Explore the latest career and internship opportunities at South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), including senior management, legal, environmental, and biodiversity positions.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has opened multiple career opportunities for professionals across several disciplines including environmental management, geographic information systems, legal administration, fisheries management, and biodiversity conservation.

These vacancies form part of the department’s broader mandate to protect South Africa’s natural resources, manage biodiversity, regulate fisheries, and ensure sustainable environmental governance.

As a public sector employer committed to fairness and transformation, the department operates as an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, encouraging applications from individuals across diverse backgrounds, including persons with disabilities and historically underrepresented groups.

Applications for the advertised positions close on 23 March 2026 at 16:00.

Working at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

The DFFE plays a critical role in shaping South Africa’s environmental policies and conservation efforts. Its work spans several important sectors including:

• Environmental protection and regulation
• Marine resource management
• Forestry development and conservation
• Climate change policy and environmental research
• Biodiversity protection and wildlife management

Professionals working within the department contribute directly to national environmental policy, sustainable resource management, and the protection of South Africa’s ecological systems.

With positions available in Pretoria, Cape Town, Limpopo, the Free State, and the Northern Cape, the department offers opportunities across both administrative and field-based roles.

Key Senior and Professional Positions Available

Below are some of the major vacancies currently open within the department.

Director: Environmental Spatial Information

The Director: Environmental Spatial Information position is a senior management role based in Pretoria, offering a competitive all-inclusive salary package of R1 266 714 per year.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing spatial enterprise license agreements across the department
• Overseeing enterprise Geographic Information Systems (GIS) infrastructure
• Supporting spatial data management and spatial analysis initiatives
• Conducting data visualization and cartographic mapping
• Developing spatial policies, standards, and guidelines
• Supporting departmental projects through spatial data interpretation and remote sensing analysis

Minimum requirements:

Applicants must have:

• An NQF Level 7 qualification in Geography, Cartography, or Geographic Information Systems
• At least five years of managerial experience within the GIS field
• Professional registration with the South African Geomatics Council (SAGC)
• Completion of the Senior Management Pre-Entry Programme offered by the National School of Government

The role requires strong leadership, policy interpretation, and strategic planning skills.

GISc Professional Chief Grade A

Another senior technical position within the department is GISc Professional Chief Grade A, based in Pretoria, with a salary of R1 099 488 per annum.

Responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic direction for the institution’s GIS operations
• Managing and coordinating GIS-related projects
• Overseeing spatial analysis and modelling initiatives
• Establishing and managing GIS units within the organization
• Developing policies, standards, and compliance frameworks for spatial information management

Requirements:

Candidates must possess:

• An NQF Level 7 qualification in Geographic Information Science
• At least six years of professional GIS experience
• Professional registration with SAGC
• Experience in research, data management, and geospatial systems

This role is ideal for experienced geospatial professionals interested in contributing to national environmental planning and policy development.

Senior Legal Administration Officer (MR6)

For legal professionals specializing in environmental and administrative law, the department is offering the position of Senior Legal Administration Officer MR6, based in Cape Town, with a salary of R586 956 per year.

Key responsibilities:

• Managing appeals submitted under environmental legislation
• Drafting legal recommendations and ministerial submissions
• Conducting legal research and policy analysis
• Ensuring compliance with environmental laws and administrative justice principles
• Coordinating legal responses to regulatory appeals

Requirements:

Applicants must hold:

• An LLB degree or equivalent legal qualification
• A minimum of eight years post-qualification legal experience
• Strong expertise in environmental law, constitutional law, and administrative law

The role requires advanced legal research, negotiation, and policy drafting skills.

Assistant Director: Line Net, Invertebrates & Seaweed Management

The department is also recruiting an Assistant Director responsible for the management of fisheries sectors including line fish, invertebrates, and seaweed.

This role is based in Cape Town and offers a salary of R468 459 per annum.

Key duties include:

• Managing commercial fisheries sectors such as abalone, oysters, mussels, and seaweed
• Monitoring fishing quotas and catch allocations
• Reviewing fishing permits and regulatory compliance
• Supporting sustainable resource management initiatives
• Coordinating stakeholder engagement within fisheries industries

Requirements:

Applicants must have:

• A National Diploma or higher qualification in Fisheries Management, Environmental Science, or Public Administration
• At least three years’ experience in fisheries or related environmental fields
• Knowledge of the Marine Living Resources Act and related legislation

Legal Administration Officer (MR5)

Another legal opportunity within the department is the Legal Administration Officer MR5 role located in Cape Town, offering a salary of R464 634 per annum.

The role focuses on coordinating appeals processes related to environmental legislation, drafting ministerial submissions, preparing legal documentation, and supporting parliamentary and ministerial briefings.

Applicants must possess an LLB or legal administration qualification along with at least eight years of professional legal experience.

Biodiversity Officer Production Grade A

The department is also seeking a Biodiversity Officer Production Grade A, based in Pretoria, with a salary of R343 842 per year.

Responsibilities include:

• Conducting preliminary investigations into biodiversity-related offences
• Supporting environmental enforcement actions
• Compiling criminal case documentation and evidence
• Collaborating with law enforcement and scientific institutions
• Supporting international biodiversity compliance programmes

This role requires knowledge of environmental legislation, investigation processes, and natural resource management systems.

DFFE Internship Programme (2026–2028)

In addition to professional vacancies, the department has also announced a 24-month internship programme running from 2026 to 2028.

The internship aims to provide graduates with practical work experience within environmental governance and public administration.

Internship placements will be available across several provinces including:

• Gauteng
• Limpopo
• North West
• Free State
• Mpumalanga
• Eastern Cape
• KwaZulu-Natal
• Northern Cape
• Western Cape

Interns will gain exposure to government operations, environmental programmes, and policy implementation processes.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit their application using the official Z83 application form, which can be obtained from any South African public service department.

Applications must include:

• A completed and signed Z83 form
• A detailed curriculum vitae (CV)

For online submissions, both documents must be combined into a single PDF file.

Candidates must ensure that the correct reference number and job title appear in the subject line of the email application.

Shortlisted candidates will later be required to submit certified copies of:

• Academic qualifications
• Senior Certificate
• Identity document
• Driver’s license (if required for the role)

Foreign qualifications must be evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) before appointment.

Important Recruitment Procedures

Shortlisted candidates will undergo several verification and screening procedures including:

• Criminal background checks
• Qualification verification
• Credit checks
• Reference checks
• Citizenship verification

Candidates applying for senior management roles must also complete the Senior Management Pre-Entry Programme offered by the National School of Government.

Final Thoughts

The latest vacancies announced by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment present a wide range of career opportunities for professionals interested in environmental governance, legal administration, spatial information systems, and biodiversity protection.

With positions spanning multiple provinces and professional levels, the department offers a meaningful career path for individuals passionate about protecting natural resources and contributing to sustainable environmental management.

For graduates and experienced professionals alike, joining the DFFE means becoming part of an institution that plays a vital role in shaping South Africa’s environmental future.

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