General Manager: Commercialisation Enablement

Job Purpose

• To lead and strengthen TIA's commercialisation enablement function by driving the transition of TRL 7–9 technologies to sustainable market entry. The role ensures measurable commercial outcomes, industry adoption, venture creation, scaling, and socio-economic impact, through implementation of the Commercialisation Enablement Strategy, the Venture Builder Programme, market access initiatives, and post-investment management.

Minimum Requirements Qualification

• A Post- graduate degree NQF 8 in Business, Finance, Economics or Engineering.
• Preferably a Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Commercial Law, Innovation Management, or related field MBA advantageous.

Experience

• 10 -12 years' experience in technology commercialisation, venture funding, investment structuring, or business development.
• 10 years executive/Snr leadership experience.
• Experience in public sector funding or innovation agency environment.
• Proven track record in structuring and closing commercial deals.
• 10 years Senior experience in commercialisation, venture development or investment.
• Experience in structuring licensing deals, equity exits, royalty models, strategic partnerships, and scaling high-growth ventures.
• Proven venture builder or accelerator experience.

Soft Skills

• Strategic thinking/Executive Presence
• Change Management and Adaptability
• Emotional Intelligence
• Result orientation and accountability

Technical Skills

• Investment Structuring
• Negotiation Authority
• Financial Modelling
• Market and Industry Analysis
• Portfolio Performance Management
• Enterprise Development and Scaling

Job Knowledge

• Engage Corporates, DFIs, Venture Capital, and international markets
• Digital commercialisation
• Platform-based market access, CRM responsiveness
• Data-driven pipeline management
• AI-assisted investor matching

COMPETENCIES

Technical Competencies

• Innovation portfolio management
• Commercialisation & business modelling
• Digital transformation strategy
• R&D management
• Strategic partnerships

Behavioural Competencies

• Strategic thinking
• Change leadership
• Stakeholder influence
• Risk-taking and calculated decision-making
• Collaboration & systems thinking

KEY RELATIONSHIP INTERFACES

Internal Relationships

• CEO / Executive Management
• Technology Development / R&D Teams
• Investment / Finance Teams
• Legal and IP Team
• Portfolio / Venture Managers

External Relationships

• Industry Partners & Corporates
• Investors & Venture Capitalists
• Entrepreneurs / Founders / SMMEs
• Government & Development Finance Institutions DFIs
• Innovation & Technology Platforms / Networks

Duties and Responsibilities FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE

Maximise return on innovation investment

• Drive revenue generation from commercialised technologies.
• Facilitate private sector co-investment and funding leverage.
• Improve financial sustainability of supported enterprises.
• Optimise cost-efficiency in commercialisation support programmes.
• Structure financially sound licensing, equity, and royalty agreements.

Access to Finance

• Facilitate co investment and follow on funding.
• Support investor readiness of supported enterprises.
• Mobilise private and institutional capital.

STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVE

Strengthen industry uptake and ecosystem partnerships

• Build strategic partnerships with industry, corporates, investors, and venture capital.
• Facilitate market access and offtake agreements.
• CRM responsiveness.
• Represent TIA in commercialisation and innovation platforms.
• Build strategic partnerships with industry, corporates, investors, and venture capital.
• Strengthen collaboration with ecosystem stakeholders.

Market Access and Scaling

• Enable private, public and international market access.
• Support go-to-market strategies for supported enterprises.
• Facilitate participation in market platforms and industry programmes.

Beneficiary Support and Success

• Improve beneficiary innovator/SMME support experience.
• Support scaling and sustainability of supported enterprises.

INTERNAL PROCESSES

Commercialisation Enablement Strategy

• Translate commercialisation strategy into programmes, instruments and partnerships.
• Monitor impact of commercialisation interventions.
• Refine interventions based on ecosystem feedback.

Commercialisation Pipeline Management

• Manage commercialisation pipeline from TRL completion to market.
• Monitor progress across commercialisation stages.
• Develop commercialisation plans for technologies.
• Track pipeline performance and delays.
• Maintain balanced technology portfolio.

Due Diligence & Risk Management

• Conduct commercial due diligence on projects.
• Perform risk assessments prior to investment approvals.
• Monitor risk mitigation implementation.
• Track commercial performance post-investment.
• Manage portfolio risk exposure.

Deal Structuring & Contracting Efficiency

• Structure commercial deals and agreements.
• Conclude commercial agreements within service timelines.
• Manage legal review processes.
• Standardise contracting processes.
• Monitor compliance with agreements.

Venture Builder Programme

• Design and operate the Venture Builder Programme.
• Support founder formation, governance and capital mobilisation.
• Provide venture development and scaling support.

Post Investment and Exit Management

• Manage portfolio restructuring and performance.
• Execute exit strategies and capital recycling.
• Track long-term sustainability of supported enterprises.

LEARNING AND GROWTH

Build commercial capability and innovation culture

• Develop commercialisation and investment skills within the team.
• Promote cross-functional collaboration Technology Development, Investment, Legal.
• Strengthen entrepreneurial mindset across supported entities.
• Drive knowledge sharing and ecosystem learning initiatives.
• Develop commercialisation and investment skills within the team.
• Improve employee engagement and retention.
• Strengthen organisational talent retention.

Deadline:24th September,2026