Latest Vacancies at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Research Group Leader in the Biomanufacturing Impact Area within the Chemicals Cluster. The incumbent will be responsible for the provision of strategic and technical leadership to the Biocatalysis Research Group, including people management, business development, financial sustainability and operations management. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) leadership by implementing the Biocatalysis group RDI strategy,  
• Contribute to strategic investment goal setting and development of the RDI strategy for the Biocatalysis Group which is responsive to the Chemicals Cluster RDI strategy. Includes relevant technology trends, impact, growth, investment, Research and Development (R&D), technology transfer, commercialisation, obtaining funding, Human Capital Development (HCD) and transformation;
• Ensure a well-balanced impact capability- identify and develop specific (not general) impact/application domain knowledge;
• Ensure that the Biocatalysis team is dynamic, remains abreast of S&T and industry trends, and remains innovative and competitive;
• Effective management of Biocatalysis 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;
• Performance management of the staff members in collaboration with the Biomanufacturing 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;
• Strategic Stakeholder relationship management for the Biocatalysis 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 Doctoral degree in chemical engineering, chemistry or related fields with at least five years’ experience in biocatalysis preferably within an RDI environment;
• 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;
• Conflict management skills;
• Decisiveness and action orientation;
• Appropriate national and international RDI networks;
• An understanding of the research to market ‘innovation’ value chain.

Closing date: 03 January 2024

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About the Job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for Researcher: Ocean and Climate Modelling in Computational Oceanography / Numerical Modelling in the Holistic Climate Change division within the Smart Places cluster. The position is based in Rosebank, Cape Town.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and assist in model configuration, experimental design, simulation and execution;
•  Evaluation of ocean-ice-biogeochemical model output from experiments using high performance computing, data analysis, visualisation and interpretation, with an outlook to modelling the Earth System as a whole;
• Help strengthen the SOCCO team, seek model solutions, use large satellite and in situ datasets and collaborate with the team to build human capital, software capabilities, and scientific publications.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A doctoral degree within the realm of oceanography, physics, ocean - atmosphere - climate - earth system modelling, model development with at least one year of experience;

Must have experience in;

• Ocean, ice or biogeochemical modelling (NEMO, ROMS, CROCO, etc.);
• Using high performance computing and linux shell scripting, model development (Fortran) will be an advantage;
• Using version control software (svn, git, Github);
• Ability to use scientific software (programming and visualisation) for model analysis (Python, Matlab, etc.);
• Desire to work and collaborate as a team and train students/researchers;
• Scientific curiosity for climate science or technology and supercomputing.

Closing date: 01 January 2024

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About the Job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for Senior Researcher: Ocean and Climate modelling in Computational Oceanography / Numerical Modelling in the Holistic Climate Change division within the Smart Places cluster. The position is based in Rosebank, Cape Town.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and assist in model configuration, experimental design, simulation and execution;
• Evaluation of ocean-ice-biogeochemical model output from experiments using high performance computing, data analysis, visualisation and interpretation, with an outlook to modelling the Earth System as a whole;
• Help strengthen the SOCCO team, seek model solutions, use large satellite and in situ datasets and collaborate with the team to build human capital, software capabilities, and scientific publications.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A doctoral degree within the realm of oceanography, physics, ocean - atmosphere - climate - earth system modelling, model development with at least three years of experience;

Must have experience in;

• Ocean, ice or biogeochemical modelling (NEMO, ROMS, CROCO, etc.)
• Using high performance computing and linux shell scripting, model development (Fortran) will be an advantage.
• Using version control software (svn, git, Github)
• Ability to use scientific software (programming and visualisation) for model analysis (Python, Matlab, etc.)
• Desire to work and collaborate as a team and train students/researchers
• Scientific curiosity for climate science or technology and supercomputing

