Programme Manager

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

Benefits offered by this job

Learning and development opportunities

Market-related remuneration packages

Total guaranteed salary packages

Job summary

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria invites applications for the role of Programme Manager: Critical Minerals Programme within the Mining Cluster. You will lead the Programme Management Office, guiding a multi-disciplinary team to deliver technology innovation, governance, and impact across critical mineral value chains.

The role demands senior leadership, strategic planning, and strong stakeholder engagement with national and international partners to advance

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering (Mining, Metallurgy, Chemical, Mechanical) or Physical/Chemical Sciences.
• Registered (or eligible) as a Professional Engineer (ECSA) or Professional Natural Scientist (SACNASP) will be advantageous.
• At least 10 years' progressive experience in managing large-scale, multi-disciplinary technical or R&D programmes.
• Minimum 5 years in a senior leadership capacity managing professional project managers and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience managing public-sector funding portfolios exceeding PFMA thresholds is desirable.
• Proven track record of establishing or scaling national or international technology programmes.
• Experience reporting to executive boards or steering committees.
• SAQA evaluation for international qualifications where applicable.

Responsibilities

• Implement and adapt the 3-year Business Plan and develop a medium- to long-term strategy for CAMP sustainability.
• Structure and operate the PMO systems with SEMPs and project execution frameworks.
• Direct and supervise daily activities of the BD Practitioner and Programme Administrator.
• Ensure alignment of deliverables with national strategies (e.g. Critical Minerals Strategy, DSTI Decadal Plan, NDP).
• Oversee operational and technical working teams and the judging panel.
• Attract multiple funding streams from public and private sectors.

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 Programme Manager in the

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (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 organisation's work contributes to industrial development and supports a capable state.

Programme Manager: Critical Minerals Programme

Three-year contract, subject to yearly renewal

About The Job

The CSIR has a vacancy for Programme Manager: Critical Minerals Programme in the Mining Cluster. The mining Cluster is seeking a Programme Manager to join their leadership team, the successful candidate will provide executive, strategic, and operational leadership for the 3-year Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) Critical Minerals Programme (CAMP). Reporting to the CSIR Mining Cluster Executive Manager and Steering Committee, the incumbent heads the Programme Management Office, supervising the Business Development Practitioner and Administrator, while leading a multi-disciplinary team across critical mineral value chains. Key objectives include technology advancement, ecosystem building, digital and sustainable innovation, and programme governance.

This position is based in Pretoria and reports to Executive Cluster Manager - CSIR Future Production: Mining.

For more info about the cluster, please visit https://www.csir.co.za/future-production-mining.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement and adapt the 3-Year Business Plan and develop a medium- to long-term strategy for the sustainability of the Critical Minerals Programme (CAMP);
• Structure and operate the Programme Management Office (PMO) systems, establishing Systems Engineering Management Plans (SEMP) and project execution frameworks;
• Direct and supervise the daily activities of the BD Practitioner and Programme Administrator;
• Ensure alignment of programme deliverables with national strategies (e.g. Critical Minerals Strategy, DSTI Decadal Plan, National Development Plan.);
• Oversee the Operational and Technical working teams (Researchers and SMMEs) and the Judging Panel;
• Attract multiple funding streams across public and private sector partners with the Business Development Practitioner.

Multi-tier Governance

• Serve as the primary operational secretariat to the Programme Steering Committee and the Technical Advisory Board;
• Prepare and present technical progress reports and meeting packs for the Steering Committees, Technical Advisory Board and for the Client;

Proposal Development And Contracting

• Oversee the development of proposal documentation for collaborative RDI projects and grant applications;
• Develop and present proposals to potential collaborators and funders;
• Oversee the contracting of projects from inception, through routing and sign-off.

Financial Management

• Strategically manage the overall programme 3-Year Budget in strict compliance with the PFMA;
• Oversee line-item expenditures, financial auditing, budget reallocations, income declarations, and milestone-based SMME grant drawdowns with CSIR/TIA finance teams;
• Align multiple funding streams across public and private sector partners.

Technical Execution And Impact Delivery

• Oversee the parallel execution of Phase 1 Strategic Assessments (7 Critical Minerals), Phase 2 SMME Acceleration, and Phase 3 Digital Platform development;
• Ensure technical quality assurance on all situation sketches, gap analysis reports, and field pilot trial protocols;
• Drive the achievement of host mine trial targets (energy, safety, decarbonisation, ESG).

Stakeholder Engagement, Networking And Lobbying

• Build and maintain a strong stakeholder network across government, science councils, universities, and industry;
• Actively participate in stakeholder forums and conferences related to Critical Minerals and mining technologies;
• Secure mine access agreements with mining houses for real-world technology testing;
• Strategically identify and enable coordination of marketing, research and awareness activities;
• Stimulate and manage project pipeline development, create opportunities to profile the programme in national and international events;
• Provide know-how regarding other investments existing in the related technical areas and write motivation reports for investment decisions.

Commercialisation, IP & Co-funding Crowding-in

• Enforce strict compliance with the IPR-PFRD Act 51 of 2008, supervising the execution of licensing and benefit-sharing deals;
• Position CAMP as a long-term national platform, actively pitching to crowd-in follow-on capital from DFIs (IDC, DBSA, NEF), international donors (World Bank, IFC, EU), and mining houses;
• Promote transformation by ensuring equitable grant access for black-, women-, and youth-owned technology SMMEs.

Qualifications, Skills And Experience

• Master's Degree (NQF 9) (or studying towards) in Engineering (Mining, Metallurgy, Chemical, Mechanical) or Physical/Chemical Sciences.
• Registered (or eligible for registration) as a Professional Engineer (ECSA) or Professional Natural Scientist (SACNASP) will be advantageous.
• At least 10 years' progressive experience in managing large-scale, multi-disciplinary technical, or R&D programmes within a national system of innovation, mining, or state-owned environment.
• Minimum 5 years in a senior leadership capacity managing professional project managers, technical leads, and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated track record in managing public-sector funding portfolios exceeding R30 million under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
• Proven track record of successfully establishing, running, or scaling national or international technology programmes.
• Substantive experience reporting to executive boards, steering committees, or ministerial stakeholders.
• All international qualifications require an evaluation report / certificate issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• In-depth knowledge of mining sector trends, critical minerals (PGMs, Manganese, Chrome, Copper, etc.), and mining technologies and innovations.
• Mastery of project management systems, Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP) frameworks, financial auditing, income forecasting, and PFMA compliance.
• Board Governance & Lobbying: Exceptional capability to operate governance structures, manage conflicting funder requirements, and lobby government/industry for strategic alignment.
• Strong understanding of technology readiness (TRL), commercial due diligence, valuation, and the IPR-PFRD Act 51 of 2008.
• Demonstrates an established entrepreneurial mindset, strategic vision, and decisive leadership with the resilience, high emotional intelligence, and executive diplomacy needed to navigate complex public-private ecosystems while maintaining uncompromised ethical integrity and PFMA compliance.
• Excellent technical writing and presentation skills, with attention to detail.

What's in it for you?

The CSIR Offers

• 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.

Closing date: 23 September 2026

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 us at [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 requires 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.