Eastern and Western Cape may be required, including to remote locations, with occasional weekend or holiday work to accommodate schedules.
• Work hours…