Group Executive: Research and Innovation

**_The successful incumbent will be reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and will be expected to execute the following Key performance areas:_**
- Contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of organisational strategies for accomplishment of the ARC’s vision.
- Contribution to financial sustainability by developing and coordinating a resource mobilisation capacity.
- To position the ARC as a premier research organisation that strives for excellence in Research and Development for a productive, competitive and sustainable sector, whilst fulfilling the transformation and development mandate (e.g. small holder agricultural development)**.**:

- Participate in Executive Management Committee functions and provide executive support to President & CEO to facilitate reporting to ARC Council Participate in special and _ad-hoc_ projects as required and/or delegated**.**:

- Provide strategic leadership and management to the 3 research functional areas, i.e., Crops & NRE, Animals & Biotechnology as well as Research Support & Coordination, and align with ARC strategic outcomes and outputs.
- Coordinate the development and implementation of the research strategy in line with national strategic frameworks and other regional and global imperatives.
- Ensure that the functional areas have sufficient capacity and skill sets in accordance with business requirements.
- Create a leadership presence and provide strategic direction to ensure that the cluster achieves the objectives and targets in the strategic plan pertaining to work/functions performed by the cluster**.**:

- Implement the ARC strategic plan within the cluster, as well as report on strategic plan implementation.
- Provide strategic and sound management advice to the management team and all staff on matters pertaining to the cluster activities.
- Oversee, monitor, evaluate and communicate the status of implementation of the cluster’s business performance.
- Oversee the development and implementation and review of applicable strategies, plans and policies & procedures within the cluster.
- Management of business risks by identifying and developing appropriate risk management strategies including compliance.
- Identify, quantify, monitor, and report business risks (financial, operational, research and development) across all the cluster’s units, and profile them accordingly.

**Business Development**
- Identify and follow up on opportunities for potential new business ventures, secure and collaborate with respective institutes.
- Initiate and maintain strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders internationally, across the sector and with relevant government departments and conversion of partnerships into revenue opportunities.
- Ensure that new contracts are signed with public and private sector as well as international clients.
- Develop new products and markets and expand offerings to existing clients to maintain positive relationships as evidenced by repeat business.

**Staff Management**
- Continuously scout for R&D talent and support the development of the ARC employee value proposition that will allow the division to attract highly qualified, skilled committed human resources to optimise divisional and organisational capacity.
- Lead, manage and empower staff within functional areas to ensure that staff meets the functional objectives in the strategic plan and individual objectives of their individual performance contracts.
- Implement performance management across the functions.
- Attend to staff management matters timeously.
- Maintain appropriate staff discipline and controls in line with disciplinary code and procedure.

**Research Leadership**
- Provide leadership in research through supervision, collaboration and advice.
- Actively lead and support teams to mobilise resources.
- Support funding proposals for major initiatives and collaborative teams.
- Encourage research teams to publish in high quality research journals.
- Promote continuous capacity development amongst existing staff compliments.
- Lead and develop comprehensive institutional research projects, and identify research priorities to support the ARC’s mission, strategic vision, and initiatives**.**:

- Coordinate the budgeting process and planning in the Cluster and oversee/monitor and control implementation of capital and operational budget in the Cluster so that the expenditure is in line with the defined limit and ARC business strategy.
- Display knowledge of and, where applicable, be involved in collaborative research with other institutions across the range of disciplines relevant to the work of the ARC.
- Provide information and analytical support to the ARC’s decision-makers to facilitate strategic planning, policymaking and other processes requiring sound strategic analysis.
- Produce high-quality peer-reviewed papers and oversee their production by other members of the research team.
- Oversee management, maintenance and safeguard