Vacant Position – Senior Commercialisation Specialist

Contract type: Permanent
Job Level: Skilled / Middle Management
Work Location: Cape Town, Western Cape
Closing Date: 22 April 2025

The National Research Foundation (NRF) supports and promotes research and human capital development through funding, the provision of National Research Facilities and science outreach platforms and programmes to the broader community in all fields of science and technology, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities.

The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) spearheads South Africa’s activities in the Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope, commonly known as the SKA, in engineering, science and construction. SARAO is a National Facility managed by the National Research Foundation and incorporates radio astronomy instruments and programmes such as the MeerKAT telescope in the Karoo, the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) in Gauteng, the African Very Long Baseline Interferometry (AVN) programme in nine African countries as well as the associated human capital development and commercialisation endeavours.

The role is responsible for leading the maturing and commercialisation of technologies of SARAO and other National Facilities within the NRF through creating an interface between the development teams and the commercial market.

Key Responsibilities:
* Strategy development and analysis for an optimised technology commercialisation value proposition
* Exploit existing and new funding instruments to resource, support and progress projects through the innovation lifecycle
* Oversee the compilation and maintenance of a register of non-funding innovation opportunities and/or market analysis
* Oversee invention disclosures and evaluate their technical feasibility and commercial viability to warrant protection.
* Develop framework that identifies key instruments through which SARAO shall capture economic and non-economic value from the innovation lifecycle
* Approved plan to establish and increase opportunities for industry partnership, and other commercialisation strategies
* Comprehensive register of available and accessible local and international funding instruments and respective criteria
* Support Stakeholder Management in its participation in, and alignment with, the Integrated Development Plans for the Central Karoo region
* Support the development and approval of the Local Economic Development plan for the Central Karoo in response to the respective IDPs
* Support development of partnerships for supporting SMME business opportunities

Key Requirements:
Qualification:
* Degree in Science or Engineering (NQF Level 7) or equivalent.
* Training in IP management and technology commercialisation would be highly advantageous.

Experience:
* 5+ years relevant experience in technology management, entailing research and development, technology transfer, or technology development funding environment.
* Leading/facilitating the development of project scopes/plans
* Product development
* Understanding of the barriers to commercialisation and the means to overcome them
* Demonstrated ability to work on her/his own initiative to develop funded collaborations
* Information retrieval, critical evaluation and analytical skills

Knowledge:
* Good understanding of the Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Funded Research and Development Act (51 of 2008) would be advantageous.
* Good understanding of the funding terrain for technology development and commercialisation.
* Technology analysis
* Market analysis
* Technology Transfer
* Technology Commercialisation
* Fundraising
* Marketing
* Commercial Law

Additional Notes:
* Communication skills
* Supervisory skills
* Emotional Intelligence
* Time Management
* Project Management
* Stakeholder Management
* Portfolio Management
* Report Writing

Information:
The website www.nrf.ac.za provides more details on the NRF initiatives and activities.

Applications:
Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by logging to https://ess.nrf.ac.za/Account/Recruitment and apply online. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating the applicant’s suitability for the position. The names and contact details of at least three referees should be provided.

Closing Date: 22 April 2025

The NRF offers a challenging career and competitive remuneration package which is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The NRF is committed to employment equity and redress and the appointment to the position will be made in line with the NRF Employment Equity Plan.

The NRF reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Correspondence will be sent to short-listed candidates only