Business Development Officer

Brief Description

Duties/Responsibilities

• Commercialisation Pipeline Support and Documentation
• Partnership Development
• Licensing Support
• Spinout Support
• Commercialisation Forum Secretariat Support
• Reporting, M&E and Benefits Tracking

Minimum Requirements

• A tertiary qualification / University degree (or higher) in Commerce or
• Science/Engineering or Innovation/Entrepreneurship
• Short courses in Innovation management, Entrepreneurship development, Technology transfer,
• Project management, or Venture building, will be an added advantage
• 3 years experience in Technology transfer, Commercialisation, early-stage venture or enterprise development with demonstrable exposure to at least two of the following:
• Preparing pitch decks, one-pagers and market briefs
• Supporting the drafting and routing of term sheets or licence documents
• Spinout operations support (CIPC filings, basic compliance packs)
• Start-up support (meeting logistics, grant/proposal support, tracking KPIs)
• Identification and engagement of prospective Commercialisation partners
• Fundraising processes (grant applications, diligence checklists)
• Drafting/routing of license documents
• Establishment and aftercare of spinouts/start-ups

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills, And Behaviours)

• Commitment to the development and Commercialisation of research-based innovations
• Working knowledge of the innovation value chain and university Commercialisation processes
• Stakeholder coordination skills (researchers, advisors, investors, industry)
• Basic understanding of early-stage funding pathways and deal documentation
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Strong interpersonal skills, organisational skills, time management skills
• Ability to multi-task; meticulous attention to detail
• High computer literacy
• Ability to work in a team and independently
• Reporting and presentation skills
• Familiarity with CIPC compliance, Commercialisation of publicly funded R&D outputs
• Experience with basic analytics dashboards
• Event coordination and external-facing professionalism
• Initiative, curiosity, and a continuous-improvement mindset

Detailed Description

Job Requirements

Additional Details