Business Development Manager

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) invites applications for a Business Development Manager in Pretoria. You will lead market intelligence, identify key clients, and develop partnerships across Defence and Security to convert opportunities into secured contracts and revenue streams.

Raising business cases, assessing commercial viability, and managing stakeholder relationships are core, with time spent at CSIR campuses to engage with clusters and teams.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in engineering with Defence and Security focus.
• Experience in business development activities for defence/security markets.
• Evidence of international contract negotiations and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Lead market intelligence and opportunity qualification across Defence and Security sectors.
• Drive business case origination, licensing, and de-risking of opportunities.
• Manage internal/external stakeholders and secure contracts in key initiatives.

Skills

Market analysis

Contract negotiations

International business development

Stakeholder management

Business development lifecycle

Education

Master's degree in engineering

MBA or related qualification

Job description

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is a leading scientific and technology research organisation that research, develops, localises and diffuses technologies to accelerate socio-economic prosperity in South Africa. The organisation's work contributes to industrial development and supports a capable state. The CSIR has a vacancy for a Business Development Manager in the

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is a leading scientific and technology research organisation that develops, localises and diffuses technologies to accelerate socio-economic prosperity in South Africa. The organisation's work contributes to industrial development and supports a capable state. The CSIR is an entity of the Department of Science and Innovation.

Business Development Manager

About The Job

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Business Development Manager within the Business Development and Commercialisation (BD&C) office that supports the Advanced Production and Security Division. The incumbent will undertake local and international business development activities within designated areas for the respective market-facing sector clusters of Defence and Security throughout the business development lifecycle (ie. pre-leads to leads to prospects to secured sales) as per frameworks, guidelines and processes set out by the business development and commercialisation office. This will involve industry-specific market and sector analysis, identification of key and strategic clients, development of critical partnerships and the packaging and de-risking of business opportunities that are offered by the division. They will furthermore manage customer satisfaction and represent client interests in specific domains in project delivery.

The position reports to the Business Development and Commercialisation Executive of the Division.

The position is based in Pretoria and the incumbent will be expected to spend significant time at the CSIR campus engaging with the different clusters.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development Leadership

• Analysis and application of industry value chains, including product development value chains and respective applications of digital twinning solutions;
• Market intelligence and analysis;
• Business case origination;
• Investment analysis;
• Requirements analysis;
• Classification of leads and prospects;
• Assessment and maturity auditing of Divisional capabilities applicable to requirements from leads and prospects in the designated areas;
• Assessment, gap analysis and technology evaluation of cluster technologies in line with market requirements;
• Identify clients and opportunities for the existing technology portfolio within designated areas;
• Business case evaluation for licensing of technologies;
• High-level packaging and de-risking of market opportunities;
• Developing and costing of proposals in conjunction with the relevant CSIR Impact Area teams, external partners, and clients/funders;
• Internal and external stakeholder analysis;
• Securing contracts in the following domain initiatives:
  • RD&I Partnerships
  • Technology Platforms
  • Joint Development Partnerships
  • External grants
  • Innovation investments through a variety of innovation funders (Technology Innovation Agency, Industrial Development Council, Development Bank of SA, etc. )
  • Commercialisation investments with application in direct & indirect commercialisation opportunities
• Grow diversification income for the designated areas (private, public and international) through specific revenue streams (eg. contract R&D, royalty income);
• Pipeline development and management for the designated areas (leads to prospects to secured sales) with set targets;
• Leading of technology transfer initiatives for the designated areas;
• Application of system's approach on converting requirements to solutions through:
  • Research & requirement definitions;
  • Solution definitions & conceptualisation;
  • Solutions development;
  • Test evaluations & qualifications; and
  • Solution integration and acceptance.
• Internal and external stakeholder management.

Additional Business Development Office Projects

• Monthly and quarterly reporting of all activities of the office within the designated areas.
• Updating the existing suite of BD&C processes, frameworks and guidelines and establishment of new process that may be required.
• Provision of reporting information at CSIR level.
• BD&C strategy and plans.
• Strategic research and development programs and related plans.

Qualifications, Skills And Experience

• A Master's degree in engineering with the following requirements in the Defence and Security Industry:
  • At least ten years' experience in research and technology development
  • At least ten years' experience in business development activities
  • At least five years' experience in international business development activities with a proven track record of successful contracting with international clients
• MBA or post-graduate business development qualification will be an added advantage;
• Evidence of solid domain expertise in:
  • Business development lifecycle activities;
  • System engineering and system integration;
  • International contract negotiations, and
  • Working interfaces of a research technology organisation.
• Evidence of high-level stakeholder management, and industry domain related networks.
• Experience in the following areas:
  • Contract management
  • Systems engineering
  • Project management
  • Process management
  • Capability development
  • Marketing of capabilities
  • Market analysis
• Track record in the formulation and securing of contract R&D contracts.
• Competence in:
  • Business acumen
  • Financial management
  • Enterprise risk management
  • Domain related technical knowledge and know-how
  • Complexity management
  • Strategy implementation
  • Dealing with abstract concepts

Closing date: 29 October 2026

PLEASE NOTE THAT FEEDBACK WILL BE GIVEN TO SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES ONLY.

For more info, please mail us at [e-mail] Please do-not send your application to this mailbox, it is only for inquiries.

The CSIR is an equal opportunity employer. As such, it is committed to the Employment Equity Act of 1998. By applying for this position at the CSIR, the applicant understands, consents, and agrees that the CSIR may solicit a credit and criminal report from a registered credit bureau and/or SAPS (in relation to positions that require trust and honesty and/or entail the handling of cash or finances) and may also verify the applicant's educational qualifications and employment history.

The CSIR reserves the right to remove the advertisement before the stated closing date and it further reserves the right not to appoint if a suitable candidate is not identified.