Vacancies
Director - Department of Research and Innovation (DRI)
University of Pretoria
Gauteng
Permanent
Role Overview
Reporting to the Vice-Principal: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Education, the Director will lead and manage the University’s research strategy and development agenda, commercialisation initiatives, and postgraduate education. The successful candidate will be responsible for strengthening UP’s research capacity by growing the next generation of scholars, attracting research funding and grants, auditing and processing external grants, and enhancing the postgraduate and postdoctoral experiences.
Duties & Responsibilities
The successful incumbent’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
Provide visionary and strategic leadership in advancing the University’s research agenda, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities, national imperatives, and global trends in knowledge production and innovation.
Identify and secure research funding from diverse sources, national funding agencies, international funders, philanthropic organisations, and industry, while supporting researchers in grant proposal development and strategic funding alignment.
Engaging with faculties and transdisciplinary platforms, drive research excellence and promote the University’s research profile by providing strategic leadership in research policy, planning and implementation.
Provide leadership in the cross-cutting functions of postgraduate coordination, research capacity development, innovation and intellectual property and contract management.
Develop, oversee and continuously improve systems, including to:Identify and make use of research funding opportunities;
Provide information required for planning, implementing and reporting on UP’s research activities and for strengthening its research performance and standing;
Oversee administration and quality assurance related to internal and external research grants, including reporting; and
Marketing UP’s research expertise and achievements.
Supervise the implementation of advanced research and student systems (e.g., RIMS, Postdoctoral Management).
Assume overall responsibility for institutional research reporting, including the annual research report, submission of the University’s research outputs to the DHET and the University’s annual report to the DHET.
Lead the development of research capacity through mentorship, training, and support for emerging researchers, postgraduate students, and postdoctoral fellows, with an emphasis on transformation and excellence.
Plan, manage and continuously improve the systems, processes, operations, human resources and finances of the Department of Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Education to ensure its effective functioning in support of the University’s strategic objectives.
Drive the translation of research into innovative solutions by supporting intellectual property management, commercialisation pathways, and the development of spin-offs, start-ups, and technology transfer initiatives
Minimum Requirements
A doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent).
A minimum of 10 years’ experience of which 5 years should be in a senior academic, research, or innovation leadership role.
Proven experience and success in securing large research funding, managing large research portfolios, and fostering strategic partnerships.
Proven understanding of higher education, national and international research systems, and intellectual property frameworks.
Proven track record of research excellence and innovation leadership, including experience in developing research capacity, fostering inter-disciplinary collaboration, translating research into societal and/or commercial impact and the National System of Innovation.
Proven experience in drafting, evaluating, and implementing institutional policies related to research, innovation and postgraduate education.
A proven record of success in strategic leadership of new initiatives.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES):
The successful candidate will have advanced proficiency in the following knowledge and technical competencies:
Ability to plan and respond to emerging global trends in research, innovation, and postgraduate education; adept at translating vision into actionable strategies aligned with institutional goals.
In-depth knowledge of research management systems, postgraduate education frameworks, and regulatory environments, with the ability to design and oversee institutional systems for efficiency and accountability.
Ability to lead, develop, and inspire diverse, multidisciplinary teams. Committed to inclusive leadership, performance management, staff development, and promoting a high-performance culture.
Knowledge and understanding of intellectual property rights, technology transfer and the processes of research commercialisation within the academic environment and industry interface.
Ability to build and maintain strategic partnerships across academia, government, industry, and international funding agencies.
Ability to manage complex budgets, align resource allocation with strategic priorities, and drive cost-effectiveness without compromising quality.
Proficiency in using digital tools and platforms for research information management, analytics, and reporting.
Commitment to upholding the highest standards of academic ethics, governance, confidentiality, and institutional accountability.
Excellent communication (written and verbal) and report writing skills.
Excellent negotiating and relationship management skills.
Highly developed analytical skills.
Ability to lead a number of strategic high-impact initiatives, including grants, that require multi-stakeholder, multi-lateral and multi-national partnerships.
ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES
A postgraduate degree in Business Management, e.g. MBA
A qualification in project management.
Salary Details
The annual remuneration package will be commensurate with the incumbent’s level of appointment, as determined by UP policy guidelines. UP subscribes to the BESTMED and UMVUZO medical aid schemes and contributes 50% of the applicable monthly premium.