Job Title GENERAL WORKER.9.07 - AD17 Location Johannesburg, ZA Organization Name School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences Department Description
SCHOOL OF ANIMAL, PLANT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
PULLEN NATURE RESERVE, MPUMALANGA
GENERAL WORKER AD.17
About Pullen Nature Reserve
Pullen Nature Reserve is a research and teaching facility located in the Savanna Biome of Mpumalanga, 35 km south-east of Mbombela in the Krokodilpoortberge. The facility serves the University's School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences (APES) and provides accommodation and support for field courses, research activities, and educational programs.
The Position
We are seeking a reliable and hardworking General Worker to join our small team at Pullen Nature Reserve. This is a hands-on position working mainly outdoors to maintain the facility's buildings, roads, and natural veld areas.
Brief Description
Essential Requirements
- Grade 12 (Matric) or equivalent NQF level/N4
- At least 2 years' experience in general labour, farm work, or similar
- Experience with bush clearing and outdoor maintenance work
- Basic building maintenance experience
- Experience with controlled burning operations
- Experience working on a nature reserve or farm
- Knowledge of local plants (especially invasive species)
- Chainsaw/tractor operation experience
- First Aid Level 1
- Must be willing to live on-site at Pullen Nature Reserve
- Willing to work weekends and public holidays when required
- Valid driving license
- IT competence to receive and send emails and to apply for leave online
- Basic writing and numeracy skills
Bush and Veld Management:
- Clear bushes and remove invasive alien plants
- Assist with controlled burning operations
- Maintain firebreaks and cleared areas
- Stack and remove cut vegetation
- Basic veld maintenance tasks
- Maintain internal roads (filling potholes, clearing drainage, grading, mowing)
- Clear vegetation along roads and pathways
- Maintain fences (repairs, vegetation clearing)
- Keep facility grounds neat
- Operate vehicles and machinery such as mowers, tractors and welding machines
- Carry out regular Assessments and Maintenance of Vehicles and Machinery
- Basic building maintenance (painting, minor repairs)
- Maintain water systems (checking tanks, clearing gutters)
- General cleaning and upkeep of external areas
- Assist with the maintenance of accommodation facilities
- Rubbish removal and waste management
- Undertake small building projects
- Assist the Field Station Manager with various maintenance tasks
- Help prepare facilities for visiting groups
- Operate and maintain basic tools and equipment
- Report maintenance issues and equipment problems
- Follow health and safety procedures
- Any other reasonable duties as required
- Assist with Conservancy tasks as directed by the Field Station Manager
- Live-in position at Pullen Field Station, Mpumalanga (on-site accommodation provided)
- Heavy manual labour, lifting, digging, clearing, working in hot conditions
- Occasional weekend work when field courses are hosted or when otherwise required for a total of 22 working days a month on and off arrangements to be negotiated with Field Station Manager
- Must follow all safety procedures; safety equipment will be provided
Detailed Description Job Requirements Additional Details How To Apply
To apply: Only applicants who meet the minimum requirements should apply by submitting their cover letter, detailed CV, certified copies of all educational qualifications and identity document with names and e-mail addresses of 3 referees. It is the applicants responsibility to have foreign qualifications evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
External applicants are invited to apply by registering their profile on the Wits i-Recruitment platform located at https://irec.wits.ac.za and submitting applications. Internal applicants are invited to apply directly on Oracle by following the path: iWits /Self Service Applications / Apply for a job.
Closing date: 31 December 2025
By applying for this post the Applicant acknowledges that their personal information will be processed by the University. The Applicant, by their conduct in proceeding with an application for this position, gives their consent to the processing of their personal information as required by the Universitys Recruitment, Selection and Appointment Policy. Such processing includes logging their information on the Universitys recruitment systems, conducting necessary background and reference checks including disciplinary and/or criminal records, and disclosing their personal information to university employees identified to take part in the selection and recruitment process. The Applicant consents to any processing of their personal information as may be required. The confidentiality of the Applicant's personal information will be maintained.
The University is committed to employment equity. Preference may be given to appointable applicants from the underrepresented designated groups in terms of the relevant employment equity plans and policies of the University. The University retains the right not to make an appointment and to verify all information provided by candidates.
Please note that correspondence will only be entered into with shortlisted candidates. The University reserves the right not to make an appointment or to re-advertise.
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