Junior Project Support (10 Months Contract) at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About The Job

• The CSIR has an internship opportunity in Climate Change, to support the implementation of a GIZ-CSIR contract titled: ¿Technical write-up of climate change response strategies and implementation plans for provinces and local municipalities¿. The successful candidate will be placed within the Climate Services Research Group in the Smart Places Cluster. This position is based in Pretoria.

About The Research Group

• The Climate Services research group undertakes directed climate change research on climate change mitigation and adaptation responses at different spatial scales (e.g. catchment area, biome, facility level) so as to support government and industry towards low carbon and climate resilient development in South Africa and in Southern Africa.
• Specifically, the Research Group provides analyses of climate risks, climate policy, climate change impacts and climate change responses across socio-economic sectors. Services and products provided by the Research Group include crop modelling, species distribution modelling, agro-hydrological modelling, greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, low carbon emission strategies, resource constraints trade-offs, reporting on national commitments to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), decision support tools (e.g. vulnerability atlas) and information and communication technologies (e.g., spatial information systems, GIS, web mapping and remote sensing).

Key Responsibilities

• Project Coordination, Reporting, and Delivery support for the implementation of the ¿Technical write-up of climate change response strategies and implementation plans for provinces and local municipalities¿ project:
• Support effective communication and coordination between CSIR, DFFE, GIZ, municipalities, and other relevant stakeholders including participation in meetings and calls to ensure timely delivery of milestones.
• Contribute to the planning and organization of virtual and in-person project-related events such as stakeholder consultation workshops and partner meetings and compile follow-up documents;
• Serve as a liaison with the DFFE team to leverage data and information from municipalities participating in this project.
• Assist in the preparation of project reports, technical documents, and internal updates to support funder reporting requirements.

Qualifications, Skills And Experience

• A Bachelor¿s degree in a relevant subject such as environmental science, environmental studies, or similar;
• Experience with MS Office,
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
• Strong research, analytical thinking, reporting, and concise writing skills;
• Exposure related to local government operations will be an advantage.
• Experience coordinating virtual or in-person events, and workshops.
• Thrive in a collaborative, international environment and take initiative in shaping impactful outcomes;
• An excellent communicator and be able to create content for diverse audiences;
• Show high interest and enthusiasm for working with multiple stakeholders;
• Self-motivated, with a positive and proactive attitude, as well as excellent interpersonal skills;
• Well organized, attentive to details, maintains quality delivery, and act with honesty and accountability in all tasks;
• Strong ability and willingness to work as part of a team, as well as working independently;
• Demonstrate flexibility and the ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities, contexts, and emerging opportunities in a fast-paced environment;
• Capacity to bring new ideas and contribute meaningfully to project ideation beyond the current portfolio of the team;
• Maintain cultural sensitivity and has a deep understanding and respect for diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

What¿s in it for you?
The CSIR Offers

• Flexible hybrid work arrangement;
• Learning and development opportunities.
• Competitive and market-related remuneration packages.

The Application Should Include

• A detailed CV.
• Certified copies of your academic transcripts/record of results.
• A one-page letter of motivation explaining your interest in this position.