Information Scientist at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for an Information Scientist in the Business Excellence and Integration Portfolio in the Knowledge Management and Information Services department. The incumbent will provide a subject specific, leading-edge information service to CSIR staff involved in research, development and innovation through utilisation of a wide variety of scientific and scholarly information resources, tools and networks. The incumbent will also play an integral role in research project teams by interacting with researchers in their domains and enable line staff to make informed decisions about future and existing projects through the provision of relevant information. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide relevant trusted information and data on science and industry to SET staff and to add value through the compilation of comprehensive scientific literature and systematic review reports after evaluation of the retrieved information.
• Conduct project relevant literature surveys, chemical structure/substructure searches, market research, competitive intelligence and advanced sector specific literature searches for CSIR staff.
• Carry out prior art searches, patent searches and contribute to the initial phase of the Freedom to Operate searches for all Divisions and Clusters in diverse scientific areas to ensure that inventions are novel, useful and not obvious to anybody skilled in the art.
• Encourage the implementation of innovative scholarly communication practices for scientific publications, identify tools useful at organisational level and contribute to research data management practices.
• Support and promote the CSIR policy regarding the dissemination of research outcomes, which includes advising researchers on Open Access publishing initiatives, read and publish agreements and the selection of suitable accredited publications in which to publish.
• Support research staff in managing their research profiles for more visibility in a changing scholarly landscape.
• Provide an in-depth information service that includes current awareness and environmental scanning services for specific scientific domains.
• Support and empower clients to confidently utilize CSIR information resources.
• Equip and empower users to make effective and efficient use of information resources at their disposal through the development and implementation of relevant end-user training courses.
• Market and promote information services and resources to internal clients
• Contribute towards successful implementation of Knowledge Management (KM) and Competitive / Business intelligence practices and strategies at Divisional and Cluster levels
• Introduce and implement new approaches and solutions that enable effectiveness and efficiency in the provision of KMIS services.
• Identify and were feasible apply emerging and innovative methods of enhancing access and delivery of scientific and academic information for researchers at the CSIR.
• Actively engage in continuous learning, attending relevant conferences, and workshops to stay informed about advancements in the respective scientific field
• Guide and mentor a team of Information Specialists and provide professional direction to KMIS staff and interns
• Participate externally, preferably in a leadership role, in professional area of expertise

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Postgraduate degree in a Life Sciences, Material Science or Engineering domain and/or postgraduate degree in Library and Information Science with at least five years’ experience in a scientific/research work environment, providing information services related to R&D initiatives.
• Research experience in a Life Sciences, Material Science or Engineering domain.
• Knowledge in the use of online information resources and retrieval systems and the use of advanced search methodologies.
• Ability to recognise and identify the patentability of intellectual property.
• Experience in client relationship building and stakeholder management
• All international qualifications require an evaluation report / certificate issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

Closing date: 09 April 2024