Jobs at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Key Responsibilities

Drive a strategy related to the challenges and potential innovations and solutions in mining:

• Apply sound scientific knowledge in problem solving and synthesising solutions using mining domain knowledge, e.g. Mining rock engineering, rock science, mining processes, mine value chain;
• Actively scan cutting edge technologies in and outside mining sector to solve critical, primarily mining and rock engineering issues;
• Re-imagine solutions to support the mining industry using this technology, primarily to solve geophysics problems;
• Drive multidisciplinary teams to build and implement solutions across various technology readiness scales proof of concept through to commercial product;
• Translate mining business challenges into technical solutions;

Apply project management and business processes and applications to develop business problems into technical solutions:

• Define program, scope and objectives, deliverables, schedule, financial risk, resource, interdependency, and integration management;
• Ensure projects are managed in an integrated way;
• Develop and implement governance systems to manage and deliver on the rock engineering portfolio of projects;

Lead And Develop The Rock Engineering Technical Discipline

• Grow the rock engineering capability within the cluster;
• Lead and disseminate technical knowledge and expertise related to the mining value chain, including mentorship of CSIR staff;

Business Development

• Drive business growth
• Develop and manage a balanced Research;
• Development and Innovation projects pipeline/ programme to deliver impact to the industry;
• Maintain awareness of business development opportunities for CSIR wide customer base, where relevant refer opportunities to relevant Clusters and Divisions;

Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and facilitate national and international stakeholder network to broaden and deepen mining opportunities;
• Engage stakeholders to continuously assess mining related challenges and potential opportunities;
• Drive partnerships with key strategic stakeholders to promote RDI programmes;
• Participate in technical industry bodies, particularly in mining, e.g. SAIMM, SANIRE;

Human Capital

• Develop and manage an HR and succession plan that will ensure that the relevant rock engineering skills are developed;
• Assist with growing of the rock engineering mining capability within the cluster;
• Mentor and supervise junior researchers/ engineers;

Financial sustainability

• Drive business growth for the mining and mineral resources group and manage a projects pipeline to deliver contract RDI income from external clients as per the financial KPI's;
• Submit proposals for grant and private sector funding;
• Implement cost containment measures to avoid an operating loss;
• Achieve a clean financial audit.

Qualifications, skills and experience;

• A Master’s degree in specializing in rock engineering with at least eight years’ experience in underground mining operations with one of the following commodities, gold , or platinum, as a rock engineer;
• During the above eight years’ experience, at least five years’ experience should be in:
  • Leadership solving mining and other related challenges with a focus on rock support and the application of geotechnical tools;
  • Establishing and maintaining links with internal and external stakeholders and clients, as well as the research community;
  • Mining extraction processes (drill, blast & hauling);
  • Mining design software or numerical modelling related software;
  • Rock engineering problem solving;
  • Setting rock engineering standards;
  • Design of rock engineering projects and reports;
• A Doctoral degree in rock engineering/ mining engineering or related with a COM Rock Engineering certificate would be advantageous;
• Must be registered with the SANIRE/ ECSA or qualified to register with SANIRE/ ECSA;
• Knowledge of Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA);
• Ability to lead innovation and technology adoption in the mining industry;
• Ability to innovate and generate new knowledge;
• Ability to work independently, as well as in a team;
• Problem-solving and solution-seeking orientation;
• Financial / Business acumen;
• Good interpersonal and team skills;
• Project management skills;
• Applied research skills;
• Excellent English communication, presentation and writing skills, including the publication of technical outputs.

Closing Date: 14th, July 2022

go to method of application »

About The Job
The CSIR has a vacancy for a Senior Researcher/Engineer within the Energy Centre. The purpose of the role is to support the establishment of the thermal energy research area within the CSIR Energy Centre. This research area will focus on waste heat recovery systems and thermal energy storage systems to improveme energy efficiency, and achieve decarbonisation in industry. This will provide flexibility to the power system through Power-to-Heat sector coupling. This position is based in Pretoria..

Key Responsibilities

Technical:

• Design, analysis and implementation of thermal energy systems;
• Laboratory testing of thermal energy storage materials and systems;
• Collect data on technical parameters of thermal energy generation, heat transfer, and thermal energy storage equipment;
• Provide technical advisory services to government, industry, and other stakeholders;

Communication

• Generate research papers and reports;
• Prepare and deliver presentations to communicate results of studies;
• Establish collaborative networks and engage in cross-cluster projects within the CSIR;
• Establish new and maintain existing agreements, relationships and partnerships with other R&D organisations working in topics aligned to research area.

Management

• Assist in forming the research agenda/plan for the research area;
• Assist in identifying opportunities, developing proposals, and attracting and securing external contract R&D income for the research area;
• Manage research contracts to ensure adherence to brief, budget and schedule;
• Ensure development of self and other researchers through coaching, mentoring, work assignment, structured training and appropriate supervision in order to maximise human potential in line with the needs of the organisation.

