About the job:
The CSIR has a vacancy for Information Scientist: Scholarly Communications and Digital Services in the Knowledge Management and Information Services (KMIS).
The incumbent will provide a subject specific, leading-edge information service to CSIR staff involved in research, development and innovation through the utilisation of a wide variety of scientific tools and networks.
These will include advising the CSIR staff on scholarly communication and research support across the research lifecycle and enable impact measurement .
The incumbent is required to play an integral role in research project teams, have a scientific background and the ability to interact with researchers in their domains and enable line staff to make informed decisions about future and existing projects through the provision of relevant information. The position is based in Pretoria
This position reports to Manager: Information Specialists
Key responsibilities:
Provide a subject specific, leading-edge information service to CSIR staff involved in research, development and innovation through the utilisation of a wide variety of scientific tools and networks.
Advise CSIR staff on scholarly communication and research support across the research lifecycle and enable impact measurement.
Play an integral role in research project teams, have a scientific background and the ability to interact with researchers in their domains and enable line staff to make informed decisions about future and existing projects through the provision of relevant information.
Provide relevant trusted information and data on science and industry to SET staff and to add value through the compilation of comprehensive scientific literature and systematic review reports after evaluation of the retrieved information.
Conduct relevant literature surveys, chemical structure/substructure searches, market research, competitive intelligence and advanced sector specific literature searches for CSIR staff.
Carry out prior art searches, patent searches and contribute to the initial phase of the Freedom to Operate searches for all Divisions and Clusters in diverse scientific areas to ensure that inventions are novel, useful and not obvious to anybody skilled in the art.
Provide an in-depth information service that includes current awareness and environmental scanning services for specific domains.
Encourage the implementation of innovative scholarly communication practices for scientific publications, provide advice on scholarly communication strategies that enhance the dissemination, visibility, credibility and impact of CSIR research outputs in line with organisational and national RDI priorities.
Identify tools useful to enable and support the measurement, evaluation, assessment and reporting of CSIR research impact by leveraging repository usage statistics, analytics, bibliometrics and alternative metrics to inform strategic decision making and demonstrate organisational value.
Promote open science principles and effective research communication practices that increase accessibility, reuse and societal impact of CSIR research, while balancing openness with intellectual property, confidentiality and commercial considerations.
Support and promote the CSIR policy regarding the dissemination of research outcomes, which includes advising researchers on Open Access publishing initiatives, read and publish agreements and the selection of suitable accredited publications in which to publish.
Support research staff in managing their research profiles for more visibility in a changing scholarly landscape.
Support and empower clients to confidently utilize CSIR information resources.
Equip and empower users to make effective and efficient use of information resources at their disposal through the development and implementation of relevant end-user training courses.
Market and promote information services, scholarly communication and resources to internal clients.
Ensure effective embeddedness by actively participating in relevant cluster or portfolio meetings, project meetings and research planning forums, providing contextualized advice.
Contribute towards successful implementation of Knowledge Management (KM) and Competitive / Business intelligence practices and strategies at Divisional and Cluster levels.
Introduce and implement new approaches and solutions that enable effectiveness and efficiency in the provision of KMIS services.
Identify and were feasible apply emerging and innovative methods of enhancing access and delivery of scientific and academic information for researchers at the CSIR, AI enabled research tools and its ethical use in research and writing.
Actively engage in continuous learning, attending relevant conferences, and workshops to stay informed about advancements in the respective scientific field.
Guide and mentor a team of Information Specialists and provide professional direction to KMIS staff and interns.
Participate externally, preferably in a leadership role, in professional area of expertise.
Qualifications, skills and experience:
A Postgraduate degree in Library and Information Science and/ BSc Honours or equivalent with at least five to eight years experience in a scientific/research work environment, providing information services related to R&D initiatives.
Scientific knowledge in Life Sciences, Material Sciences or Engineering domain or any specialised subject knowledge appropriate to the CSIR.
Knowledge in Information Science.
Knowledge of working with scientific and industrial information resources (Information searching, retrieval and delivery).
Ability to conceptualise and implement service solutions.
An understanding of Knowledge Management.
Open science
Good understanding of Research ethics
Knowledge of AI and GenAI
Bibliometrics, research assessment
Presentation skills and end-user training experience plus an understanding of the learning styles of adult learners.
Ability to build and manage relationships.
Oral and written communication skills.
Closing date: 07 May 2026