Chief Investment Officer- 5 Year Fixed- Term Contract

Technology Innovation Agency · Pretoria, Gauteng

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Job Purpose

  • To provide executive leadership and strategic oversight of TIA's investment management, portfolio strategy, funding instruments and investment risk functions. The role leads the development and execution of long-term investment strategies that position TIA as a dynamic, intelligence-driven national innovation agency, and strategic investment partner within the National System of Innovation.

Minimum Requirements Qualifications

  • Master's degree in Finance, Investment Management, Business Management, Economics, Commercialisation, Engineering, Science, Technology or a related field.
  • Professional certification or advanced training in investment management, corporate finance, venture capital, development finance, portfolio management or innovation commercialisation.

Experience

  • Total 15 years working experience on senior management level within an institutional funding environment.
  • Proven experience in managing investment portfolios, funding instruments, due diligence, risk management and stakeholder partnerships.
  • Total 15 years executive-level experience in a technology development, innovation, development finance, venture capital, public sector funding or National System of Innovation environment of which 8+ years must be at EXCO / General Manager level.
  • Proven experience in blended finance, co-investment models, Fund-of-Funds mechanisms, commercialisation support, portfolio optimisation

Knowledge and Skills

  • Knowledge of Public sector investment governance and PFMA requirements.
  • Investment funding instruments, portfolio management and risk oversight.
  • Blended finance, co-investment, Fund-of-Funds and development finance models.
  • Commercialisation pathways, technology readiness and innovation scaling.
  • Intellectual property, technology transfer and market adoption considerations.
  • Due diligence, investment appraisal, IRR, ROI and impact assessment.
  • Strategic judgement.
  • Executive presence and influence.
  • Accountability and ethical leadership.
  • Analytical and systems thinking.
  • Investment strategy development.
  • Portfolio management and optimisation.
  • Due diligence and investment appraisal.

Duties and Responsibilities Financial Perspective

  • Partner with the Chief Financial Officer to ensure alignment between investment funding decisions, financial controls, reporting requirements and audit outcomes.
  • Oversee the allocation, utilisation and monitoring of investment funds to ensure alignment with approved portfolio priorities, funding instruments and strategic outcomes.
  • Drive the design and implementation of blended finance, co-investment and Fund of Funds mechanisms to leverage public and private sector capital.
  • Monitor investment expenditure, commitments and disbursements against approved budgets, delegations of authority and PFMA requirements.
  • Ensure that investment decisions are supported by sound due diligence, financial analysis, risk assessment and expected impact.

Stakeholder Management

  • Build and manage strategic relationships with investors, funders, government departments, development finance institutions, industry partners, universities, science councils and other NSI stakeholders.
  • Position TIA as a credible innovation investment partner and curator of high-impact innovation opportunities.
  • Represent TIA in relevant investment, innovation, commercialisation and technology development forums.
  • Provide strategic advice on emerging investor expectations, market trends, stakeholder priorities and partnership opportunities.

Internal Processes

  • Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of TIA's investment management framework, portfolio governance model and investment decision-making processes.
  • Ensure that investment pipeline development, screening, due diligence, approval, contracting, monitoring, reporting and exit processes.
  • Oversee portfolio segmentation, Prioritisation and optimisation to support strategic impact, commercialisation readiness and financial sustainability.
  • Define investment risk appetite, risk assessment criteria and mitigation measures.
  • Strengthen evidence-based investment decision-making through improved market intelligence, portfolio analytics, impact measurement and performance reporting.
  • Ensure alignment between investment management, commercialisation support, intellectual property assessment, business support and NSI curation functions.
  • Define TIA's short-, medium- and long-term investment priorities in line with the Decadal Plan, APP and national innovation priorities.
  • Identify emerging sectors, technologies, market opportunities and funding gaps that require investment intervention.
  • Support integrated organisational planning by aligning investment strategy with innovation, commercialisation, financial strategies.
  • Oversee monitoring and evaluation of funded investments to assess financial performance, commercialisation progress, technology development milestones and socio-economic impact.
  • Identify underperforming investments and recommend corrective actions, additional support, restructuring or exit strategies.
  • Improve operational efficiencies of technology development and commercialisation portfolio.

Learning and Growth

  • Ensure KPAs are understood and achieved as agreed upon in the performance agreements for each division.
  • Ensure reviews of performance against agreed performance standards
  • Live the values and culture of TIA.
  • Communicate and implement development opportunities to ensure continuous improvement of work effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Identify, manage and coordinate the implementation of knowledge systems, tools and initiatives to improve the performance TIA.
  • Integrated information systems and tools are optimally utilized to execute core tasks.

Deadline:22nd September,2026

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