Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Extractive Metallurgy Cluster.
• Align cluster strategy with industry needs, trends, and opportunities.
• Maintain a balanced Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) portfolio.
• Ensure sustainability across financial, human resources, SHEQ, and risk areas.
• Drive impactful contributions aligned with the organisations mandate.
• Lead performance management initiatives within the cluster.
• Engage high-level stakeholders across industry, academia, public sector, and international platforms.
• Optimise internal grant funding to achieve strategic, financial, and commercial objectives.

Key Performance Areas:
1. Leadership & Strategy

• Drive a culture of collaboration and alignment with organisational values.
• Lead the development and execution of the Clusters RDI strategy and strategic programmes.

2. Financial Management

• Ensure financial sustainability through effective operational management.
• Diversify revenue streams and maintain a balanced funding/commercialisation mix.

3. People & Planning

• Align Cluster and Discipline plans with broader organisational and market needs.
• Ensure appropriate resourcing with a strong focus on SET (Science, Engineering, and Technology) capacity.
• Drive transformation initiatives and succession planning.

4. Performance Management

• Deliver on set KPIs and ensure performance measurement systems are in place to monitor RDI outputs.

5. Governance & Risk Management

• Identify and mitigate risks within Cluster operations and RDI activities.
• Ensure adherence to all internal policies, procedures, and ethical standards.

6. Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting

• Build and manage strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee reporting on RDI projects and manage technology transfer and commercialisation activities.

Minimum Requirements:
Qualifications:

• A Masters degree in Extractive Metallurgy, Engineering, or a related scientific field.
• Preferred: PhD in a relevant discipline.

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years experience within a research or knowledge-based environment.
• At least 5 years in a senior management role focused on RDI and/or commercialisation.
• Strong industry knowledge and a proven track record in commercialising RDI outputs.
• Demonstrated experience in managing teams and leading stakeholder engagement both nationally and internationally.

Key Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent communication, presentation, and analytical skills.
• Strong leadership and strategic planning capabilities.
• Proven business development and commercialisation expertise, including IP and technology management.
• Ability to multitask and work in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.
• In-depth technical knowledge in at least one discipline within the Extractive Metallurgy Cluster.

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