Research Centre Manager: Information and Cybersecurity Centre Job at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

Key responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the cluster leadership, contribute to research, development and innovation (RDI) strategy. 
• Provide and coordinate strategic leadership within the Centre.
• Develop, provide and motivate capacity to deliver on the Centre's strategy.
• Integrate complete solutions aligned with the focus of the Centre.
• Develop and implement appropriate components of Centre's research, development and innovation (RDI) strategy with specific sub-sectors and specific impacts.
• Contribute to strategic investment goal setting for the Centre.
• Drive and implement a business plan for operation, sustainable growth and impact.
• Drive staff development through strategic Human Capital development initiatives to advance individuals through their research careers, to ensure alignment with industrial needs.
• Promote high quality science, engineering and technology (SET) expertise and develop appropriate SET capacity and profiles.

In collaboration with business development and commercialisation portfolio: 

• Drive the transfer of technology and solutions to industry/user environments.
• Drive and implement the business development and commercialisation strategy.
• Package technologies for commercialization and/or develop and "investment ready business" through financial modelling, market assessment and business development.
• Lead strategic stakeholder interaction, internal and external - including international collaborations.
• Establish and service strategic alliances (institutional) according to RDI strategy.
• Drive the financial sustainability of the Centre and attract funding.
• Integrate sector knowledge in multidimensional research and development programmes to deliver industry aligned RDI, through deep understanding of the industry needs.
• Propose and/or contribute to the strategic investment plan and implement Parliamentary Grant, other grant-funded projects and programmes.

Drive SET outputs and quality, which includes:

• Industry applications - support to SMME, products and prototypes developed, technologies localised and diffused, new patents granted, new licenses, new companies formed, industry standards and capable state (technology development, acquisition and use dimension), etc.
• Deliver on all KPIs of the area and ensure all outputs are achieved, including transformation, profit, quality, health, safety and environment as per agreed targets.
• Implement and comply with appropriate financial, business and governance systems, including operational approvals.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Master's degree in computer/electronic engineering, computer science, or related fields with at least eight years' experience in strategic leadership and/or business management at a senior level within the RDI sector, of which five years should be in information and cybersecurity.
• A Doctoral degree would be advantageous. 
• Professional Certifications (e.g. CISSP, CISM, and/or equivalents) would be advantageous
• Experience and skills in RDI project leadership.

Solid track record of:

• Engagement with target sector on strategic level and understanding of industry competitiveness drivers.
• Engagement and understanding of Defence and Security industry and public sector
• Broad understanding of relevant technologies and their potential impact on competitiveness.
• SET capability building track record (HCD, R&D rigour and R&D infrastructure).
• Working on classified projects