WHY WORK WITH US
The Council for Geoscience is a key component of the National Science and Technology System. It undertakes geoscientific research and provides geoscientific services to a variety of clients, including the state. The clientele base is national throughout the SADC region, and further afield, including North Africa, Asia and South America. We invite applications for the positions as listed below.

CHIEF SCIENTIST – HYDROGEOLOGY
Peromnes Grade : P06 (R 1 149 829.12 CTC Per Annum)
Location : Head Office (Pretoria)
Reporting Line : Manager – Water and Environment
Overall Job Purpose : The purpose of the role is to lead the hydrogeology team, undertake advanced / cutting-edge integrated and multidisciplinary geoscientific research with emphasis on numerical groundwater modelling.

• Develop and oversee scientific projects for statutory and commercial programmes
• Review and update SOP’s for the collection, management and interpretation of hydro-geological data
• Develop and monitor training programmes with focus on regional and localized groundwater assessment for exploration, exploitation, and management.
• Integration of hydrogeology data with other geoscientific information.
• Review and approve scientific reports.
• Enable integration of hydro-geological data with other geoscientific data for integrated geoscience projects.
• Supervise MSc and PhD projects
• Design and oversee the packaging and presentation of work within the unit
• Reporting
• Oversee and Council for Geoscience scientific publications, especially those linked to hydrogeology
• Undertake geoscience research aligned to the Council for Geoscience mandate.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

• Initiate and participates in cutting edge geoscientific research, which involves:
  • Data mining and data collection
  • Data interpretation
  • Compilation/computation of maps and/or geoscientific models
  • Development of new methodologies
  • Publications
• Compilation of reports and peer-reviewed technical papers or scientific publications
• Make recommendations of the research at regional, national, inter-governmental level for scientific research or commercial purposes.
• Provide guidance and/or mentoring to junior staff in research, which involves the following:
• Provide guidance in the formulation of research proposals, methodologies, data collection and data interpretation
• Revision and editing of reports, methodologies, models and maps on various projects
• Progress monitoring on projects
• Evaluate projects results, edit reports of junior scientists for publication
• Participate in national or international review bodies tasked with reviewing advanced projects/programmes of national, scientific, or international significance
• Participate in independent research from data gathering, development of high-quality maps and reports, level editing of maps, reports, 3D models and other publications
• Develop, interrogates, and implements innovative conceptual models and techniques to enhance efficiency with regards to geoscientific work or programmes
• Design new methods and formulates theories; using integration of existing and new data to define mineralising systems for the purposes of mineral exploration. Geoscience data processing, interpretation and packing toward defining research areas/requirements and the establishment and review of solutions toward mandated research objectives and training and development plans.
• Integrate and package results toward policy-defining suggestions.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION/ PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Lead varied projects simultaneously and guides other scientists in the implementation.
• Monitor risks and implement/make recommendations for corrective measures in line with the risk management plan to the Business Unit Manager.
• Identify and contribute to geoscience aspects during the compilation of tenders documents and proposals.
• Participate and/or lead commercial contract negotiations with external clients in line with the mandate from the Executive Management.
• Monitor expenditures in the project expenditure and ensures that the budget is expended in line with the evaluate progress of tasks and objectives of the projects, and report progress to Business Unit Manager.
• Lead the compilation of commercial and statutory project tender documents or contracts; geoscientific and, project financial and scheduling aspects
• Provide advanced advice to the Executive Management, and/or public and private sector organisations related field of expertise and may advise Executive Management on scientific and technical acceptability of maps, publications, and reports.
• Provide independent moderation or peer-review of post-graduate degrees or scientific publications
• Make presentations at a national and/or international conferences or related work forums. Editing or co-editing of a book or volume based on conference proceedings.
• Make science-based contributions to research publications as author or co-author in national and international journals.
• Produce high-quality publications in national and/or international journals as first author.
• Participate in scientific discussions at national and international conferences involving matters of scientific importance either in a specific field or variety of fields.
• At times contribute to the national standard and best practice guidelines at relevant for a (forums)
• Develop and implement operating manuals for work procedures for ISO certification.
• Evaluate project results, reviews and edits project proposals and technical reports compiled by lower-level scientists.
• Mentor, coach and provide supervision and guidance in research of lower-level scientists in regard to their geoscientific work and their progress.
• Initiate national or international training workshops /courses for junior staff to strengthen skills transfer staff in line with the business unit development plan.
• Assist in identifying training needs and recommends to the manager
• Evaluate the results, edits reports for publication by junior scientists, and prepares own work for publication by the CGS.
• Supervise and provides guidance in the execution of projects by junior staff

STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS AND REPORTING

• Provide advanced advice to the Executive Management, and/or public and private sector organisations related field of expertise and may advise Executive Management on scientific and technical acceptability of maps, publications and reports.
• Provide independent moderation or peer-review of post-graduate degrees or scientific publications
• Make presentations at a national and/or international conferences or related work forums. Editing or co-editing of a book or volume based on conference proceedings.
• Make science-based contributions to research publications as author or co-author in national and international journals.
• Produces high-quality publications in national and/or international journals as first author.
• Participate in scientific discussions at national and international conferences involving matters of scientific importance either in a specific field or variety of fields.
• At times contribute to the national standard and best practice guidelines at relevant for a (forums)

QUALITY ASSURANCE

• Develop and implements operating manuals for work procedures for ISO certification.
• Evaluate project results, reviews and edits project proposals and technical reports compiled by lower-level scientists.

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

• Mentor, coach and provide supervision and guidance in research of lower level scientists in regard to their geoscientific work and their progress.
• Initiate national or international training workshops /courses for junior staff to strengthen skills transfer staff in line with the business unit development plan.
• Assist in identifying training needs and recommends to the manager
• Evaluate the results, edits reports for publication by junior scientists, and prepares own work for publication by the CGS.
• Supervise and provides guidance in the execution of projects by junior staff

DECISION MAKING

• The incumbent must have the capacity of drafting and developing work procedures for ISO certification but need to consult with executive manager and unit manager in executing or implementing these procedures.
• The incumbent must have the capacity to provide an authoritative report on the performance or behaviour of junior staff but cannot make a recommendation or take a decision for a junior person to face a disciplinary hearing without consulting with the relevant manager of the unit on the matter.
• The incumbent must have the freedom (in line with the procedures and policies of the CGS) to remediate an incident or administer to a project needs in consultation with the specialty scientist and the manager
• The incumbent must have the capacity to provide an authoritative report on technical matters relating to his/her area of expertise and can make technical recommendations, but cannot implement these without consulting the executive manager
• The incumbent must have the capacity to prepare research articles for scientific journals and/or presentations at national/international conferences and/or supervise or co-supervise tertiary degrees and/or serve as an external lecturer at institutions of higher education and/or initiate collaborative research initiatives, but cannot do so without consulting with the executive manager
• The incumbent must have the capacity to prepare technical reports for clients or to give advanced advice to government departments/public sector organizations, but cannot release reports without consulting with the executive manager

Skills and other requirements

• Excellent data interpretation skills and formulation of hydrogeological conceptual and development of numerical flow models
• Excellent coding and computational skills
• The ability to lead/work as part of a large multi-disciplinary team
• Understanding of mine water hydrology will be an added advantage
• Must have driver’s licence

Qualification, Knowledge and Experience

• PhD Hydrogeology/Geology with 5 years’ experience working on hydrogeology projects OR MSc Hydrogeology/Geology with at least 10 years’ experience working on hydrogeology projects OR BSc (Hons) Hydrogeology/Geology and 15 years’ experience.
• Minimum 2 years of project management experience
• Proven and relevant peer-review publication record, with particular emphasis on regional and localised groundwater assessment for exploration, exploitation, and management.
• Conceptual modelling, integration of geoscience datasets and multidisciplinary research.
• Demonstration of complete hydrogeological projects with focus on regional and localised groundwater assessment for exploration, exploitation, and management for multidisciplinary programmes
• Background/experience in geology will be an added advantage
• Registered with SACNASP

The Council for Geoscience is committed to Employment Equity and diversity. In accordance with the Employment Equity prescripts, preference will be given but not limited to candidates from under-represented designated groups. Females and people from previously disadvantaged groups and sectors are encouraged to apply.

If you meet the above requirements and wish to apply, please send your application to careers@geoscience.org.za 
Please quote the position title (Chief Scientist – Hydrogeology) as a reference when submitting your application.

Correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. If you have not been contacted within eight (8) weeks after the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.

All appointments are subject to vetting processes. Appointments are subject to positive vetting results. The processing of your personal information by the Council for Geoscience will be done in accordance with the POPI Act 4 of 2013

Applications submitted on CGS social media platforms will not be considered.

Closing Date: 05 December 2022