Commercialisation Officer:

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is a leading scientific and technology research organisation that researches, develops, localises and diffuses technologies to accelerate socio-economic prosperity in South Africa. The organisation’s work contributes to industrial development and supports a capable state.

**Commercialisation Officer**:
**(Two Year Fixed-Term Contract)**

**About the job**:
The CSIR has a vacancy for a Commercialisation Officer within the Advanced Production and Security Division. The incumbent will be responsible for supporting and implementing the commercialisation strategy and driving various initiatives for the Division, as part of the Business Development and Commercialisation team. The position is based in Pretoria.

**Key responsibilities**:

- Support the structuring, negotiation and closing of commercialisation transactions involving advanced technologies;
- Undertake due diligence exercises, including market assessments, IP assessments, financial modelling, and business case development;
- Evaluate the strength and advancement of the research relating to inventions and assess commercial potential;
- Conduct research related to products/ technologies, market sectors, companies and competing technologies and present findings and recommendations for implementation
- Undertake valuations/ financial analysis of commercial opportunities using appropriate tools and techniques;
- Develop, recommend and implement commercialisation strategies for inventions and technologies at varying stages of maturity; evaluate capital needs, market potential and return on investment ; interact effectively with the research community, attorneys, external business professionals, financiers and corporate partners;
- Assist with packaging technology / intellectual property (IP) for commercialisation and develop commercialisation / business cases in collaboration with technical and support teams;
- Participate in determining appropriate commercialisation pathways, including venture creation;
- Identify appropriate funding for taking inventions to market;
- Draft terms of reference for EoIs/RFPs for commercialisation partners/licensees, service providers, coordinating selection and recruitment of suppliers, etc.
- Ongoing administration, monitoring and evaluation of the divisional portfolio of commercialisation projects, facilitating the execution of commercialisation plans
- Participate in reviewing of proposals, agreements and legal documentation and making recommendations;
- Manage project information and communication with various stakeholders and assist with reporting and compliance, e.g. quarterly, NIPMO.

**Qualifications, skills and experience**:

- A Bachelor’s degree in sciences, engineering, or business related, a postgraduate qualification will be advantageous;
- A Post Graduate qualification in intellectual property, technology transfer, technology management, or relevant qualification;
- At least three years’ experience in industry /commercialisation, Technology/lP and project management/ private equity or related;
- Relevant industry experience in Research Development & Innovation and also commercialisation
- Knowledge and networks for technology commercialisation and resource mobilisation;
- Relevant industry experience, knowledge and expertise in the development of commercialisation strategies, business cases, valuation, deal structuring and negotiation
- Stakeholder management and industry-related networks;
- Excellent communicator with strong, demonstrable business acumen; and
- Strong people management and organisational development skills.

**Closing date: 27 June 2023**

**PLEASE NOTE THAT FEEDBACK WILL BE GIVEN TO SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES ONLY.