Technology Commercialization Specialist

Job Profile:

To facilitate progression of Necsa in-house and licensed-in technologies towards commercialisation through evaluation and prioritisation of viable technologies, facilitation of funding for technology development and commercialisation and securing strategic industry and market partnerships, with a view to diversifying Necsa Group's portfolio of products and services and contributing to the organisation's financial sustainability.

Key Performance Areas

1. Technology Opportunities Identification, Screening, Evaluation, Prioritisation and Packaging

• Scan industry and market to evaluate technology, markets and competitor trends to identify technology development opportunities and threats
• Engage regularly with Research and Innovation Division to provide input on diligent identification, screening, evaluation, protection, prioritisation and development of technologies aligned with Necsa Group capabilities and market needs
• Assess commercial and financial viability, and conducts due diligence, of new technologies at various levels of technology readiness, including market assessments, production related assessment and IP evaluations of these technologies to ensure Freedom to Operate.
• Provide a commercialisation strategy for Innovation Disclosures.
• Advise on commercial aspects of Intellectual Property (IP) management, including selection of strategic markets/territories
• Formulate industry and/or market problem statements and value propositions of various technologies
• Advise on contract research related matters for various technological capabilities
• Advocate awareness to Intellectual Property creators/innovators of Benefit Sharing Framework

2. Technology Funding Facilitation

• Develop a fundraising strategy for various technology
• Develop a register of possible funders, their funding mandates, applicable technologies
• Analyse market intelligence, market reports and technology research reports and translate these into generic technology business cases for technology development funding
• Develop or manage development of techno-economic/ financial models for various technologies
• Develops technology investment case/business case/business plans for approval by relevant, delegated governance committees
• Translate technology investment case/business case/business plans into funder-specific templates for review and approval before lodging formal application with funders
• Make follow-ups and participate in due diligence discussions after submitting funding applications
• Negotiate and recommend funding terms for funding applications that reach in-principal approval stage.
• Provide commercial viability input to Necsa-TIA seed fund submissions for periodic funding Calls

3. Securing Strategic Partnerships for Technology Development and Commercialisation

• Establish strategic partnerships, with technology partners, funding partners, commercialisation partners, industry thought-leaders, customers and other relevant stakeholders in support of technology commercialisation objectives (e.g. government departments and agencies, regulatory and marketing authorities, industry organisations and associations).
• Translate technology funding landscape analyses and industry and market analysis reports into a register of potential funding and industry and market partners
• Keep abreast of and participate in matchmaking of technological capabilities as well as technology funding and market access needs to identify new strategic leads for technology funding, industry and market offtake partnerships
• Identify and evaluate possible synergies with potential technology partners, funding partners, commercialisation partners, industry thought-leaders, customers and other relevant stakeholders in support of technology commercialisation objectives (e.g. government departments and agencies, regulatory and marketing authorities, industry organisations and associations)
• Develop commercialisation strategies for various technologies
• Evaluates, monitors progress and ensures implementation of technology commercialisations activities including technology development, liaising with business development for market related activities and feedback into technology development process, liaising with operations for operational readiness activities, activity progress, documentation and reporting of all commercialisation activities along the technology development pipeline.
• Negotiating appropriate agreements, including technology development funding agreements, IP licensing or acquisition, for various technology commercialisation projects
• Manage various IP licensing or acquisition agreements, and rights, and advising on strategic approach to IP licensing or acquisition in view of technology commercialisation model
• Prepare focused presentation and marketing materials for professional meetings, seminars and conferences
• Compile monthly reports covering status of developments with regards to industry partnerships
• Provide advisory service on the creation, incubation and management of technology spin- outs

4. Internal Stakeholder Relations

• Participate in internal collaboration forums (including, but not limited to, collaborations with the Marketing and Sales business units)
• Diligently engage and cooperate with Project Management Office on technologies requiring centralised project management to secure allocation of project managers to various technologies
• Diligently engage and ensure good relations with other Necsa Group stakeholders in the technology development and commercialisation cycle
• Advocate awareness of the role of technology commercialisation function to various internal stakeholder platforms (including but not limited to colloquiums)

5. Budgeting

• Prepare and present budgets for technology commercialisation activities in support of the role of technology commercialsation function within Necsa Group
• Communicate and minimise possible budget variances for technology commercialisation support activities

KEY KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Analytical thinking and attention to detail
• Anticipating and managing change
• Holistic / big picture thinking
• Judgement and decision-making
• Time and self-management
• Team player
• Approachable
• Performance driven
• Quality orientation
• Service orientation
• Integrity
• Decisive
• Assertiveness
• Ethical behaviour
• Trust and credibility

COMPETENCIES

• IPR Act
• Negotiation and deal structuring
• Commercial Management
• Policy and procedures development
• Business Case Development
• Financial modelling
• Employee relations
• Employee wellness
• Business management principles
• Business process mapping and engineering
• Financial management and budgeting
• Strategic thinking
• Performance management
• Influencing & Negotiation
• Project management methodologies
• Human Resources related statutory requirements (e.g. EE, LRA, BCEA, etc.)
• Organizational Development
• Diversity management
• Communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Proper planning and time management skills

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Education:

• BSc Hons/ B-Eng.
• A marketing or business management qualification would be an added advantage

Experience:

• 7 years proven track record in technology commercialization or experience involving bringing new technologies to market or business development
• Proven track record in dealing with research institutions, funding organisations for purposes of securing rights to technology and funding, respectively, is required.
• Strong project management experience is required.

Closing date: 08 November 2025.

CONTACT PERSON

Ms. Lufuno Tswidi

Tel:

Important: Necsa Group is committed to Employment Equity when recruiting. Therefore, priority will be given to African Females, people with disabilities, Coloured Males and African Males in support of achieving our Employment Equity targets.

GENERAL:

Should you not hear from us within 30 days of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.