Job Details

KINDLY TAKE NOTE: Applications may only be submitted online through the official UFS vacancy website: https://ufs.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/JobSearch/viewAll  - Applications submitted through any other platform will not be considered. The system allows a maximum of eight attachments. To avoid upload issues, we recommend merging some or all documents into fewer files before submitting.

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED!
To ensure your application is complete, you must submit ALL documents listed under the inherent requirements, as well as the following standard documentation:
                                                               
•    A detailed Curriculum Vitae.
•    Copies of your qualifications, or official proof of qualifications obtained (If you hold foreign qualifications, please include SAQA accreditation).
•    A copy of your identity document (South African ID or passport for foreign nationals).
•    Confirmation of employment in the form of a letter, appointment contract, service certificate, or recent payslip from your current or most recent employer (applicable to external applicants only).

Duties and responsibilities

Strategic and Relationships
•    Develop and execute a results-driven strategic vision for innovation, commercialisation, and incubation aligned with institutional objectives and national innovation priorities.
•    Lead the Technology Transfer Office (TTO), ensuring effective Intellectual Property (IP) management, licensing, and commercialisation strategies.
•    Establish sustainable funding models for Technology Transfer and Incubation, leveraging industry partnerships, grants, and venture capital.
•    Oversee the commercialisation of research outputs, ensuring revenue-generating opportunities through spinouts, licensing, and contract research.
•    Foster a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, integrating research-based ventures into the economic ecosystem.

Oversight of the Business Incubator
•    Lead the university's incubator as a platform for spin-out enablement, innovation scaling, and entrepreneurial pipeline development, integrating research commercialisation, innovation acceleration, and responsible start-up governance principles.
•    Develop and implement business acceleration programs, enabling spin-out companies to secure funding and market access.
•    Engage with investors, industry leaders, and innovation hubs to position the incubator as a leading
centre for research commercialisation.
•    Ensure the incubator operates as a financially sustainable entity, attracting external funding and strategic partnerships.
•    Develop incubation policies, frameworks, and key performance indicators (KPls) to measure success
and impact.

Financial Strategy, Funding Development, and Third-Stream Income Generation
•    Develop and implement financial strategies for innovation, commercialisation, and incubation.
•    Lead strategic budgeting, agile financial forecasting, and the development of differentiated funding models that support high-impact, multi-year innovation portfolios for innovation and commercialisation initiatives, ensuring long-term sustainability and third-stream income growth.
•    Provide governance oversight in research commercialisation projects, optimising resource allocation for maximum impact.

Contract Negotiations, Risk Management, and Compliance
•    Lead complex contract negotiations and reviews, ensuring regulatory compliance and institutional risk mitigation while supporting high-value innovation transactions, complex partnerships, and institutional risk exposure mitigation.
•    Ensure IP governance frameworks align with the Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Financed Research and Development Act (IPR Act).
•    Manage risk assessment processes in commercialisation deals, spinout companies, and funding agreements.
•    Develop and implement best-practice policies for technology transfer, business incubation, and commercialisation contracts.

Stakeholder Engagement and Thought Leadership
•    Foster interdisciplinary innovation collaborations across faculties to drive research impact and commercialisation opportunities.
•    Engage with national and global innovation funders, development agencies, and commercialisation networks to enhance the institution's innovation footprint, strengthen partnerships, and attract high­ impact investment and grant opportunities.
•    Represent the university at conferences, industry panels, and government innovation forums.
•    Work closely with faculty deans, research chairs, and university leadership to align innovation, incubation, and commercialisation strategies with institutional goals.

Inherent Job Requirements

•    A Professional Bachelor’s degree/ Honours degree/ Postgraduate Diploma on NQF Level 8.
•    A Chartered Accountant (SA).
•    Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in senior financial and innovation management, preferably in research- intensive institutions or commercialisation platforms.
•    Demonstrated expertise in research funding models, grant management, and third-stream income generation.
•    Demonstrated experience at an executive level, including financial oversight, business growth, and governance.
•    Demonstrated experience in contract negotiations and reviews, ensuring compliance and protecting institutional interests.
•    Demonstrated experience in intellectual property management and commercialisation strategies to maximise research impact and revenue generation.
•    Strong track record in strategic planning, risk management, and compliance in a research or innovation environment.

Recommendations

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​•    Minimum eight (8) years’ progressive experience in executive level financial leadership, innovation, governance, or research commercialisation strategy.
•    Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (including financial modeling, pivot tables, scenario analysis, and dashboarding).
•    Comprehensive knowledge of technology transfer and commercialisation lifecycle, including IP disclosure, valuation, protection (patents, trademarks, copyrights), licensing, spin­ out formation, and IP monetisation.
•    Proficiency in using IP and contract management systems, with the ability to track innovation KPls and manage project pipelines.
•    Strong working knowledge of South African regulatory frameworks, including the IPR Act, Companies Act, Higher Education Act, and Treasury Regulations, with proven experience in developing and implementing compliance frameworks and risk assessments.
•    Demonstrated expertise in business incubation models, venture creation, early-stage investment readiness, and private-sector partnership structuring (including shareholder and co-investment models).
•    Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and engage effectively across academic and industry environments, with excellent policy development, stakeholder engagement, and communication skills.
•    Familiarity with hybrid and remote working environments and supporting technologies (e.g., MS Teams, SharePoint, workflow automation), including successful implementation of digital coordination and cost-reduction strategies.

Key Competencies Required:

•    Results Orientated:
-    The ability to set high standards, establish tough goals, and to work to achieve success.
-    The ability to cope with a frequently changing environment and to adapt to evolving situations. 
•    Strategic Thinking:
-    The ability to be creative and open-minded when addressing work issues.
-    The ability to deal with several activities at a time.
•    Business Acumen:
-    The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.
-    Proficient in using MS Office.
•    Leading:
-    The ability to lead, take charge of situations, and offer opinions and directions to others. 
-    The ability to be cooperative with others, display a good-natured attitude and encourage people to work together.
•    Building Coalitions:
-    The ability to negotiate, sell, influence and to persuade others.
-    The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people.

Assumption of duties:
As soon as possible.

Closing date:
27 August 2025

Salary:
The salary is available on request.

Fringe benefits: 
(Subject to specific conditions): pension scheme, medical aid scheme, group life insurance, housing allowance, leave and sick leave, service bonus and study benefits.

Enquiries:
For enquiries, please contact vermaakm@ufs.ac.za or phone 051 401 9329.  In addition, kindly contact 051 401 9848 for assistance.

General:
The UFS is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity, and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups including candidates with disabilities. Our Employment Equity Plan is available at: EEA13-UFS EE Plan 1 March 2025_28 Feb 2026.pdf 

The University processes personal information in line with its obligations under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and any personal information provided to the University will be treated as confidential and processed in accordance with the rights provided to data subjects under POPIA.

The University reserves the right not to fill the post. The UFS will only consider applications of candidates who meet all the inherent requirements of the position. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. Should you not be contacted within six weeks of the closing date for applications, you may assume that your application was unsuccessful.