Specialist Senior Counsel: Commercial at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job: 

• The CSIR has a vacancy for a Specialist Senior Counsel: Commercial in the Legal and Compliance Department. The incumbent will assist the CSIR to commercialise its Intellectual Property Assets and maximise its financial sustainability by providing comprehensive expert commercial legal advice; actively mitigating all legal commercial and contractual risks and safeguarding the legal rights of the organisation and its brand. The position is based in Pretoria and reports to the Manager: Legal Services. A hybrid working arrangement is possible for this position.

Key responsibilities:

Legal Strategy

• Responsible for input into the Legal strategy of the CSIR with specific focus on topics pertaining to intellectual property commercialisation and corporate commercial matters.
• Provide expert advice and support to the wider organisation in the planning and implementation of intellectual property commercialisation efforts and commercial strategies and goals.
• Ensure alignment between CSIR business and operational strategies and initiatives and those of Legal Services.

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Enforce all relevant intellectual property and commercial policies, procedures, standards, norms and best practices in line with organisation¿s Legal and IP strategy and in line with prevailing regulatory framework.
• Remain abreast of changes in intellectual property and corporate commercial legislation and ensure that the CSIR remains compliant and that governance frameworks are up to date.
• Provide advice on the interpretation and implementation of new / draft legislation, relevant to intellectual property commercialisation, for the CSIR¿s compliance.
• Ensure appropriate training of relevant staff with respect to corporate commercial legislation awareness.
• Contribute to cost effectiveness, reduce risk, and optimise the commercial opportunities available to the organisation.

Legal Corporate Commercial Service delivery

• Provide corporate commercial legal information and recommendations for enhancement of commercial transactions.
• Provide sound expert legal advice, identify risks and implement appropriate action for prevention and correction on matters such as intellectual property and corporate commercial transactions, contracts, litigation, competition law, commercialisation of outputs and any other relevant legal matters, initiating and/or facilitating internal and external negotiations, and contributing to discussions on corporate commercial matters.
• Coordinate all corporate commercial matters that require external assistance and act as a liaison between the CSIR and external counsel. 
• Provide dedicated subject matter expertise to the entire organisation especially related to the specialist skills within the Legal department teams.
• Draft and review a variety of commercial contracts and negotiate the terms of such contracts to protect and enhance the interests of the organisation.
• Manage litigation matters across the CSIR and contribute to the effectiveness of the Legal department.
• Support the effective administration and management of contracts and other legal documents.
• Support and nurture existing relationships with internal and external stakeholders and building new relationships where possible.

Support to Culture and Continuous Improvement

• Create a culture of customer service and continuous improvement.
• Identify gaps for training or development of staff to assist with knowledge transfer of corporate commercial legal knowledge.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• A Bachelors degree in Law, LLB or equivalent degree with at least eight years¿ experience as a corporate commercial legal advisor with a track record in the following:
• Intellectual Property and Patent matters (operational, legal, regulatory and policy);
• Contract negotiation, litigation, corporate commercial transactions, and competition law;
• Communication and engagement with senior executives.
• Admission as attorney or advocate of the high court in good standing.
• A Masters Degree in Law or Business Management would be an added advantage.
• Understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to public entities.
• Experience with drafting, reviewing and negotiating contractual agreements.
• Possess and exhibit an inquisitive, creative (but practical), solutions-orientated and goal-focused mind-set. 
• Understanding of the RD&I value chain.
• Ability to understand technologies across a range of disciplines.
• Familiarity with the NSI.
• Special Corporate Commercial Legal knowledge.
• Sound understanding of IP risk and organisational impact.
• In depth understanding of business operations and commercialisation within the RD&I environment

Closing Date

12/02/2026