Section Head: Geochemistry at Council for Geoscience (CGS)

Overall, Job Purpose :

• Undertake advanced innovative geoscience; integrated and multidisciplinary geoscientific research which includes projects management

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Overseeing the Geochemistry Section (X-ray fluorescence (XRF) laboratory, Chemistry laboratory, Coal laboratory and Environmental laboratory) operations, research and team management.
• Ensure adherence to an effective laboratory quality management system that is compliant to applicable ISO standards.
• Maintain and monitor quality control on all procedures employed in the section.
• Develop laboratory standard operating procedures and work instructions.
• Perform method validation on laboratory test methods and align them to international best practices.
• Ensure that the section produce accurate and validated analysis data.
• Maintain participation in proficiency testing programmes for the section’s test methods.
• Perform Root Cause Analysis to all non-conformances that are raised in the section.
• Implement corrective and preventative measures to all audit observations and findings.
• Ensure that occupational hazards are identified and that risks are assessed and eliminated, mitigated or managed as required by occupational health and safety legislation.
• Ensure that the laboratory environment is safe and free from harm.
• Conduct and supervise section related individual and/or cooperative research.
• Initiate research projects.
• Evaluate and report analysis data as scientific information in customer and/or research reports including scientific interpretation and application of data.
• Edit reports of Junior Scientists for publication including own.
• Presents technical and research results at major conferences locally and internationally.
• Monitor and control operational expenditure of the section.
• Measure and Improve analysis turnaround times.
• Ensure that analysis targets are reached.
• Ensure that all deliverables for research projects are submitted and archived on time.
• Ensure that all research projects are delivered within the budgeted amount.
• Reduce operational cost by improving efficiency and better utilization of resources.
• Encourage a cost saving culture and awareness within the section.
• Initiate procurement of capital equipment as per capital expenditure demand plan.
• Reduce instrument and equipment downtime in the section by adhering to maintenance schedules and keeping critical spares.
• Assist in recruiting of qualified and/or relevant staff with optimal knowledge and skills to deliver on the mandate of the Analytical Services Business Unit.
• Supervise and develop staff with optimal knowledge and skills to deliver on the mandate of the Analytical Services Business Unit.
• Ensure that the section has succession planning where applicable.
• Assist in recruiting of qualified and/or relevant staff with optimal knowledge and skills to deliver on the mandate of the Analytical Services Business Unit.

KEY PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Ability to conduct complex geo-scientific investigations and research independently within varied fields.
• Ability to conduct advanced geo-scientific research within a specified field of discipline.
• Ability to conduct high level editing of geo-scientific reports ad maps.
• Ability to conduct advanced interpretation, evaluation and assessment of research data.
• Ability to evaluate and assess research work and reports of other scientists and within a project team.
• Ability to compile and present geo-scientific research investigations at national and international forums.
• Ability to develop and present geo-scientific project proposals.
• Ability to source commercial projects.
• Ability to negotiate contractual proposals.
• Ability to develop geo-scientific contractual proposals.
• Ability to lead and manage varied geo-scientific projects.
• Ability to lead and manage project team(s).
• Ability to mentor and coach other scientists and project team members.
• Ability to implement ISO certification processes and standards.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Grade 12; and
• A minimium qualification of BSc (Hons) in Geology/ Mineralogy/Geochemistry/Chemistry with a minimum of 13 years’ experience working in a relevant geoscientific laboratory, or
• MSc in Geology/ Mineralogy/Geochemistry/Chemistry with a minimum of 8 years’ experience working in a relevant geoscientific laboratory, or
• PhD in Geology/ Mineralogy/Geochemistry/ Chemistry with a minimum of 5 years’ experience working in a relevant geoscientific laboratory.
• Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat.) registration with SACNASP.
• NRF rating will be an added advantage.
• Valid driver’s licence.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Knowledge and experience in advanced to specialised earth science research and applications toward natural resource characterisation and development.
• Knowledge and experience in project planning, management, and execution.