Impact Area Manager Landward Sciences

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 80 000 - 120 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research organization in South Africa seeks an Impact Area Manager: Landward Sciences to provide strategic and technical leadership. The role includes managing research groups, driving operational growth, and developing industry partnerships. Required qualifications include a Master’s degree with extensive experience in strategic leadership, especially within the RDI sector. This position offers a hybrid work arrangement and competitive remuneration packages, fostering both personal and professional development.

Benefits

Flexible hybrid work arrangement

Learning and development opportunities

Competitive remuneration packages

Pension fund and medical scheme contributions

Recognition through CSIR Excellence Awards

Qualifications

• 8+ years experience in a senior leadership role within the RDI sector.
• Strong understanding of industry competitiveness drivers.
• Track record in SET capability building.

Responsibilities

• Lead research, development, and implementation (RDI) strategy.
• Drive financial sustainability and funding attraction.
• Oversee staff development and alignment with industry needs.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Business management

RDI project leadership

Engagement with Defence Industry

Sustainable growth

Stakeholder interaction

Education

Master’s degree in science, engineering or related fields

Doctoral degree (advantageous)

Job description

Overview

The CSIR is a leading scientific and technology research organisation that researches, develops, localises and diffuses technologies to accelerate socio-economic prosperity in South Africa. The CSIR has a vacancy for an Impact Area Manager: Landward Sciences in the Defence and Security Cluster. The incumbent will be responsible for the provision of strategic and technical leadership to the research groups, including people management, business development, financial sustainability and operations management. This position is based in Pretoria and will report to the Executive Cluster Manager.

For more information about the CSIR and the cluster, please visit https://www.csir.co.za and https://www.csir.co.za/defence-and-security

Key Responsibilities

• In conjunction with the cluster leadership, contribute to research, development and implementation (RDI) strategy.
• Provide and coordinate strategic leadership within the Impact Area.
• Develop, provide and motivate capacity to deliver on the cluster's strategy.
• Integrate complete solutions aligned with the focus of the Impact Area.
• Develop and implement appropriate components of cluster research, development and innovation (RDI) strategy with specific sub-sectors and specific impacts.
• Contribute to strategic investment goal setting for the cluster and development of an RDI strategy for the Impact Area.
• Drive and implement a business plan for operation, sustainable growth and impact.
• Drive staff development through strategic Human Capital development initiatives to advance individuals through their research careers, to ensure alignment with industrial needs.
• Promote high quality science, engineering and technology (SET) expertise and develop appropriate SET capacity and profiles.
• In collaboration with business development and commercialisation portfolio:
  • Drive the transfer of technology and solutions to industry/user environments.
  • Drive and implement the business development and commercialisation strategy.
  • Package technologies for commercialization and/or develop and "investment ready business" through financial modelling, market assessment and business development.
• Lead strategic stakeholder interaction, internal and external - including international collaborations.
• Establish and service strategic alliances (institutional) according to RDI strategy.
• Drive the financial sustainability of the Impact Area and attract funding.
• Integrate sector knowledge in multidimensional research and development programmes to deliver industry aligned RDI, through deep understanding of the industry needs.
• Propose and/or contribute to the strategic investment plan and implement Parliamentary Grant, other grant-funded projects and programmes.
• Drive SET outputs and quality, which includes:
  • Industry applications - support to SMME, products and prototypes developed, technologies localised and diffused, new patents granted, new licenses, new companies formed, industry standards and capable state (technology development, acquisition and use dimension), etc.
• Deliver on all KPIs of the area and ensure 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.

Qualifications, Skills And Experience

• A Master’s degree in science, engineering or related fields with at least eight years' experience in strategic leadership and/or business management at a senior level within the RDI sector.
• A Doctoral degree would be advantageous.
• Experience and skills in RDI project leadership.
• Solid track record of:
  • Engagement with target sector on strategic level and understanding of industry competitiveness drivers (product and manufacturing).
  • Engagement and understanding of South African Defence Industry and South African National Defence Force.
  • Broad understanding of relevant technologies and their potential impact on competitiveness.
  • SET capability building track record (HCD, R&D rigour and R&D infrastructure).

What's in it for you?

The CSIR Offers

• Flexible hybrid work arrangement;
• Learning and development opportunities.
• Competitive and market-related remuneration packages.
• Total guaranteed salary packages which encompass contributions to the pension fund, risk insurance and medical scheme.
• We openly acknowledge and reward our employees' contributions and accomplishments through our esteemed CSIR Excellence Awards.

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

For more info, please contact the CSIR Recruitment Centre on 012 841 4774 or email [e-mail]

The CSIR is an equal opportunity employer. As such, it is committed to the Employment Equity Act and will through the filling of this vacancy, give preference to candidates from designated groups in terms of the Employment Equity Act. By applying for this position at the CSIR, the applicant understands, and agrees that the CSIR may solicit a credit and criminal report from registered credit bureau and/or South African Police Services (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 qualification and employment history.

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