Group Executive: Mineral Processing & Characterisation - 5 year Fixed Term Contract

Mintek Pty Ltd.; Randburg; On-site; ZAR 2,500,000 - 3,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Mintek Pty Ltd. in Randburg seeks a Group Executive: Mineral Processing & Characterisation for a 5-year fixed term contract.

This senior role leads strategic direction, RDI strategy and operations, and drives commercialization and stakeholder engagement within the cluster. The role requires a Master’s in a relevant field (PhD preferred), 10+ years of experience including 5+ years in senior management, and proven ability to manage people, business development and IP commercialization.

Qualifications

• Ten years relevant experience or more, of which 5 years must be in a senior research management position in RDI and / or commercialisation.
• Significant relevant industry knowledge and experience.
• Experience in managing people.
• Track record in leading commercialisation of RDI outputs.
• Experience in national and international business engagement and operations management.
• Strategic development and implementation.
• Business Development.
• Technology and IP management and commercialization.
• Business and financial management.
• Leadership of people and operations management.
• Deep knowledge of one or more Discipline sectors in the Cluster.

Responsibilities

• Lead and provide strategic direction to the Cluster.
• Drive the Cluster RDI strategy and operations, support the Cluster business development and commercialization and ensure the execution of strategic programs.
• Drive the Cluster financial sustainability through effective operations.
• Balance the RDI portfolio funding and commercial targets as agreed in the Cluster.
• Ensure that there are effective inter discipline collaborations and collaborations between Clusters to ensure that targets are met.
• Ensure that the Cluster revenue streams are diverse.
• Ensure that the core RDI Cluster and Discipline plans are aligned with Mintek’s strategy and the needs of the Cluster market.
• Ensure that the Cluster and Disciplines are adequately resourced, with a particular focus on SET staff and resources and succession planning.
• Drive the transformation agenda in the Cluster, ensure EE and gender balance throughout the cluster.
• Contribute to the refinement and development of the Mintek strategy and plans.
• Deliver on the Cluster KPI’s.
• Undertake performance management for the Cluster.
• Ensure that systems and tools are in place to monitor and measure the delivery of RDI activities.
• Risk identification and implementation of management plans and actions for the Cluster’s operations and RDI activities, including SHEQ.
• Adhere to all Mintek’s policies and ethics.
• High level stakeholder engagement, including stakeholder management and satisfaction for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Reporting on all RDI projects in the Cluster from own management information.
• Commercialisation and technology transfer management.

Skills

Strategic leadership

People management

Stakeholder engagement

Commercialisation

Technology and IP management

Business development

Financial management

Education

Master in relevant scientific field

PhD in relevant scientific field

Job description

Group Executive: Mineral Processing & Characterisation - 5 year Fixed Term Contract

Listing reference: minte_000437

Listing status: Online

Apply by: 30 July 2026

Position summary

Industry: Scientific, Research & Development

Job category: Research and Development

Location: Randburg

Contract: Fixed Term Contract

Remuneration: Market Related

EE position: Yes

Introduction

Mandate:

• To lead and provide strategic direction to the Cluster.
• To ensure alignment with the Cluster strategy with the needs, trends and opportunities in the cluster related industries.
• To maintain a balanced cluster RDI portfolio.
• To be accountable for the Cluster sustainability, including financial, human resources, SHEQ, risks and delivery.
• To be accountable for the impact of the Cluster in terms of Mintek’s mandate.
• To be accountable for the performance and management of the Cluster.
• To lead high level stakeholder engagements with industry, HEI’s, public sector and international entities.
• To ensure that the internal state grant funding is effectively invested and leveraged to maximise impact in terms of strategic goals, leveraging of funding and commercial impact.

LEADERSHIP

• Ethical leadership
• Live the Mintek values, foster a culture of collaboration within Mintek

STRATEGY

• Drive the Cluster RDI strategy and operations, support the Cluster business development and commercialization and ensure the execution of strategic programs.

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

• Drive the Cluster financial sustainability through effective operations.
• Balance the RDI portfolio funding and commercial targets as agreed in the Cluster.
• Ensure that there are effective inter Discipline collaborations and collaborations between Clusters to ensure that targets are met.
• Ensure that the Cluster revenue streams are diverse.

PEOPLE AND PLANNING

• Ensure that the core RDI Cluster and Discipline plans are aligned with Mintek’s strategy and the needs of the Cluster market.
• Ensure that the Cluster and Disciplines are adequately resourced, with a particular focus on SET staff and resources and succession planning.
• Drive the transformation agenda in the Cluster, ensure that there is employment equity and gender balance throughout the cluster.
• Contribute to the refinement and development of the Mintek strategy and plans.

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

• Deliver on the Cluster KPI’s.
• Undertake performance management for the Cluster.
• Ensure that systems and tools are in place to monitor and measure the delivery of RDI activities.

GOVERNANCE AND RISK

• Risk identification and implementation of management plans and actions for the Cluster’s operations and RDI activities, including SHEQ.
• Adhere to all Mintek’s policies and ethics.

RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING

• High level stakeholder engagement, including stakeholder management and satisfaction for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Reporting on all RDI projects in the Cluster from own management information.
• Commercialisation and technology transfer management.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master in a relevant scientific field relating to the Cluster Disciplines (Analytical Chemistry, Mineralogy, Mineral Processing)
• Ideal: PhD relevant scientific field relating to the Cluster Disciplines

JOB KNOWLEDGE AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Ten years relevant experience or more, of which 5 years must be in a senior research management position in RDI and / or commercialisation.
• Significant relevant industry knowledge and experience.
• Experience in managing people.
• Track record in leading commercialisation of RDI outputs.
• Experience in national and international business engagement and operations management.
• Strategic development and implementation.
• Business Development.
• Technology and IP management and commercialization.
• Business and financial management.
• Leadership of people and operations management.
• Deep knowledge of one or more Discipline sectors in the Cluster

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Excellent numerical and quantitative skills
• Good management and leadership skills
• Strategic thinking
• Ability to multitask
• Ability to get things done
• Ability to lead by example

COMPETENCY REQUIRED

• Strategic development and implementation.
• Ability to lead diverse teams.
• Business Development.
• Technology and IP management and commercialization.
• Business and financial management.
• Leadership of people and operations management.
• Deep knowledge of one or more sectors in the Cluster.