Job Description:
Strategic Research Manager

Vacancy for a Strategic Research Manager in the Built Environment unit. The purpose of the role is to ensure that the unit has an appropriate Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) strategy that seeks to further the mandate. The role will also lead Research and Development (R&D) activities in accordance with the strategic objectives of the unit.
The position is based in Pretoria.
Key responsibilities:
Lead and compile unit strategy and operational plan in conjunction with management team;
Keep abreast with infrastructure and built environment domain knowledge;
Formulate and implement foresight studies and technology trend analysis;
Contribute to proposals or applications such as DST proposals, Young Researcher
Establishment Fund (YREF), technology demonstrators, NRF applications, flagships, etc;
Manage, maintain and grow parliamentary grant (PG) funding on behalf of the unit;
Manage and grow thematic funding by supporting call process, track expenditure, negotiate reallocation;
Support Competency Area Managers (CAMs) in formulating new research programmes for
unlocking strategic research funding;
Identify and develop new science engineering & technology (SET) capabilities required for
business and impact growth;
Lead and compile unit strategic and operational plan in conjunction with stakeholders;
Monitor and evaluate unit performance;
Compile quarterly KPI reports, annual self-assessment report and annual unit business plans
for Executive Director’s approval;
Implement strategic investment management system;
Contribute to strategic HCD by developing strategic SET competences in new areas;
Monitoring and evaluation of RD&I activities including deployment thereof;
Ensure proper IP management systems i.e. ensure the unit has the correct IP and
commercialisation skills, processes, infrastructure in order for its business objectives to be met;

Qualifications, skills and experience:
A Doctoral degree in a built environment field with at least ten years’ working experience in the
built environment research and development discipline;
In the ten years listed above, there should be evidence of:
o Five years in drawing up and implementing strategic and operational plans at different
levels;
o Five years technical experience in a broad multidisciplinary environment that enables
the incumbent to converse effectively with a diverse group of researchers and
engineers;
o Seven years’ experience in project management;
Knowledge in a built environment discipline, e.g. civil engineering, architecture, town planning,
transport engineering;
Knowledge of the National System of Innovation, the players and their roles across the research
and innovation value chain, the dominant strategies and practices;
Intellectual Property Management training with basic understanding of and skills in IP
identification and protection and experience, specifically in the patenting process, and different
intellectual property protection strategies;
Understand a broad range of scientific and engineering concepts and methodologies;
Understand the role of R&D and associated linkages in the innovation chain;
Ability to plan, organize and be innovative;
Financial acumen, process engineering and systems skills