Principal Researcher: Logistics and Supply Chain Engineering at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job:

The CSIR has an opportunity for a Principal Researcher: Logistics and Supply Chain Engineering within the Smart Mobility Cluster. The incumbent will provide strategic and technical leadership in the newly established area of Smart Logistics Management and position the CSIR locally and internationally to be responsive to the needs of key industries. The incumbent will also be expected to lead the development and localisation of information and technology platforms in the transport sector, within the logistics and supply chain management domain, to support industrial development. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership in the development of the logistics and supply chain engineering research competence;
• Provide technical leadership in the development and harnessing of knowledge and technology to create industry responsive solutions in logistics and supply chain engineering;
• Develop effective partnerships and industry collaborations;
• Lead business development and be responsible for the generation of proposals to attract sustainable funding;
• Lead projects and large scale programmes;
• Coordinate and productively work within a team that addresses current and future challenges related to national and regional logistics and supply chain performance; and
• Coach and mentor junior staff members.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• Masters’ degree in industrial engineering, operations research, economics or logistics management, with at least eight years’ experience in leading technical research in the field of logistics and supply chain engineering;
• A track record in attracting and securing funding to support a team and formulating strategies;
• A track record spanning over five years leading the generation of industry reference reports or policy in the area of logistics and supply chain engineering;
• Registration with a relevant professional body;
• Good understanding of the logistics and supply chain sector in South Africa;
• A good understanding of national logistics challenges, across different sectors of the economy and differently resourced environments;
• An understanding of the application of modelling approaches and methods, including simulation modelling, optimisation, macroeconomic modelling, and others;
• Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills;
• Ability to continuously disseminate research outputs in the form of technical papers;
• Ability to innovate and generate new knowledge;
• Must have good communication, presentation and writing skills;
• Must have the ability to work accurately, efficiently and independently as well as in a team;
• Must be computer literate as well as have the ability to understand and use domain specialised software;
• Ability to work in a methodical manner is essential;
• Ability to carry out strategic stakeholder interactions at all levels;
• Ability to effectively present ideas, concepts, plan and procedures; and
• Demonstrated track record of the ability to work accurately, independently and efficiently.

Closing date: 28 March 2024