Qualifications, Skills And Experience

• A Master’s degree in mechanical or chemical engineering with least five years’ relevant experience working with thermal energy systems thermodynamic modelling (numerical simulation), optimisation and design, with specific emphasis on design of thermal energy generation or storage systems;
• Experience with industrial plant operation would be an advantage;
• Proficiency in thermal energy design and analysis methods, using numerical tools (CFD or other FVM, FEM, FDM tools);
• Proficiency in CAD software such as Solidworks/SolidEdge;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; also Matlab/NumPy, and C++/Python;
• Knowledge of computational software such as Comsol, Aspen and R will be an advantage;
• Excellent communication skills in English: good report writing and presentation;
• Required to work independently to assist establishing research agenda;
• Demonstrable research skills, proposal and report-writing and project management skills;
• Excellent communication, presentation and writing skills, including the publication of technical outputs;
• Ability to work independently as well as in teams;
• Problem-solving, solution-seeking orientation;
• Must have a valid driver’s license.

Closing Date: 20th, July 2022

go to method of application »

About The Job
The CSIR has a vacancy for a Group Assistant in the Data Intensive Research Initiative of South Africa (DIRISA) portfolio of the National Integrated Cyberinfrastructure System (NICIS), which is a hosted programme within the Smart Society Division. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key Responsibilities

• Arrange and coordinate meetings and events as requested.
• Draft minutes, agenda and any necessary presentational material as requested.
• Follow up on action items from meetings.
• Schedule and diarise meetings as requested.
• Coordinate and upkeep of formal documentation distribution.
• Coordinate and update project files and client requestions register.
• Coordinate vehicles, vehicle bookings and maintenance schedules.
• Coordinate national and International travel arrangements (Flights, Accommodation, Car Rentals, Visa Requirements etc) as and when requested. Provide travel itineraries accordingly. Travel return administration, approvals and routing.
• Accurate typing and editing of documents for general correspondence purposes.
• Maintain up-to-date records of queries and direct accordingly for problem solving.
• Maintain updated contact list.
• Coordinate and report on staff daily check in’s, office space availability and planned leave.
• Printing room coordination: Printing and Binding, meter readings & management of supplies.
• Provide support to meetings like making coffee / tea, arrange catering, booking, and preparing of conference rooms.
• Manage conference room bookings for DIRISA.
• Building access control and keys.
• Control and coordinate office inventory budget and procurement processes by restocking supplies (Stationery/ Consumables etc ) and placing purchase orders.
• Log Calls on behalf of team for maintenance and IT related problems.
• Assist Project Managers with administration activities.
• Be the primary point of contact for visitors.
• Control and assistance with audits of secure storage media.
• Environmental Health and Safety participation, support and administration.
• General staff support - Training Request, Log calls for building maintenance and IT related problems, obtaining quotes, submitting requestions etc.
• Provide other administrative support as required from time to time.

Qualifications, Skills And Experience

• A National diploma in business administration or equivalent NQF Level 6 qualification, with at least two years’ experience as a secretary or Personal Assistance to a Manager with a team dynamic;
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft office Suite and Open Office.
• Advanced internet search engine skills (Google, internet explorer, etc).
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to always maintain highest level of confidentiality.
• High level of professionalism.
• Excellent organising skills.
• People Skills.
• Ability to multi-task and work towards multiple deadlines.
• All international qualifications require an evaluation report / certificate issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

Closing Date: 21st, July 2022

go to method of application »

About The Job
The CSIR has a vacancy for a Senior Practitioner: Internal Communications. The incumbent will be responsible for supporting the marketing and communication strategy in line with the objectives of the CSIR by implementing internal communications initiatives and projects. This position is based in Pretoria .

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and write content for a variety of communication platforms utilised by internal communication;
• Create focused internal communication campaigns with high impact to build and strengthen the employee-brand relationship;
• Proactively write, develop and package content for a variety of internal communication platforms, including the Intranet, emails, videos, internal social media and weekly newsletter;
• Execute all internal communication interventions and projects, ensuring alignment to the marketing and communication strategy; and contribute towards the continual development of the internal communications agenda;
• Interview management, scientists/engineers and other people of interest at all levels of the CSIR to write internal articles and also handle onsite photography for such articles;
• Support organisational objectives, vision and values through suitable and deliberate communication activities;
• Monitor the internal climate and culture of the CSIR and inform ongoing strategy development;
• Source and package content from multiple sources as appropriate to internal communication needs and target audiences.
• Ensure quality, up-to-date content on all internal communication platforms.
• Entrench the CSIR brand image in all internal communication activities;
• Ensure appropriate messaging for internal CSIR events;
• Conduct onscreen interviews with management, internal and external people of interest for the CSIR’s audio visual channel Connect; and
• Research and produce regular audience-appropriate episodes for the CSIR’s audio visual channel Connect.

Qualifications, Skills And Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in communication or journalism with at least five year’s relevant experience including the following:
• Corporate communication;
• Writing for multiple communication mediums;
• Editing is an added advantage;
• Photography is an added advantage;
• The following skills are required:
• Project management;
• Change and people management;
• Show leadership qualities
• Creative and independent thinking;
• Innovation and resourcefulness;
• Ability to display a high level of integrity
• Team orientation
• Client/service delivery focused
• Display high level of professionalism
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Video presenting and onscreen interviewing are added advantages
• Knowledge of the CSIR business environment will be an added advantage

Closing Date: 26th, July 2022