Earth Quest Solutions Manager (12 months Fixed-Term Contract)

Job Summary

Department: Wits Enterprise

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Growth & Business Development: Identify and secure commercial opportunities across three primary pillars: commercial analytical services, geo-tourism/geo-heritage ventures, and commercial research projects, with a view to building a pipeline for sustainable growth year-on-year.

2. Operational Management: Oversee the day-to-day business functions of EQS, utilizing the Company for back-end administrative, legal, and financial support. Provide operational oversight and coordination of EQS projects, working collaboratively with academic, technical and administrative staff within EQS and the School, as well as contracted project managers and external contractors.

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3. Governance & Reporting: Develop a constitution and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Report to the EQS Board of Directors quarterly and contribute to the School of Geosciences Quinquennial Review.

4. Financial Stewardship: Manage the entity’s path to profitability, ensuring that fixed costs and variable project costs are covered. This includes covering the annual fixed cost base, including annual endowment payments and commission to School support staff, all relevant management fees and university cost recovery.

5. Sustainability Integration: Ensure that commercial activities complement, rather than overshadow, the School’s primary teaching and research missions. Agree on and monitor workload limits for academic, technical and laboratory staff, and ensure fair compensation of the staff and students who contribute to EQS projects.

6. Marketing, Branding & Stakeholder Engagement: Establish and maintain the EQS brand, website and client-facing material with the Wits Geosciences and Wits Commercial Enterprise teams.

7. Build and maintain a client pipeline across the mining, exploration, environmental, government and tourism sectors; and represent EQS at relevant industry forums.

Requirements

• A postgraduate degree ideally MSc, MBA, MEng or equivalent (NQF level 9 or higher), in geology, earth sciences, engineering or a related natural science, or in business, commerce or management. An equivalent combination of qualifications and senior commercial experience will be considered.

• At least three years in business development, commercial or operational management, consulting, or contract research and technology commercialisation. Candidates may come from either route: a commercial professional with demonstrable scientific literacy, or a scientist with a demonstrable commercial track record.

• A track record of securing and delivering commercial contracts, tenders or service agreements, including client acquisition and retention.

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• Financial management experience covering the costing/pricing of services, budgeting, cash-flow management and profit-and-loss accountability for a unit or business with annual turnover of at least R2 million.

• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and external contractors, as well as reporting to a board or equivalent oversight structure.

• A sound working knowledge of the southern African mining, exploration, environmental or analytical laboratory services market.

• A valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel within South Africa.

Desirable Experience

• Experience in business development or commercialisation in a university, science council or research institute environment

• Background in analytical laboratory services, geo-metallurgy, exploration or environmental services, or in geo-tourism, geo-heritage or science-education product development.

• Experience with contracting, procurement and financial systems, research management and intellectual property frameworks.

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• Knowledge of the B-BBEE, SHEQ and ISO quality requirements applicable to commercial laboratory work.

Remuneration & Benefits

Salary range: R900,000 - R1,100,000 per annum (depending on qualifications and experience)