Director National Institute for Theoretical Physics at Stellenbosch University

• Establishing the NITheCS as a national asset by leading the scientific and research themes of NITheCS and management of  NITheCS activities;
• Responsible for the strategic and operational functioning of the NITheCS ensuring contractual compliance with funders;
• Managing the NITheCS as a complex multi-campus, multi-institutional, multidisciplinary enterprise;
• Responsible for maintaining, deploying and achieving the Vision, Mission and Aims of NITheCS;
• Optimally implementing the governance, staffing, operational and financial management of the Institute¿s activities;
• Coordinating the implementation of the NITheCS Steering Committee, Management Committee, Scientific Advisory Committee and other necessary governance and operational structures;
• Building and maintaining constructive relationships between the NITheCS Consortium, universities, the research community, funding organisations, relevant government departments, decision-makers and the general public, and functioning as the point of contact for all strategic and contractual communications;
• Ensuring that the reputation and prestige of the NITheCS is maintained within South Africa, the rest of Africa, as well as globally;
• Research Ecosystem leadership: Through various channels of advocacy, motivate research institutions relevant to the NITheCS to strengthen research culture; and positively influence the National System of Innovation;
• Providing leadership and management to guide and motivate staff towards achieving large multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral teams to address scientific and policy challenges in the relevant disciplines or specialised fields of knowledge of the NITheCS;
• Ensuring the scientific development of a cohort of qualified and capable individuals in the relevant disciplines or specialised fields of knowledge of the NITheCS in the national context, and building an optimal succession pool for further advancement of the NITheCS;
• Demonstrating, through implementation, a commitment to excellence, diversity, inclusivity and socio-economic growth in all aspects of governance, research, human capital development,funding and internal management towards achieving multi-dimensional transformation by embracing equal opportunity and affirmative action;
• Establishing and facilitating a climate conducive to optimal research and maintaining your own active research programme;
• Lead the NITheCS'ss response to the National Development Plan (NDP), the Science, Technology and Innovation Decadal Plan 2022-2032, and other relevant national and international policies, strategies and grand challenge projects;
• Maintaining compliance with contractual and applicable institutional and government policies and procedures;
• Responsible for internationalising the research programme and linking it to other initiatives in Theoretical and Computational Sciences and the core thematic areas of the NITheCS in South Africa, the rest of Africa and globally;
• Monitoring industry and sectoral trends and the competitive landscape to identify new business opportunities relevant to the research and growth trajectory of the NITheCS;
• Identify and implement long-term methods to increase value through the development of new and strengthening of existing partnerships, as well as ensure that fit for purpose marketing strategies are developed to underpin and advance the growth trajectory of the NITheCS by identifying business development opportunities and segmenting those that will bring increased partnership benefits and revenue;
• Driving the efforts and strategies to ensure sustainability of the NITheCS beyond DSI-NRF funding. 

Job Requirements    

• A relevant Doctoral degree in one or more of the knowledge fields related to the focus of the NITheCS;
• An established researcher in the knowledge fields related to the focus of the NITheCS, with a significant and outstanding research track record, high international research standing, and has received recognition by peers;
• A full professor, or qualify to be appointed as a full professor benchmarked nationally, coupled with a demonstrable track record of at least ten years' achievement at senior level in a management or related capacity, including a proven track record of research management of similar multi-level or national institutes;  
• Has insight into and a proven track record of providing strategic leadership, with the ability to provide strategic leadership to the NITheCS Consortium, including shaping the focus areas, direction and research programmes of the NITheCS;
• Extensive experience of working with multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research teams;
• A proven track record of supervising postgraduate students, including PhD students, to completion; guiding and advising emerging researchers (postdoctoral research fellows) as well developing members of research and development teams working under his/her/their supervision during their progression to higher ranks of the career ladder;  
• A demonstrable understanding of dimensions of inequality and discrimination, including race, gender, sexual orientation and disability;
• Superior leadership and communication skills;
• In a position of authority to influence opinion leaders and decision-makers;
• An excellent understanding of corporate governance;
• A strong understanding of social and enterprise development;
• Proven experience in collaboration and networking, both locally and internationally, to develop and sustain appropriate partnerships and alliances is essential;
• Well-connected within academia, government, industry networks and related civil society organisations at a senior level;
• The ability to bring visibility to and enhance the profile of the NITheCS;
• A demonstrable understanding of the strategic importance of the basic sciences (i.e., the foundational disciplines in the natural sciences), as well as the ability to articulate this to decision-makers and potential funders;
• A proven track record in building and leading teams across multiple projects;
• A demonstrable entrepreneurial and innovative approach to research issues;
• A proven track record of generating sustainable external funds and diversifying revenue streams to pursue the strategic objectives of the NITheCS;
• Experience of ensuring the responsible management of finances and resources;
• Excellent knowledge of the science, research and policy ecosystem in South Africa, and the larger international context as it applies to the NITheCS;
• Familiar with South Africa's  public policy processes and public finance concepts;