Openings 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.
   

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Overall Job Purpose:

• To execute strategy as well as perform routine management of Mineralogy section within the Analytical Services Unit, Council for Geoscience.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Overseeing Mineralogy Section’s operations (X-ray Diffraction (XRD) Scanning Electron Microscope (SCM), Petrography, Mineral Separation and Ceramics laboratory), 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.
• Monitor and control operational expenditure of the section.
• Measure and Improve analysis turnaround times
• Supervise and develop staff with optimal knowledge and skills to deliver on the mandate of the Analytical Services Business Unit.
• Provides advanced scientific advice to the public and private sector organisations.
• Work closely with other CGS Business Units within scientific and support divisions to ensure successful execution of projects.

KEY PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Ability to independently conduct complex geo-scientific investigations and research (initiative, well organized, multitasking).
• Ability to interpret, evaluate and assess research data (analytical thinking).
• Ability to evaluate and assess research work and reports of other scientists.
• Ability to compile and present geo-scientific research investigations at national and international forums.
• Ability to develop and present geo-scientific project proposals (strategic thinking).
• Ability to manage a Mineralogy section team of scientists and technicians (initiate action).
• Ability to mentor and coach other scientists (Impact, influence and energize).
• Knowledge of ISO certification processes and standards.
• Ability to work according to Standard Operating Procedures and the consistent application thereof.
• Safety conscious.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Grade 12; and
• A minimum qualification of BSc Hons in Geology or any other relevant earth science qualification with a minimum of 13 years relevant experience, or
• MSc in Geology or any other relevant earth science qualification with 8 years relevant experience, or
• PhD in Geology or any other relevant earth science qualification with 5 years relevant experience.
• Certificate in ISO 9001, ISO 17025 or any relevant QMS standard.
• Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat.) registration with SACNASP.
• NRF rating is an added advantage.
• Valid drivers’ licence.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience in ISO 17025 and ISO 9001 and other relevant quality management systems.
• Knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations.
• Experience in Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) software.
• Computer literacy and familiar with the use of laboratory instrumentation operating sophisticated and dedicated software.
• Working experience of relevant methods and equipment.
   

go to method of application »

Overall, Job Purpose :

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

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Overseeing Petrophysics & Geotechnical Section’s 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.
• Provides advanced scientific advice to the public and private sector organisations.
• Supervise and liaise with visiting colleagues, internal and external customers, technical and service personnel.
• Promote the section’s products and services to current and potential customers.
• Respond, investigate and report to the customer all customer queries in the section.
• Work closely with other CGS Business Unit's within scientific and support divisions to ensure successful execution of projects.
• Formulation of MOUs and SLRs with relevant stakeholders.
• Keep abreast with changes in the scientific environment especially with respect to the field of section as well as other applicable sciences.
• Mentors and coaches junior scientific and technical staff.

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 minimum qualification of BSc Hons in Geology or any other relevant earth science qualification, plus 13 years relevant experience, or
• MSc in Geology or any other relevant earth science qualification, plus 8 years relevant experience, or
• PhD in Geology or any other relevant earth science qualification, plus 5 years relevant experience.
• 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.
   

go to method of application »

Overall, Job Purpose :

•  To administer and control the end-to-end debtors and revenue management function, including credit applications, invoice processing, collections, reconciliations, and bank allocations, ensuring accuracy, compliance with PFMA, GRAP and internal policies, and effective cash flow management.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Capture and maintain accurate debtor master records, ensuring all customer information is complete and up to date.
• Update customer payment terms, credit limits, dunning levels, and reconciliation accounts in line with approved changes.
• Verify invoice requisitions for accuracy, completeness, correctness, and supporting documentation.
• Capture all customer invoices in the system within prescribed timelines.
• Process unapplied invoices and all approved debit/credit adjustments with full supporting evidence.
• Conduct monthly debtor follow‑ups (calls and emails) and record all interactions.
• Maintain complete and accurate communication logs for each debtor.
• Issue demand letters where applicable, in line with the dunning process.
• Monitor debtor ageing through system reports and dashboards.
• Prepare accurate and timely Debtors Age Analysis reports.
• Perform regular reconciliations between the Debtors Age Analysis and the Trial Balance.
• Maintain supporting documentation for all reconciliations and financial transactions.
• Identify and allocate credit amounts from bank statements and clear unallocated deposits.
• Provide timely and accurate debtor reports to management.
• Support internal and external audit requirements, ensuring complete and accurate audit trails.
• Ensure compliance with the PFMA, Treasury Regulations, GRAP standards, VAT legislation, and internal financial policies.
• Uphold segregation of duties and ensure adherence to organisational financial controls.
• Perform month‑end and year‑end closure processes for debtor accounts.
• Maintain an accessible and effective filing system for accurate document tracking and retrieval.
• Ensure proper upkeep of debtor files, including invoices, credit notes, and unallocated items.

Learning and Development

• Undertake specific and requisite self-improvement learning/conferences and development through workshops/training courses.
• Undertakes varied geoscientific tasks as required and stipulated within the Council for Geoscience mandate.

KEY PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Be trustworthy, have integrity and honesty
• Must have aptitude for figures
• Be accurate when dealing with information.
• Take the initiative
• Have leadership or supervisory skills
• Must be assertive and self-motivated
• Team player, ability to work as part of a team
• Organized and deadline driven
• Customer-service orientated
• Professional/Excellent communication and organizational skills

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Grade 12; and
• A National Diploma (NQF Level 6) in Accounting/Finance or any equivalent qualification.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Must have three (3) years or more debtors accounting experience.
• Computer literate (MS Excel at mastery level).
• Proficient with Accpac or equivalent financial system.
• Ensure stakeholder-centered performance.
• Ensure execution and achieve results.
• Ensure improvement.
• Good communication skills.
• Sound financial administrative skills.
• Understanding of PFMA, Treasury regulations and organisation policies.