Research Group Leader: Hydrogen SA and CO2 Capture and Utilization at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job:

• The CSIR has a vacancy for a Research Group Leader in the Centre for Nanostructures and Advanced Materials (CeNAM) within Chemicals Cluster, Advanced Chemistry and Life Sciences Division.
• The incumbent will be responsible for the provision of strategic and technical leadership to the HySA and CO2 Capture and Utilization Research Group, including people management, business development, financial sustainability and operations management. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide RDI leadership by implementing the HySA group RDI strategy, which is responsive to Chemicals Cluster/CeNAM RDI strategy-relevant technology trends, impact, growth, investment, R&D, technology transfer, commercialisation, Obtaining funding, HCD and transformation;
• Contribute to strategic investment goal setting and development of RDI strategy for the HySA and CO2 Capture and Utilization Group;
• Ensure a well-balanced impact capability- identify and develop specific (not general) impact/application domain knowledge;
• Ensure that HySA and CO2 Capture and Utilization team is dynamic, remain abreast of S&T and industry trends, remaining innovative and competitive;
• Effective management of HySA and CO2 Capture and Utilization research group staff;
• Ensure a well-balanced cutting-edge SET capability, in terms of the elements of research, engineering design, or systems/enterprise engineering, to ensure integrated capability;
• Manage staff members’ performance in collaboration with CeNAM manager;
• Assume leadership in the provision of technical solutions to client programmes;
• Deeply understand the needs of the industry by integrating sector knowledge in multi-dimensional research and development programs in order to deliver industry-aligned RDI;
• Manage strategic stakeholder relationship for the HySA and CO2 Capture and Utilization group to secure appropriate, integrated research and industry programmes;
• Implement and comply with appropriate management and systems requirements, including operational approvals;
• Apply appropriate processes and policies to ensure IP protection, technology transfer, impact and appropriate benefit from IP in collaboration with the Commercialisation Manager;
• Drive the transfer of technology and solutions design to industry/user environment and package technologies for commercialisation or develop an investment-ready business through financial modelling, market assessment and business plan development, in collaboration with the Business Development and Commercialisation portfolio.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Master's degree in chemical engineering/chemistry with at least five years’ of experience in fields of hydrogen production, storage, distribution and utilisation and carbon capture and utilisation (CCU)
• Professional registration will be advantageous;
• Sound experience in managing a team of multi-disciplinary professionals;
• Proven track record in project management and research project leadership;
• Proven experience in obtaining External public and private sector funding;
• Communication, presentation skills, research, and report writing skills;
• Ability to provide thought leadership and high-level conceptualisation;
• Ability to work independently as well as in teams;
• Ability to convert industry/clients’ requirements to technical deliverables;
• Ability to understand complete integration of technology to produce a functional product;
• Problem solving, facilitation and interpersonal skills in a goal-oriented approach;
• Track record and/or ability to produce actual device such as sensor unit;
• Strong Project Management skills;
• Conflict management skills;
• Decisiveness and action orientation;
• Appropriate national and international RDI networks;
• An understanding of the research to market ‘innovation’ value chain.