Research Group Leader: Transport Management, Design and Systems at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is a leading scientific and technology research organisation that researches, develops, localises and diffuses technologies to accelerate socio-economic prosperity in South Africa. The organisation’s work contributes to industrial development and supports a capable state.

Research Group Leader: Transport Management, Design and Systems

About The Job

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Research Group Leader in the Transport Systems and Operations impact area within the Smart Mobility Cluster. The incumbent will provide leadership by increasing the impact of the research group through science, engineering and technology (SET) excellence in areas that include public transport service design, transport economics, transport safety, decision support through improved transport modelling techniques and mobility foresight research. The research group seeks to generate new knowledge and contribute towards methodological and technological improvements to support well-functioning transport networks for society and industry. This position is based in Pretoria.

For more information about the Smart Mobility cluster and Transport Systems and Operations impact area, please visit https://www.csir.co.za/smart-mobility .

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the research group to deliver on the impact area strategic plan;

• Continuously build the research group to be responsive to current and future transport challenges in South Africa and partner countries;

• Establish the research group as a national leader in passenger transport applied research, with international recognition;

• Propose, plan and implement Parliamentary Grant (PG) and other grant-funded projects and programmes, in consultation with the Impact Area Manager (IAM) to enhance the technical strength of the research group;

• Manage projects and programmes through robust and integrated planning;

• Coordinate deliverables to fulfil project requirements;

• Conceptualise innovate solutions to fulfil project and programme requirements;

• Responsible for project coordination and planning, often with multidisciplinary teams, to ensure projects are delivered on brief, budget and time;

• Develop the business;

• Manage the quality of the outputs (i.e. proposals, reports, client presentations, etc.) to ensure they are responsive;

• Build and maintain client responsive teams.

Qualifications, Skills And Experience

• A Doctoral degree in transport engineering, operations research, applied mathematics, transport economics, computer science, systems engineering, or related fields, with at least ten years’ relevant working experience in transport systems and operations;

• Should preferably be at a principal researcher level or at least a senior researcher on the research career path (with publication history);

• Registered professional scientist or engineer would be an added advantage;

• Good understanding of transport operations and the built environment domains in South Africa;

• Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills;

• Ability to work in a methodical manner is essential;

• Ability to carry out strategic stakeholder interactions at all levels;

• Excellent business management skills (i.e. budgeting, establishing networks, excellent people skills, etc.);

• Ability to present ideas, concepts, plan and procedures;

• Excellent people management skills (i.e. mentorship, coaching diversity and diversity management).

PLEASE NOTE THAT FEEDBACK WILL BE GIVEN TO SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES ONLY.

For more info, please email us at [email protected]

The CSIR is an equal opportunity employer. As such, it is committed to the employment Equity Act and will through the filling of this vacancy, give preference to candidates from designated groups in terms of the Employment Equity Act. By applying for this position at the CSIR, the applicant understands, and agrees that the CSIR may solicit a credit and criminal report from registered credit bureau and/or South African Police Services (in relation to positions that requires trust and honesty and/or entail the handling of cash or finances), and may also verify the applicant’s educational qualification and employment history. The CSIR reserves the right to remove the advertisement at any time before the stated closing date and it further reserves the right not to appoint if a suitable candidate is not identified.