Group Executive: Mineral Processing & Characterisation - 5 year Fixed Term Contract

Group Executive: Mineral Processing & Characterisation - 5 year Fixed Term Contract

Listing reference: minte_000437

Listing status: Online

Apply by: 30 July 2026

Position summary

Industry: Scientific, Research & Development

Job category: Research and Development

Location: Randburg

Contract: Fixed Term Contract

Remuneration: Market Related

EE position: Yes

Introduction

Mandate:

• To lead and provide strategic direction to the Cluster.
• To ensure alignment with the Cluster strategy with the needs, trends and opportunities in the cluster related industries.
• To maintain a balanced cluster RDI portfolio.
• To be accountable for the Cluster sustainability, including financial, human resources, SHEQ, risks and delivery.
• To be accountable for the impact of the Cluster in terms of Mintek’s mandate.
• To be accountable for the performance and management of the Cluster.
• To lead high level stakeholder engagements with industry, HEI’s, public sector and international entities.
• To ensure that the internal state grant funding is effectively invested and leveraged to maximise impact in terms of strategic goals, leveraging of funding and commercial impact.

LEADERSHIP

• Ethical leadership
• Live the Mintek values, foster a culture of collaboration within Mintek

STRATEGY

• Drive the Cluster RDI strategy and operations, support the Cluster business development and commercialization and ensure the execution of strategic programs.

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

• Drive the Cluster financial sustainability through effective operations.
• Balance the RDI portfolio funding and commercial targets as agreed in the Cluster.
• Ensure that there are effective inter Discipline collaborations and collaborations between Clusters to ensure that targets are met.
• Ensure that the Cluster revenue streams are diverse.

PEOPLE AND PLANNING

• Ensure that the core RDI Cluster and Discipline plans are aligned with Mintek’s strategy and the needs of the Cluster market.
• Ensure that the Cluster and Disciplines are adequately resourced, with a particular focus on SET staff and resources and succession planning.
• Drive the transformation agenda in the Cluster, ensure that there is employment equity and gender balance throughout the cluster.
• Contribute to the refinement and development of the Mintek strategy and plans.

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

• Deliver on the Cluster KPI’s.
• Undertake performance management for the Cluster.
• Ensure that systems and tools are in place to monitor and measure the delivery of RDI activities.

GOVERNANCE AND RISK

• Risk identification and implementation of management plans and actions for the Cluster’s operations and RDI activities, including SHEQ.
• Adhere to all Mintek’s policies and ethics.

RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING

• High level stakeholder engagement, including stakeholder management and satisfaction for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Reporting on all RDI projects in the Cluster from own management information.
• Commercialisation and technology transfer management.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master in a relevant scientific field relating to the Cluster Disciplines (Analytical Chemistry, Mineralogy, Mineral Processing)
• Ideal: PhD relevant scientific field relating to the Cluster Disciplines

JOB KNOWLEDGE AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Ten years relevant experience or more, of which 5 years must be in a senior research management position in RDI and / or commercialisation.
• Significant relevant industry knowledge and experience.
• Experience in managing people.
• Track record in leading commercialisation of RDI outputs.
• Experience in national and international business engagement and operations management.
• Strategic development and implementation.
• Business Development.
• Technology and IP management and commercialization.
• Business and financial management.
• Leadership of people and operations management.
• Deep knowledge of one or more Discipline sectors in the Cluster

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Excellent numerical and quantitative skills
• Good management and leadership skills
• Strategic thinking
• Ability to multitask
• Ability to get things done
• Ability to lead by example

COMPETENCY REQUIRED

• Strategic development and implementation.
• Ability to lead diverse teams.
• Business Development.
• Technology and IP management and commercialization.
• Business and financial management.
• Leadership of people and operations management.
• Deep knowledge of one or more sectors in the Cluster.

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