Intellectual Property Practitioner at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job:

• The CSIR has a vacancy for an Intellectual Property Practitioner in the Business Excellence and Integration Portfolio. The successful incumbent will provide technical, administrative, and professional assistance for the management, identification, protection and commercialisation of CSIR Intellectual Property. The position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Assist in the development and implementation of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer policy and procedures.
• Review benefit sharing submissions for compliance and make recommendations for approval.
• Provide support and assistance to the Specialist: IPM&TT to ensure CSIR compliance with the IPRPFRD Act. 
• Draft reports to the National IP Management Office (NIPMO) for sign-off by the Specialist: IPM&TT. 
• Coordinate IP Fund rebate submissions for the CSIR.
• Keep up with the changes in external landscape (legislation) and provide inputs to the Specialist: IPM & TT on effect on the organisation
• Conduct benchmarking studies on best practices in IP Management.
• Provide training in IPR Act compliance to CSIR staff.
• Provide support to CSIR stakeholders (e.g., Cluster/Centre, Legal & Compliance, etc) on technology disclosure process, patenting, reporting on all matters relating to IP and technology transfer activities.
• Liaise with patent law firms corresponding with different CSIR entities and refer matters to the relevant parties.
• Identify challenges in the CSIR environment and suggest solutions for ensuring a conducive environment for effective IP and technology transfer activities.
• Coordinate regular IP Management meetings with BD&C Commercialisation Managers (minutes, documentation and agendas) and take responsibility for distributing relevant documents for signature/action/ information.
• Manage commercialisation agreement records.
• Ensure efficient administration and recording of all CSIR IP.
• Maintain project activity records for technology disclosures.
• Review and comment on IP provisions in research agreements, NDAs, MTAs, etc. as required.
• Responsible for populating and maintaining an information management system to record and track the CSIR IP and technology transfer activities.
• Assist in the commissioning/updating of the Information Management System (IMS) and liaison with service providers.
• Provide training in IMS to CSIR staff in their use of IMS and provide line assistance.
• Act as custodian for the IMS (including routine maintenance and centralised data capturing).
• Compile information records and detailed reports on CSIR IP statistics and participate in the organisational reporting process.
• Maintain records of CSIR patents and initiate reminders of due dates for patent prosecution and maintenance.
• Coordinate the CSIRs patent administration activities.
• Report on CSIRs IP management activities and efficiencies therein.
• Follow up and initiate next steps according to project activity records.
• Assist in project management of IP related work derived from the Clusters and Research Centres.
• Maintain IP and TT project activity records and files ¿ both paper and electronic.
• Provide assistance to the Specialist: IPM&TT and other members of the IP&TT Office in support of their activities.
• Perform prior art searches on IP and patent information.
• Assist IP&TT Practitioners with desktop market research studies.
• Assist with IP&TT events managed by the IP&TT Office.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Bachelors degree in Science Engineering, Technology, Commerce or Law with at least five years experience of which two years must be in an IP, technology transfer, information, or research management domain.
• Knowledge of IP in relation to R&D.
• Attention to detail.
• Deadline driven.
• Ability to integrate and apply skills across multiple disciplines.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills.
• People skills.
• Ability to interact with people at all levels within the CSIR and externally.
• Exposure to the South African National System of innovation and South African Industrial Sector.
• Substantial understanding and awareness of intellectual property management and the IPR Act.
• A working knowledge of the international patent system, including the procedures and the time-lines and applicable types of expense in each phase. 
• Project administration skills.

Whats 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: 14 April 2026