Junior Geospatial Technician

Why Us

Imperative is a global carbon project development company committed to delivering projects in the top decile for quality worldwide. Through a build-own-operate model, we design, develop, and manage high-integrity carbon projects that mitigate climate change while enhancing biodiversity, strengthening local economies, and supporting community development.

In South Africa, Imperative is developing one of the country’s most ambitious nature-based solutions: a large-scale native-species restoration project covering 35,000 hectares and targeting 100,000 hectares of revegetation across the Eastern and Western Cape. The project will transform degraded landscapes, generate significant high-quality carbon credits, and contribute meaningfully to climate, ecological, and community resilience. This role offers the opportunity to contribute directly to one of the world’s flagship carbon restoration initiatives.

Our Values

Our culture is shaped by a shared commitment to excellence and impact. We encourage every team member to embody the following values.

• Integrity: We act honourably and are guided by a strong moral compass. If things go wrong, we put our hand up, admit it and adapt.
• Momentum: Speed matters. We have a bias to action. We think quick, we plan tirelessly, we mitigate risks but above all, we take action.
• Purpose: We are driven by our desire to make the world better, with every interaction, process and project.
• Accountability: We do what we say, and we deliver. We seek to be the best at what we do.
• Collaboration: We celebrate diversity of thought, values and backgrounds and seek to harness the strength of our people and partners to achieve more than we individually can, through teamwork and creativity.
• Tenacity: We are highly ambitious, driven and hardworking. We persist until we deliver impact.

Position Purpose

The Junior Geospatial Technician will support aerial monitoring and field data collection using high-precision drones, assisting in data processing, analysis, and reporting. This role offers hands-on experience with UAV operations, Remote Sensing, GIS analysis, and data-driven decision-making within a safety-focused, results-oriented team. The successful candidate will be provided the opportunity to gain both Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) qualifications and would be expected to bring insights from their respective disciplines to provide innovative ways to manage, display and analyse the spatial data to enhance our understanding and management of biomass accumulation in the landscape.

Key Responsibilities

The Junior Geospatial Technician will support (to be completed), but are not limited to:

• Drone operations: Assist in high-precision drone flights and data capture using advanced sensors and UAV technology.
• Post-Processing, data management and analysis: Assist in processing complex data to derive meaningful insights for the Spekboom Restoration Project. Manage data layers and perform in-depth analyses to guide project activities and reporting.
• Tool development: Contribute to the development of tools, frameworks, and databases to streamline data collection and analysis.
• Field collaboration: Work alongside restoration teams, contributing to non-drone-related activities as needed, and provide regular updates on progress.
• Reporting: Provide regular reports on data collected, including initial analyses to inform project adjustments and further planning.
• Participation in Technical Events: Engage in technical sessions, workshops, and conferences, contributing insights and gaining skills to enhance project outcomes.

Essantial Skills and Attributes 

Key skills and attributes required for the role are:

• Foundational knowledge of GIS and Remote Sensing principles, including raster and vector data processing.
• Familiarity with drone technology, imagery acquisition, and basic flight-planning concepts.
• Proficiency with geospatial software (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS Pro) and openness to learning cloud-based tools.
• Basic understanding of data management, geodatabases, and spatial quality control.
• Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving ability, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work in the field in remote, rugged landscapes while adhering to strict safety protocols.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate technical outputs into clear, actionable insights.
• Adaptability, curiosity, and a willingness to learn and take initiative in a rapidly scaling project environment.
• Collaborative mindset with an ability to work closely with multidisciplinary technical and operational teams.
• Valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel regularly within the Eastern and Western Cape restoration areas.

Qualifications

The position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Geography, Environmental Science, Geoinformatics, Surveying, Forestry, Natural Sciences, or a related discipline.  A Master’s degree in a geospatial, environmental, or remote sensing field is advantageous and will be considered favourably.

Prior exposure to UAV operations and familiarity with photogrammetry software (e.g., Pix4D, Agisoft Metashape) would be a plus 

Position Location

South Africa, Gqeberha.