Applied Centre for Climate and Earth Systems Science (ACCESS) is seeking a full-time Director, who will be based in Pretoria or Cape Town. The three-year renewable contract position is available immediately. The role of the Director is to provide strategic and scientific leadership for the programme and oversee the operations of the Secretariat and the programme in general.

ACCESS is a Department of Science & Technology (DST) / National Research Foundation (NRF) Center of Excellence (CoE) which is an instrument of the DST’s Global Change Grand Challenge (GCGC). ACCESS comprises a consortium of universities, research agencies, science councils and research programmes, which is implementing the GCGC Science Plan and the Human Capital Development plan (with an emphasis on the Earth Systems Science aspects) through a series of activities and sub-programmes.

ACCESS is implementing a novel and progressive approach to research in earth system science and to science education with the aim of delivering a step-change both in terms of collaboration among disparate fields of research and technical disciplines and through enhancing the scope, scale and integration of earth systems sciences research and training in the country and region. ACCESS aims to deliver a national programme that builds critical mass, inclusiveness and opportunities for all scientists and students in the field from a range of institutions across the country and particularly from Historically Disadvantaged Institutions and backgrounds.

By creating an unprecedented collaborative platform and by implementing a range of targeted activities which capitalize on the globally unique suite of earth systems phenomena and features of the southern African region, ACCESS seeks to build on the proud and successful history of scientific research excellence in South Africa. This provides a unique opportunity to bring meaningful and significant change to practice of earth systems sciences and its applications, and to build a national whole which is bigger than the sum of its parts. ACCESS contributes to meeting the Global Change Grand Challenge and the need to transform science in the country. With this approach, we seek to build an African programme of global significance which stands as a symbol of pride and attraction for the next generation of African earth systems scientists.

ACCESS is seeking a full-time director, based in Pretoria or Cape Town. The incumbent will report to the Chair of the ACCESS, the NRF and DST. The role of the Director is to provide strategic and scientific leadership for the programme and oversight over the operations of the Secretariat and the Programme in general. The Director should ensure that the programme develops in accordance with the strategic plans of the principal sponsors of the project and as advised by the ACCESS Advisory Board.

In particular the Director will be responsible for:

• Oversight over the day-to-day operations of the ACCESS programme
• Management of the Research and Services and Education and Training Portfolio Managers
• Ensuring that planning and reporting requirements are met
• Oversight and ultimate accountability for the financial management of the programme,
• Liaising with ACCESS Committees and Subcommittees and the ACCESS Board
• Management of the relationship with the NRF and DST and ensuring compliance with the CoE and DST guidelines and reporting procedures
• Playing a key role in securing funding for ACCESS related activities and oversight of third party agreements (with local and international donors and partners)
• Leading the development and implementation of a strategy for promoting and growing the profile of the programme (with emphasis on expanding the programme’s base locally and in Africa)
• Representing the programme and its stakeholders in various forums and meetings
• Liaising and engaging with other related structures and programmes and government initiatives

Applicants should possess:

• A doctoral degree, preferably in an Earth Systems Science field.
• Ten (10) years’ experience as a senior researcher or programme manager.
• A good standing in the local and international research community.
• Strong leadership, people and communication skills and a good understanding of the national, regional and international Earth Systems Science landscape.

The post has a commensurate budget associated with the status of the role, and remuneration will be negotiated. The incumbent will be contracted by the CSIR, as CoE host, for a period of three years (renewable depending on performance). The CSIR will manage the recruitment process but the selection of the successful candidate will be made by a committee representing the ACCESS Board. The CSIR and ACCESS Board reserves the right to make no appointment via this recruitment process should no suitable candidate be identified, and may pursue additional methods of seeking a suitable candidate should that eventuality
materialise.

Should you meet the above requirements, please go to this page to apply; select the position reference number 301534 complete the application form and attach your CV.

Closing date: 7th August 2012

FEEDBACK WILL BE GIVEN TO SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES ONLY

Should you experience any problems in submitting your application, please contact the CSIR Recruitment Centre This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For more information about ACCESS and the post, go to ACCESS' official website.