Location: Hoedspruit,Limpopo
Job type: Full time,fixed-term contract of 5 months (4 January 2027 to 31 May 2027)
Salary: R22,500 per month (gross)
Also provided: Accommodation atthe Royal Malewane Research Centre; Ingwe SIM card with a monthly data bundle; vehicle for work use
Start date: 4 January 2027
Application deadline: 15 November 2026
Ingwe Research Program is a South African non-profit working on leopard conservation and research in the Greater Kruger area. We work with citizen scientists, reserves and research partners to monitor leopards using camera traps, a mobile app and AI-assisted identification. Our mission is to effectively conserve leopards in South Africa by empowering stakeholders through practical scientific recommendations, enabled by formal research, citizen science, novel technologies, and proactive collaboration.
The Field Technician carries out Ingwe’s fieldwork and data processing in the Hoedspruit area. The role covers two main areas: managing the leopard sightings submitted by the public on Ingwe’s citizen science app, and collecting and processing Ingwe’s road ecology data from camera traps and roadkill patrols.
You will work independently, with remote supervision and periodic field visits from the Executive Director. The role suits someone who plans their ownwork, takes initiative and is comfortable working alone for long periods. At times you will coordinate volunteers from our research partner, when they join Ingwe fieldwork.
• Downloading the leopard sightings and camera trap images submitted on the Ingwe app, identifying individual leopards with ArgusWild AI, and importing the results so that each contributor is notified of the leopard they recorded
• Early-morning roadkill patrols (January to March) in blocks of 14 consecutive mornings, including weekends
• Formatting the patrol data at the end of each block
• Deploying and servicing camera traps (SD cards, batteries, clearing vegetation, etc) on a schedule you set and maintain
• Sorting camera trap videos and images, and processing the data with TrapTagger
• Creating content for social media and the newsletter, including speaking on camera
• Weekly and monthly reporting to the Executive Director
• Diploma in nature conservation, wildlife management, environmental science or a related field
• Experience with camera traps, wildlife data collection or field research
• Valid South African driver’s licence, held for at least 3 years
• South African citizen or permanent resident
• Own laptop in working order
• Able to work independently, with strong time and task management
• Meticulous with data
• Comfortable working alone in remote areas
• Willing to create content and appear on camera
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field
• Experience withGIS or AI-assisted image processing tools
• FGASA Level 1
The work involves early starts before sunrise, walking on uneven ground in high summer temperatures while carrying equipment, working on road verges next to traffic, and working in remote areas with dangerous wildlife and limited mobile signal.
Ingwe is a small, growing organisation. Opportunities to take on further responsibility or a further fixed-term contract, may arise over time, subject to funding and performance.
Email the following to marine@ingweresearchprogram.org with “FieldTechnician” in the subject line by 15 November 2026:
• Your CV
• A cover letter (one page) describing your relevant experience and one specific example of a task or project you managed on your own: what you were responsible for, how you planned and organised it, and the result.
• Contact details for two referees
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. If you have not heard from us by 30 November 2026, please consider your application unsuccessful.