Research Group Leader: Hydrogen SA and CO2 Capture and Utilization

Job Description

The CSIR is seeking a Research Group Leader for the Hydrogen SA (HySA) and CO2 Capture and Utilization Group within the Centre for Nanostructures and Advanced Materials (CeNAM). The role involves providing strategic and technical leadership, managing a team, ensuring financial sustainability, and driving research in hydrogen production, storage, distribution, and utilization, as well as carbon capture and utilization. The position is based in Pretoria.

Requirements

• Doctorate degree in chemical engineering or chemistry
• Five years’ experience in hydrogen production, storage, distribution, utilization, and carbon capture and utilization (CCU)
• Professional registration (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, research, and report writing skills
• Ability to provide thought leadership and high-level conceptualization
• Ability to work independently and 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
• Track record or ability to produce actual devices such as sensor units
• Strong project management skills
• Conflict management skills
• Decisiveness and action orientation
• Appropriate national and international RDI networks
• Understanding of the research-to-market innovation value chain

Responsibilities

• Implement the HySA group RDI strategy aligned with Chemicals Cluster/CeNAM technology trends
• Contribute to strategic investment goal setting and RDI strategy development
• Ensure a well-balanced impact capability in specific impact/application domains
• Keep the HySA and CO2 Capture and Utilization team innovative and competitive
• Effectively manage research group staff
• Manage staff members’ performance in collaboration with CeNAM manager
• Provide technical solutions to client programmes
• Integrate sector knowledge to deliver industry-aligned RDI
• Manage strategic stakeholder relationships to secure research and industry programmes
• Implement and comply with management and systems requirements, including operational approvals
• Apply processes and policies to ensure IP protection and technology transfer
• Drive technology transfer and commercialization in collaboration with Business Development and Commercialization portfolio
• Package technologies for commercialization or develop investment-ready businesses through financial modeling, market assessment, and business plan development