Job Description

Career Opportunity

The company is a leading scientific and technology research organisation that researches, develops, localises and diffuses technologies to accelerate socio-economic prosperity in South Africa. The organisations work contributes to industrial
development and supports a capable state.

About the job:

The client has a vacancy for a Chief Researcher: Energy in the Energy Centre in the Smart Places Cluster. To lead the development of capabilities in specific research focus areas including the development of the Human Capital in the relevant science, engineering, and technology (SET)
focus areas in the Energy sector. S/he will contribute towards improvement in the efficacy and effectiveness of the commercialization of products and services produced by the Energy Centres RDI endeavors.

Key responsibilities:

Lead the drafting and implementation of the Energy Research, Development and Innovation agenda in select and specific areas of expertise in the energy sector;
Provide strategic leadership direction in the energy industry, identify customer needs, technology development gaps and opportunities, conducting market research and competitor analysis with the aim of championing technological products /solutions to the identified industry needs;
Conceptualize, guide and manage RDI programmes in specific areas in the Energy sector to respond to national, continental and international customer needs;
Manage RDI programmes;
Provide thought leadership as world leader in the research areas and understand the entire Energy research, development and innovation value chain;
Promote culture of science, engineering and technology excellence in the relevant energy field in the transition towards the desired South African energy mix;
Business development and actively sourcing and securing funding (nationally and internationally) for the Cluster and research group;
Drives SET Human Capital Development agenda and training of select Energy Centre employees in the specific discipline;
Generate technical reports, articles, conferences papers and presentations aimed at specific energy sector domain locally and internally.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

A doctoral degree in science, engineering and technology (electrical, mechanical, industrial, engineering, mathematics, science etc.) with 15 years experience in the energy sector of which 5 years should be in a specialized field;
Extensive experience and understanding of the energy sector across all energy carriers including coal, nuclear, natural gas, liquid fuels and the growing renewable energy industry;
Strong network in the public and private sector (local and international) as the link to energy modelling;

Experience in energy research and the transition of the energy system to more sustainable energy sources as may include renewable energy, systems integration, thermal energy and energy carries such as hydrogen;
Track record in obtaining contract R&D funding and managing such projects;
Experience in working with teams in energy research, development and commercialization;
Track record of published work within science, engineering and technology field;
Knowledge of South Africa power system energy, policies, regulations, codes and standards;
Strategic capabilities and execution;
Business development and commercial aptitude;
Networking and collaboration skills;
Stakeholder interaction and engagements from scientific, engineering and technology fields.

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