Closing date: 01 January 2024

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About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Senior Researcher: Food Technologist in the Agro Processing Research Group within Advanced Agriculture and Food Cluster. The incumbent will be responsible to initiate and scale up processes in food and nutraceutical product development as well as natural products extraction, within food and nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals market segments. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Undertake research in process and product development based on natural products across the food and nutraceutical product value chain;
• Conduct Risk Assessments /HAZOPs for facilities and processes to ensure safe and technically feasible processes and methodology;
• Support development, operation, and liaise with internal and external clients of product specifications, development, and regulatory compliance.
• Support and identify needs for maintenance of facilities utilities and processing equipment in conjunction with GMR 2.7/CSIR facilities/external service providers;
• Conduct and oversee equipment procurement, design specification, installation and operational specifications sign off and training;
• Draft, review and sign off on equipment and process Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs);
• Provide support for techonomic modelling, process costing and raw material costing;
• Mentor junior researcher or technologist and provide guidance to engineers for upscaling and process development.
• Identify and manage research opportunities to secure external contracts;
• Write and review research proposals for funding, research reports, client reports and peer-reviewed publications;
• Prepare reports, guidelines or other documents aimed at disseminating the results and outcomes of projects.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Master’s degree in food technology/science or related fields with at least five years’ experience in industrial interface with good understanding of various interactions and changes during the processing of agricultural and other biological materials, ranging from food to non-food materials;  
• A Doctoral degree in food technology/science or related fields will be advantageous;
• Experience working in a food, chemical, pharmaceuticals, and biologicals in a manufacturing set-up will be advantageous;
• Experience with food labelling and food safety requirements and regulatory conformance
• Experience and operation of laboratory analytical equipment for food, as well as HPLC/GC;
• International tertiary exposure would be advantageous;

Must be able to:

• Work in a methodical manner is essential;
• Interact with strategic stakeholders at all levels;
• Present ideas, concepts, plan, and procedures;
• Ability to work accurately, efficiently, independently and in a team;

Must have the following skills:

• Business development;
• People management;
• Interpersonal and organisational;
• Communication (verbal and presentation) ;
• Programme and project management.

Closing date: 16 January 2024

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About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Facility Manager: DBEL Facility in the Landward Sciences Impact Area, within the Defence and Security Cluster. The incumbent will be responsible to manage the Detonics, Ballistics and Explosives laboratory (DBEL) facility, explosives test facility personnel and explosives test projects. Perform all line management functions and technical leadership on a variety of projects and themes in the field of detonics, ballistics and explosives. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop, implement and manage business and operational plans for the DBEL facility;
• Support, develop and drive DBEL marketing initiatives to broaden the customer base;
• Oversee and manage infrastructure and equipment growth to ensure that the facility is functional and compliant to execute work effectively and efficiently;
• Prepare monthly facility operational report and drive mitigation plans as required by CSIR and Impact Area Manager;
• Conduct performance management and personal development for direct reports;
• Engage with CSIR structures to influence and implement action plans on the shared services inclusive of security, facilities and environmental maintenance, medical services;
• Manage the facility’s environment fauna and flora in accordance with Gauteng and National Standards and regulations;
• Ensure compliance and safe explosives management of the DBEL Facility pursuant to Regulation 12(1) of the Explosive Regulations issued in the terms of the occupational health and safety Act, Act NO.85 of 93;
• Ensure a safe and legally compliant DBEL explosives and test facility work environment in line with CSIR ISO 9001, ISO 14000, ISO 45001, ISO 17015 and other standards as applicable, including compliance by outsourced contractors/service providers;
• Engage with the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), South African Police Services (SAPS), and any other relevant statutory or legal body that impacts the operations and security of DBEL;
• Engage with local and international explosives processing, testing, storage, and destruction governing, regulatory, training organization’s to ensure international best practice on all levels of DBEL operations;
• Engage with local and international stakeholders for the purpose of providing fit for purpose facilities, infrastructure and associated services

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Bachelor’s degree in scientific or engineering or explosives management equivalent with at least five years’ experience in facilities management, firing or explosives testing and/or business support services, including the management of a team;
• Certification in explosives management and/or project management is desired;
• A post graduate diploma in business management, with previous management experience in an explosives facility with an appointment as an Explosives Manager will be an advantage;

Experience in the following: 

• Military ammunition training environment and demolition of redundant explosives and unexploded ordnance;
• Explosives regulations especially interaction with DEL and SAPS explosives units;
• Vehicle fleet management; 

A strong track record in the following:

• Strategic & operational planning with related budgeting;
• People management, including performance management;
• Project management;
• Financial management;
• Understanding industry standards and regulations;
• Customer service orientation;

• Knowledge of South African National Defence Force (SANDF), SAPS and DEL processes, approaches and philosophies;
• Knowledge of ISO standards, initiatives, and accreditation;
• Ability to work independently as well as in teams;
• Business Development and financial acumen;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills;
• Conflict management skills;
• Decisiveness and action orientation.

South African citizenship is necessary, as a security clearance is required for the position.

Closing date: 14 January 2024