Senior Specialist

Senior Specialist – Innovation & Opportunity Assessment Join to apply for the Senior Specialist - Innovation & Opportunity Assessment role at Sasol. Sasol is a global Integrated Chemicals and Energy company with a 75-year heritage. Through our talented people, we use our expertise and selected technologies to safely and sustainably source, manufacture and market chemical and energy products globally. When you join Team Sasol, you are joining a company that puts people at the center of everything we do. Sasol invests in its employees along every stage of the career path and offers development opportunities to help you cultivate your career in a culture that embraces diversity and inclusion. Purpose of Job: To identify, evaluate, and progress innovation‑driven business opportunities aligned with Sasol’s strategy and future value agenda. The role ensures robust assessment of exploratory and emerging opportunities, enabling the creation of a balanced opportunity funnel that delivers sustainable growth, diversification, and transformation of Sasol’s innovation portfolio. Building partnerships and collaborative networks to accelerate co‑development and implementation is a critical requirement. Key Accountabilities Conduct structured opportunity assessments to ensure strategic fit, value potential, and technical/market feasibility in line with Sasol’s Innovation strategy and incubation framework. Drive the BBST opportunity funnel development, ensuring coverage, diversification, and progression from early ideation and incubation to emerging business phases. Translate market, technology, and regulatory insights into innovation‑driven business opportunities, leveraging partnerships, licensing, and external ecosystems. Collaborate with internal partners, including but not limited to stakeholders in Strategy & Sustainability, Business Building, and Research & Technology to incubate and mature opportunities up to Gate 1. Apply opportunity framing tools, value assurance reviews, and portfolio review processes to ensure consistent evaluation and decision‑making. Provide clear recommendations to optimise portfolio health and accelerate delivery of Future Sasol. Drive quantitative and qualitative assessments with BBST teams, including EBITDA potential, capital requirements, risk assessment, sector/geographic diversity, and alignment with emission reduction and sustainability goals. Ensure knowledge sharing and capability building across the innovation network and communities of practice within business. Develop and maintain external intelligence networks to benchmark best practices and identify innovative pathways for growth. Foster collaboration across functions and maintain visible alignment with Sasol’s priorities (energy transition, sustainable fuels and chemicals, power business development, decoupling from oil dependency, etc.). Support the coordination and expansion of Sasol’s innovation ecosystem, including partnerships with startups, academia, research institutions, and industry consortia. Manage an internal innovation network of champions and cross‑functional teams to drive knowledge sharing, collaboration, and innovation culture across the organisation. Identify and engage with external partners and platforms to co‑develop solutions, accelerate access to new technologies, and strengthen Sasol’s innovation pipeline. Support the Innovation Centre of Excellence in embedding group‑wide standards, governance, and best practices for innovation networks and partnerships. Act as a connector between internal stakeholders and external innovation communities to ensure alignment, visibility, and impact of Sasol’s innovation agenda. Formal Education 4‑year University Degree (Engineering, Business, Economics, or related field). Postgraduate Qualification MSc, MBA, or equivalent (advantageous). Minimum Experience 9+ years relevant experience in innovation management, business development, technology assessment, or strategic portfolio evaluation. Exposure Exposure to energy, chemicals, or sustainability sectors preferred. Certification None required, though affiliation to professional innovation/business associations advantageous. Required Personal and Professional Skills BC_Collaborates BC_Optimizes Work Processes TC_Process Management and Development BC_Manages Complexity TC_Market Research and Analysis BC_Situational Adaptability TC_Performance Improvement TC_SD Strategic Direction and Governance BC_Ensures Accountability TC_Sustainable Development EEO Statement Sasol is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Inspired by our Purpose of "Innovating for a better world", Sasol acknowledges that diversity is intrinsic to the fabric of our organisation and is the key to our growth and success. Sasol is committed to the full inclusion of all suitably qualified individuals. Preference will be given to applicants from designated groups and people with disabilities according to Sasol’s Employment Equity Plan. This includes reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. Our automated process is designed to efficiently assess a large volume of applications. Should you not hear from us within 60 days of the advert closing then kindly consider your application unsuccessful. Thank you once‑more for your interest in Sasol as your employer of choice, and we wish you all the best with your career aspirations and future applications with us. Seniority Level Mid‑Senior level Employment Type Full‑time Job Function Information Technology Industries Chemical Manufacturing #J-18808-Ljbffr