Impact Area Manager at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job:

• The CSIR has a vacancy for an Impact Area Manager, in Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, within the Manufacturing Cluster of the Advanced Production and Security Division. The incumbent will be responsible to drive strategic impact within industry by means of research, development and transfer of technologies and integrated complete solutions to achieve the outcomes appropriate to the CSIR, division and cluster mandate and strategy. The incumbent will be responsible for leading research groups, service delivery and industry programmes, as well as drive the business development of the impact area, in collaboration with the business development and commercialisation portfolio.

Key responsibilities:

• In conjunction with the cluster leadership, contribute to cluster 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 in order 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 Doctoral degree in materials sciences or engineering, or related fields (Metallurgical / Mechanical / Industrial Engineering expertise with at least twelve years post PhD experience in RDI and/or Manufacturing. Eight years working experience in strategic leadership and/or business management at a senior level within the RDI sector;
• 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);
• Broad understanding of relevant technologies and their potential impact on competitiveness;
• SET capability building track record (HCD, R&D rigour and R&D infrastructure);

Closing date: 21 July 2025