New Role at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Senior Project Manager in the Optronics Sensor Systems (OSS)  Impact Area , within the Defence and Security cluster. The incumbent will be expected to work at tactical and operational levels of management in order to deliver on OSS’s mandate and strategy and apply project management expertise together with appropriate technical/domain/sector/industry specific technical acumen to achieve project goals by managing the total project management life cycle within project constraints according to applicable project management framework(s). This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Initiate and manage projects by contributing to project proposals mainly from a financial perspective in terms of budget development and resource planning, ensure compliance to government requirements such as PFMA, ensure all project initiation documentation is in place and of appropriate quality;
• Plan projects through coordination of resources required for project execution, assist with the development of project plans, also resource planning and implementation;
• Execute, control and review project progress and expenditure;
• Provide monthly financial reporting to project leaders and HR reports as necessary;
• Assist with management and risk mitigation on projects, facilitate financial reports, liaising with stakeholders as necessary, balance constraints across and between projects;
• Manage team and stakeholders (facilitate and negotiate), including communication (e.g. regular internal and external team meetings and progress reporting);
• Close out projects in accordance with organisational processes and responsible for administrative closure of a project in terms of a project review, lessons learnt, financial closure of the project, project records and documents;
• Plays a major role in financial month and year end in preparing projects for funds declarations;
• Provide assistance on projects with any other issues they may face relating to health and safety issues, assets, procurement and marketing / stakeholder engagement and SMME engagement;
• Work across geographical boundaries with multiple stakeholders.
• Lead the development of technical project proposal, and Project Definitions.
• Lead the development of Request for Proposal (RFP) and Expression of Interest (EoI) for SMME sub-contracting and selection process.
• Plan and manage the project tasks and deliverables to align with the OSS set Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Master’s degree in project management with at least eight years’ experience as a Project Manager, of which six  years should be in Research  Development Innovation (RDI) domain  within the Defence and Security environment;
• Must have experience in mechanical or electronics or software development or modelling and simulation and UAVs and Drones engineering design;
• Proven experience in Systems Engineering Management and Certification;
• Experience in working with project teams across organisational boundaries, under tight and dynamic deadlines;
• Must have experience in all key component of Project Management such as resource planning, resource levelling, budgeting, reporting, and project artefacts;
• A formal qualification or certification in Project Management (e.g. PRINCE2, PMP) will be advantageous;
• Track record in managing complex aerospace research and development project (s);
• Knowledge of the electro-optical sensing systems development lifecycle;
• Proven experience in leading teams with an Agile delivery;
• Strong knowledge of Agile and Lean methodologies;
• Adaptability to change, ability to multi-task and to consistently perform under pressure;
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work closely with others across research groups;
• Must have a valid driver’s license and existing or eligible for Department of Defence (DOD) security clearance;
• Demonstrated skills in: analytical thinking and decision-making, flexibility and adaptability, investigative orientation, planning and organising, problem solving, verbal and written communication, diverse and dynamic team work, self-management (planning, prioritising and time management – includes the ability to work independently), systems level thinking, collaborating, multi-disciplinary knowledge; configuration management.
• Have people management skills, soft and performance management.
• Technical project proposal writing and project costing.
• Support business development and securing new contracts.
• Support and manage the Industrialisation and Commercialisation projects.
• Track record in contract management and financial management.

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About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Research Group Leader in the Agro Processing Impact Area within the Advanced Agriculture and Food Cluster. The incumbent will be responsible for the provision of strategic and technical leadership to the Agro Processing 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 Agro Processing group RDI strategy,  
• Contribute to strategic investment goal setting and development of the RDI strategy for the Agro Processing Group which is responsive to the Advanced Agriculture & Food 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 Agro Processing team is dynamic, remains abreast of S&T and industry trends, and remains innovative and competitive;
• Effective management of Agro Processing 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 Agro manufacturing 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 Agro Processing 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 agriculture or related fields with at least five years’ experience in Agro Processing 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: 15 January 2024

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About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Project Coordinator in the Landward Sciences Impact Area, within the Defence and Security Cluster. The incumbent will be responsible to apply project management principles in support of project management functions such as coordinating the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of projects so as to ensure effective and efficient delivery of projects to achieve programme goals. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide support to the Project Managers and Technical Domain Managers with project management related work in the form of initiation, preparation, planning, execution, control and close-out of projects;
• Support project initiation tasks i.e. routing of proposals, tenders, contracts etc.;
• Assist with preparation of projects and contract registration forms and schedules;
• Create start up files, update and close out;
• Assist with the establishment, implementation and maintenance of project controls;
• Check for compliance to project control standards and procedures;
• Coordinate projects committee and project review meetings;
• Assist with the calculation of income to be declared and running costs;
• Highlight red flags (e.g. incorrect booking and variances);
• Assist with the financial management of the project as required, e.g. review and update the project budget forecast;
• Perform continuous quality checks and report anomalies;
• Capture project configuration data and documentation;
• Support with procurement activities.  

