Project/Contract Manager: Information and Cyber Security Centre at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Project/Contract Manager in the Information and Cyber Security Research Centre, within the Defence and Security cluster. In collaboration with Centre’s Management Team, the incumbent will be responsible to identify, secure, coordinate, and manage strategic contracts and projects initiatives that will ensure the growth and sustainability of the Centre and clients’ satisfaction. The position also involves overseeing the financial and technical administration of large projects in the Centre to ensure projects are executed and completed on brief, on budget and on time. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Initiate and develop project proposals working with research Groups in the Centre;
• Coordinate and manage secured sales and leads register of the Centre;
• Coordinate contract negotiations, routing and signing-off of contracts and/or agreements with diverse cohort of clients in the private and public sector;
• Manage existing and new contracts in the Centre including stakeholder/client engagements following CSIR contract management frameworks;
• Provide regular updates on status of contracts/projects to the Information and Cyber Security Centre management team and Cluster when required;
• Track project risks and resources productivity (timesheets) including monitoring of resource levelling across different projects;
• Oversee financial declarations and invoicing on contracts on monthly basis;
• Support Centre’s budget planning and financial management of projects based on signed contracts and/or Centre’s strategic projects;
• Collaborate with Research Group Leaders, Centre Manager, and Business Development and Commercialisation to identify opportunities for new clients and new areas of business;
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the Centre’s strategy including supporting marketing and business development initiatives;
• Provide mentoring and coaching to project coordinators and/or administrators, including managing their career development.

Qualifications, skills, and experience:

• An Honours degree in computer science/engineering, information technology or equivalent with at least five years’ experience in research, technology development, operations management, project management, contract management, and/or leadership of technical projects including people;
• During the above years of experience, record of:
• Project and technical management;
• People and performance management;
• Financial management;
• Business development and proposal writing;
• Contract management;
• Stakeholder management;
• Technology innovation and commercialisation.
• Sound experience in managing a team of multi-disciplinary professions;
• Proven track record in project management and research project leadership;
• Ability to provide thought leadership and high-level conceptualisation;
• Ability to work independently as well as in teams;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills;
• Conflict management skills;
• Decisiveness and action orientation;
• Appropriate national, regional, and international Research Development and Innovation networks;
• Knowledge in cybersecurity inclusive of information security necessary.

South African Citizenship is necessary as a Security Clearance is required for this position.

Closing date: 02 August 2023