Vacant Position – Technology Transfer Officer

SARAO; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 550,000 - 750,000; Full time

Job summary

SARAO invites applications for a Technology Transfer Officer to manage IP identification processes and support commercial exploitation of NRF innovations. The role collaborates with development teams and external markets to promote IP awareness and enable value capture.

Key duties include evaluating disclosures, advising on protection, and negotiating agreements; travel may be required locally and internationally.

Qualifications

• 2 years of relevant experience in technology management.
• Exposure to graduate training or internship in R&D, technology transfer or funding environments.
• Experience in technology commercialisation would be advantageous.
• Knowledge of the Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Funded Research and Development Act (51 of 2008) would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Stimulate awareness of IP issues and commercial opportunities; promote an entrepreneurial culture.
• Identify routes of IP exploitation; conduct novelty searches and business opportunities analysis.
• Provide input into IP protection, patent prosecution, and patentability with regards to commercialisation strategy.
• Apply appropriate agreements to protect and exploit IP from national facilities.
• Facilitate invention disclosures and evaluate technical feasibility and commercial viability for protection.
• Prepare IP communique and IP awareness workshops.
• Engage with IP law firms to enforce NRF IP rights.
• Structure and negotiate collaborative research agreements for IP exploitation.

Skills

Technology transfer

IP management

Technology commercialisation

Market analysis

Deal structuring

Project management

Funding sourcing

Education

Science or Engineering degree (NQF 7)

Law degree or IP management training (advantage)

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Contract type: Long Term Contract
Period of Contract: 3 years
Job Level: Skilled / Middle Management
Work Location: Cape Town, Western Cape

The National Research Foundation (NRF) supports and promotes research and human capital development through funding, the provision of National Research Facilities and science outreach platforms and programs to the broader community in all fields of science and technology, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities.

The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) implements South Africa’s strategic investments in radio astronomy, including the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, which covers a broad range of engineering and scientific activities. SARAO is a National Facility of the National Research Foundation, and incorporates radio astronomy and space geodesy instruments and programmes such as the MeerKAT telescope in the Karoo, the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) in Gauteng, the Africa Radio Astronomy Programme across nine African countries, as well as associated human capital development and commercialisation endeavours.

SARAO has an exciting opportunity for a Technology Transfer Officer responsible for managing intellectual property (IP) identification processes, including innovation disclosures capturing, providing necessary IP advice, reports, and protection of IP with potential for commercial exploitation, and promoting IP awareness by engaging directly and proactively with the development teams and the commercial market.

Key Responsibilities

• Stimulating awareness of IP issues and commercial opportunities, and encouraging an innovative and entrepreneurial culture.
• Identifying appropriate routes of IP exploitation, including conducting novelty searches and business opportunities analysis.
• In collaboration with the PIPO, providing input into IP protection, patent prosecution, and patentability as regards the considered commercialisation strategy.
• Applying appropriate agreements to facilitate the protection and exploitation of IP in cases of collaborative research.
• Facilitate invention disclosures and evaluate their technical feasibility and commercial viability to warrant protection.
• Prepare IP communique and facilitate IP awareness and workshops.
• Apply appropriate mechanisms for the protection of IP generated from national facilities.
• Develop strategies for preventing infringement of NRF IP.
• Engage with IP law firms to enforce IP rights of NRF.
• Structure and negotiate collaborative research for ease of IP commercialisation.

Key Requirements

Qualification

• NQF level 6 National Diploma / Degree in Science or Engineering (NQF Level 7) or equivalent.
• Degree in Law or Training in IP management and technology commercialisation would be highly advantageous.

Experience

• 2 years relevant experience in technology management
• Experience or Exposure to graduate in training or internship programme in a research and development, technology transfer, or technology development funding environment.
• Relevant experience in technology commercialisation would be advantageous.
• Good understanding of the Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Funded Research and Development Act (51 of 2008) would be advantageous.

Knowledge

• Technology analysis
• Market analysis
• Technology Transfer
• Technology Commercialisation
• Funding sourcing
• Deal structuring and negotiation
• Project and Time Management

Additional Notes

Desirable additional educational, work experience, and personal qualities:

• A valid drivers licence
• A proactive self-starter
• Good computer skills, including MS Office, etc.
• Ability to think laterally
• Good writing skills
• Good communication skills
• Stakeholder Management
• Willingness to travel locally and internationally, if required

Information

The website www.nrf.ac.za provides more details on the NRF initiatives and activities.

Closing Date: 02 November 2026

The NRF offers a challenging career and competitive remuneration package which is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The NRF is committed to employment equity and redress and the appointment to the position will be made in line with the NRF Employment Equity Plan.

The NRF reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Correspondence will be sent to short-listed candidates only.