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A National diploma in project management with at least three years’ experience as a project administration/coordination in a project/programme management environment, coordinating multiple projects;
• Knowledge of PFMA, MFMA, PPPFA;
• Experience in Defence and Security sector will be an added advantage;
• Experience in using Microsoft Office (Word/ Excel/ Projects/ PowerPoint);
• Good interpersonal and stakeholder-liaison skills;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills (verbal and written);
• Numerical and financial acumen skills;
• Attention to detail, initiative and self-motivated;
• Good report writing skills and strong work ethic.

Closing date: 12 January 2024

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About the job: 

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Senior Researcher in the Energy Centre within the Smart Places cluster. The incumbent will be responsible for supporting energy economic modelling research area within the CSIR Energy Centre. This research area will gather, create and provide objective information and analysis on energy economics. This will include developing economic models for different energy sources and systems. The incumbent also support the translation of CSIR energy-related research into direct and tangible recommendations for South African industries on how they should position themselves in the energy value chain, and for South African policymakers on how to support South African energy industries and plan and execute a just energy transition.

Key responsibilities:

• Responsible for financial and economic modelling for the energy sector (Techno-economics development);
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative research techniques in the energy sector; 
• Assist in forming the research agenda/plan for the Just Energy Transition (JET) in the Energy Centre;
• Provide thought-leadership on possible strategy interventions for growing the South African energy industry, specifically in the renewable energy domain; 
• Advise both internal and external (public and private) industries on the best positioning in the energy value chain localisation;
• Participate in development of the CSIR “Optimal Local Content” programme to continuously determine optimal local content levels for different energy technologies;
• Compile technical reports for clients in the energy sector;  
• Establish and maintain relationships/partnership with other leaders locally and globally;
• Assist in collecting data for purposes of economic modelling;
• Developing economic models to determine job creation, economic growth and supporting benefits of low-carbon energy technologies;
• Prepare and deliver presentations to communicate results of studies;
• Source and manage contract research and development and ensure adherence to schedule and budget;
• Support CSIR business development through identifying energy industry services for the research group;
• Support the energy industry research agenda (Energy Industry Support and Just Energy Transition Research).

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• An Honours degree in energy economics, economics, science or engineering with at least six years’ working experience in the energy sector, of which three years’ should be in the green economy sector or energy industry development support or energy transition domain or energy-related projects in biogas, solar PV, wind, green hydrogen etc.
• A Master’s degree will be advantageous;
• Experience in the South African renewable energy industry / renewable energy sources;
• Experience in an economic modelling, energy utility, government, consulting, or economic analysis environment;
• Strong network in the public and private sector as links to the Green Economy/ Energy Industry/ Energy Transition contract R&D funding opportunities;
• Ability to draft proposals, attract funding and lead project teams;
• Experience in Computable General Equilibrium  (CGE) or Social Accounting Matrices (SAM) modelling will be advantageous; 
• Experience in macro-economic impact analysis will be advantageous;
• Experience with Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises will be advantageous.   
• All international qualifications require an evaluation report / certificate issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).   

Closing date: 19 January 2024       

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About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Senior Technologist in the Nano-Micro Manufacturing Facility (NMMF) within the Chemicals Cluster. The incumbent will be responsible for managing device development projects where micro-fluidic and micro-manufacturing are key technologies. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop practical approaches to device manufacture including designs, prototype and testing;
• Lead research projects in diagnostic device fabrication;
• Interact with industry clients and NMMF users;
• Provide support to researchers and projects with diagnostic and micro-fluidic device fabrication;
• Innovate and assist with lab-on-Chip (LOC) design manufacture and prototype assembly, which includes LOC to injection mould transfer, electro-chemical device printing, assembly and lateral flow test manufacture;
• Conduct own experimental and development work in the laboratory;
• Generate concepts through internet searches, idea generation and conceptualisation;
• Compile reports and other project related documents;
• Adhere to safe operation of the work environment.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• An Honours degree in mechanical/chemical engineering, industrial design, biotechnology or related fields with at least five years’ experience in mechanical design;
• A Master’s degree will be advantageous;
• Must have experience in practical design and manufacturing of small devices through casting, forming, 3D printing, laser cutting;
• Must have experience in prototype device design, fabrication and project managementAbility and drive to learn in diverse fields are crucial for this position;
• Must have the ability to engage bioengineers and chemical engineers in device development and realisation;
• Must be proficient in micro-fluidics and practical diagnostic or sensing device design and fabrication
• Grasp of all aspects involved in microfluidics and micro-manufacturing;
• Good communication and presentation skills;
• Problem-solving and solution-seeking orientation;
• Goal-oriented approach;
• Ability to work independently as well as in teams;
• Computer literacy and ability to write quality reports and proposals.

Closing date: 17 January 2023