Jobs at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for Senior Researcher in the Smart Places Cluster within the Water Center. The incumbent will conduct research in the hydrogeological field as it relates to the groundwater modelling and understanding of hydrogeological impacts of land-use changes through hydrogeological assessments and modelling, including measures to enable and promote smart water use, and develop high quality and commecialisable/implementable technical outputs. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Promote a culture of SET excellence (quality and delivery) and providing research leadership;
• Promote a culture of industrialization of research outcomes;
• Interact with stakeholders (clients, peers, etc.) within fields of expertise to develop long-term relationships both within and outside the CSIR;
• Conduct project management through robust, integrated planning;
• Raise personal, team and institutional profiles through publishing original research and presenting work at national and international conferences and workshops;
• Write, and review research proposals; research reports, client reports and peer-reviewed publications;
• Conceptualise, structure, manage and implement research projects;
• Contribute to policy research in support of South Africa’s national priorities;
• Liaise with both internal and external clients and other relevant stakeholders;
• Conceptualise, structure, management and implementation of multi-disciplinary research projects.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A   Master’s degree in hydrogeology; preference being a doctoral degree in hydrogeology with at least five years’ experience in hydrogeology as it relates to groundwater modelling and the understanding of hydrological impacts of land-use changes through measurements.
• At least five years’ experience in groundwater source and aquifer zoning and smart water use techniques;
• Applied knowledge and understanding of groundwater resource modelling and systems optimisation;
• Conceptualisation, structuring, management and implementation of multi-disciplinary research projects;
• Contribute to policy research in support of South Africa’s national priorities;
• Write, and review research proposals; research reports, client reports and peer-reviewed publications;
• Liaise with both internal and external clients and other relevant stakeholders;
• Ability to work independently as well as in teams;
• Project management skills;
• Research and report writing skills;
• Communication and presentation skills;
• Problem solving, solution seeking orientation;
• Ability to provide thought leadership and mentoring;
• High level conceptualisation and analytical skills;
• Excellent facilitation and interpersonal skills;
• Computer literacy.

Closing date: 15 August 2023

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About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Environmental Assessment Practitioner in the Environmental Management Services research group, within Smart Places Cluster. The incumbent will be responsible for application of a range of environmental assessment and management skills, including environmental impact assessment, environmental management plans, strategic environmental assessment, as well as related skills such as environmental audits, risk assessment, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability frameworks and systems thinking. This position is based at the CSIR offices in Stellenbosch, Cape Town or Durban.

Key responsibilities:

• Conduct independent investigations as well as integrate information from across disciplines;
• Work together with colleagues to develop our environmental assessment and management capabilities, through developing networks, growing the business and building new competencies;
• Co-ordinate and manage environmental assessment studies, from the proposal and negotiation phases through to public consultation, information collation, report writing; managing specialist teams; project management and communication of findings;
• Travel regularly within South Africa and to other African countries as required.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• An Honours degree in environmental science or in a field related to sustainable development, environmental engineering, conservation ecology or planning with at least three years’ of experience in environmental assessment;
• A Master’s degree in environmental science or in a field related to sustainable development, environmental engineering, conservation ecology or planning would be advantageous; 
• Short courses and further qualifications that include environmental legislation, geospatial analysis, systems thinking and stakeholder engagement would be advantageous;
• Experience in other countries in Africa (e.g., Francophone Africa and SADC) and proficiency in another national language used in Africa would be an added advantage;
• Experience in application of scientific analytical research methodology;
• Must have a relevant professional registration such as a Professional Natural Scientist (Pr. Sci.Nat) and/or EAPASA, or such registration to be imminent;
• Problem solving skills and solutions-oriented approach;
• Critical grasp of national and international developments regarding sustainability issues;
• Valid South African Code B or EB driver’s licence.

Closing date: 15 August 2023

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About the job:

The CSIR has a temporary vacancy for a Project Administrator in the Mandela Mining Precinct. The incumbent will be responsible to provide administrative support according to applicable project management framework in support of the effective and efficient delivery of projects. This positions are based in Carlow Road, Johannesburg.

Key responsibilities:

• Assist with coordinating milestone deliverables, which includes correspondence, scheduling, progress tracking, documentation control, and report edits/review;
• Coach and guide new interns, provide induction to new interns into their roles, and do hand-over activities where required;
• Update and maintain audit files/records, update and maintain SharePoint information, update, and maintain risk register, update and maintain projects tracking;
• Support programme managers in the compilation of Terms of References, the review of contracts, and all related requirements associated with project coordination;
• Support the programme managers in the co-ordination of Open Day/Workshops arrangements;
• Create a project start up file and update accordingly until close out;
• Assist the Programme Manager with the administrative aspects required to establish, implement and maintain project controls;
• Collect documentation required for compliance to project control standards and procedures;
• Participate in line project office meetings by capturing actions and resolutions and provide required information for decision making;
• Assist with the calculation of income to be declared and running costs against timesheet bookings by monitoring the financial dashboard system;
• Highlight red flags (e.g. incorrect booking) and inform the project lead and/or other relevant stakeholders;
• Review and update the project budget forecast each quarter and submit to the leader for verification;
• Obtain project status feedback and record in relevant status document;
• Provide inputs requested to and prepare documentation required by relevant programme governance committees;
• Perform continuous quality checks and report anomalies to the Programme Manager;
• Assist the Programme/Contracts Manager to capture project configuration data and documentation into appropriate configuration/document management system;
• Assist the Contracts Manager with administrative tasks for project close out;
• Facilitate project documentation and ensure compliance with project management, business frameworks and CSIR quality standards;
• Assist with office management including meeting and event management, travel bookings and drafting agenda/minute-taking;
• Ensure that the office is in a position to function effectively on a day-to-day basis;
• Support good contact with senior stakeholders internally and externally;
• Prepare expense reconciliations.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A National Diploma in project management with at least one year project administration experience within a project/programme management.
• A post graduate qualification in mining related disciplines such as geology, mining, survey, social sciences would be an advantage.
• Experience in assisting with project coordination of multiple projects would be an advantage.
• Proficient in Microsoft Project or similar software.
• Good numerical skills.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English a requirement.
• Attention to detail.
• Need to have drivers’ licence and own transport and willing to travel.
• All international qualifications require an evaluation report / certificate issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

Closing date: 04 August 2023