CSIR Research Centre Manager Vacancies 2023 Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Jobs in Pretoria

Job Description

Key responsibilities:

Develop and implement a business plan for operation, sustainable growth, impact and robustness of area (including RDI strategy, goals, mission, HR, finances, technology transfer, Intellectual Property (IP) and commercialization);
Ensure relevance, resilience and performance of the Research Centre;
Ensure that research, technology and services remain aligned with the strategic mandate of the organization and strategy;
Lead the Research Centre’s business development and strategic stakeholder interactions (internally and externally);
Responsible for the financial sustainability of the Research Centre;
Develop world-class capabilities, cutting-edge infrastructure and skills development in line with global technology trends and industry needs;
Deliver world-class and globally competitive outputs, technology, products and services, as integrated solution(s) for industry or service challenge/opportunity/risks;
Manage an integrated and cross-cutting RDI portfolio that makes impact across clusters and divisions;
Ensure the Research Centre remains strategically relevant and aligned with the National System of Innovation agenda, as well as science and technology and industry trends;
Manage the Research Centre’s RDI groups;
Establish and service strategic alliances (institutional) according to RDI strategy;
Propose and/or contribute to the strategic investment plan and implement Parliamentary Grant, other grant-funded projects and programmes;
Establish and position the Research Centre brand (presence) as a world class national/international facility, with international exposure;
Establish and manage long term plans to develop, attract, nurture and sustain a national cohort of high-level scientific leadership and international talent and capability;
Identify, develop and nurture scarce skills for the domain;
Contribute to Divisional and Organisational Human Capital strategy;
Ensure staff development, performance management and strategic Human Capital Development to advance individual staff through their research careers, and ensure alignment with the Industrial Development Focus and National Science Strategy;
Provide strategic oversight and implement Human Capital Development (HCD) strategy for the purpose of developing highly skilled specialists in the relevant domain, this may include learnerships, pipeline development, bursaries, etc;
Establish HCD collaborations, networks and alliances (national/international);
Ensure demographic transformation of the Research Centre;
Ensure compliance to Health and Safety standards of all facilities, services and infrastructure;
Ensure implementation of quality initiatives;
Ensure SET outputs (productivity) and quality across a broad range of technology maturity;
Deliver on all KPIs of the area and ensure that all outputs are achieved, including transformation, profit and loss, quality, health, safety and environment as per agreed targets;
Implement and comply with appropriate financial, business and governance systems, including operational approvals;
In collaboration with the Business Development and Commercialization portfolio:
Drive the transfer of technology and solutions design to industry/user environment;
Create solutions for the needs of industry by integrating sector knowledge in multi-dimensional research and development programs in order to deliver industry aligned RDI;
Ensure delivery of solutions on brief, budget and time;
Package technologies for commercialisation or develop an “investment ready business” through financial modelling market assessment and business plan development.
Qualifications, skills and experience:

A Doctoral degree in mechanical / electronic / computer engineering / industrial engineering or related fields with at least ten years’ R&D experience with recognition as a world leader in science and technology;
Proven track record of leadership and strategic direction across the field(s) thereby influencing the trends in RDI with strategic national impact;
Ability to galvanize national and global funding;
Leading role in or having led large multi-disciplinary product development and/or service offering solution teams or research programmes;
Solid track record of appropriate national and international RDI engagement among peers;
Solid basket of RDI outcomes (publications, technology outputs, etc.);
Ability to understand, integrate, and provide technical leadership across all domains;
Ability to provide thought leadership and high level conceptualisation;
Ability to work independently as well as in teams;
Ability in HCD implementation and capacity development;
Interpersonal communication skills;
Business Development and financial acumen;
Excellent communication (verbal and written) and presentation skills;
Project and programme management experience including people, infrastructure, financial, planning and project / programme execution skills
Excellent, emotionally intelligent people management skills
Conflict management skills;
Decisiveness and action orientation;
An understanding of the research to market ‘innovation’ value chain.