Operations Manager - Advanced Agri and Food at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job: 

• The CSIR has a vacancy for Operations Manager in the Advanced Agriculture Food Cluster. The incumbent will be responsible for creating an effective and efficient Cluster level operations environment to enable the delivery and achievement of short-term operational goals and targets and efficient day-to-day operations.
• Ensuring that operations are effectively managed and resources efficiently aligned to deliver value.  
• Overseeing the SHEQ and risk management activities and facilitating engagements with Shared Services staff.  This position is based in Pretoria
• For more information about the cluster https://www.csir.co.za/Advanced Agriculture Food

Key responsibilities:

• Drive Cluster Operations together with Cluster Executive, Impact Area and Research Centre Managers and relevant Project Managers;
• Ensure the integration of Cluster level business operations considerations for effective and efficient delivery;
• Responsible for the development and implementation of systems and processes to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the business operations of cluster;
• Coordinate resources to perform overall business operations including support functions in collaboration with Cluster Executive, Impact Area and Research Centre Managers and relevant Project Managers;
• Oversee the quality operations of the business operations related solutions, plans and reports for the relevant clusters in collaboration with Cluster Executive, Impact Area and Research Centre Managers and relevant Project Managers;
• Contribute to the budgeting process in collaboration with Finance, line management and Business Development and Commercialisation portfolio;
• Monitor Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with central portfolios;
• Develop, improve and maintain business systems including quality;
• Exchange information, track service delivery progress and quality, assist with service improvement efforts and report progress to Divisional Operations Manager and Cluster Executive;
• Track delivery and ensure achievement of short-term operational performance goals against targets for clusters; 
• Accountable for risk management including Health and Safety in the cluster;
• Coordinate internal and external audits within the division.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• An Honours degree in agriculture, biology, chemistry, food science, process engineering and related field or management domain, with at least five years experience in a complex, multi-projects and matrix type environment with a solid track record in the following
• Operational planning and implementation;
• Solid understanding of business planning and regulatory issues;
• Project and programme management;
• Business and finance management;
• A solid grasp of data analysis and performance metrics, for informed decision-making.
• A post-graduate qualification in Business Administration will be advantageous;
• Relevant certification or accreditation in operations management will be advantageous;
• All international qualifications require an evaluation report / certificate issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). 

The incumbent should have: 

• Organisational skills;
• Project and portfolio management;
• Excellent communicator with strong business understanding ¿ both verbal and written;
• Financial Management;
• Enterprise risk management;
• Stakeholder Relationship Management;
• Business development;
• Ability to diagnose problems quickly and have foresight into potential issues;
• Advance MS Office suite, including presentations.