Business Development and Commercialisation Specialist (MMA Cluster) - 3-Year Fixed Term Contract

Introduction Mintek seeks a technically grounded Business Development and commercialization Specialist to drive the growth of the Mining Materials and Automation (MMA) Cluster by bridging the gap between deep-tech innovation and market adoption. This is a science-and-engineering BD&C role focused on commercializing intellectual property and creating new markets, not a generic sales or finance post. Duties & Responsibilities KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:Proactively identify, originate, pursue, and mature business, partnership, investor, and funding opportunities on behalf of the MMA Cluster, with a strong emphasis on commercializing IP from the MMA Cluster.Scan the market for opportunities aligned with MMA capabilities across advanced materials, process control, and mineral economics, and identify higher-value opportunities that can be positioned through broader Mintek integration.Work closely with the Executive Managers of Advanced Materials, Measurement and Control, and Mining and Mineral Economics Divisions to extract, interpret, and package key technical insights into externally relevant value propositions.Integrate capabilities across the three MMA divisions and, where relevant, with other clusters (Mineral Processing Cluster and Extractive Metallurgy Cluster) into coherent solution offerings. For example, combining MME's market knowledge with Measurement and Control's digital solutions, or linking Advanced Materials' catalyst development with process control expertise.Develop commercially grounded business cases, pitch material, and commercialization pathways for intellectual property, including licensing, spinouts, joint ventures, and technology transfer.Shape opportunities into structured programmes, projects, concept notes, and proposals with clear scope, deliverables, and commercial logic.Engage mining companies, industrial partners, government stakeholders (DMPR, DSTI, etc.), development finance institutions, funding agencies, and investors in a credible and well-structured manner.Support the positioning and communication of techno-economic scenarios and investment cases prepared by technical specialists, including discussion of metrics such as NPV, IRR, payback, discount rate, sensitivity, and scenario-based cases.Build and manage an opportunity pipeline that supports funding growth, revenue generation, and strategic partnerships for MMA and for the wider Mintek platform. Desired Experience & Qualification JOB KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:Demonstrated ability to work with multidisciplinary technical teams and translate complex technical content into partner-facing opportunity narratives.Proven exposure to opportunity origination, proposal development, programme shaping, commercial scoping, costing, or strategic partnership development.Experience in or demonstrable understanding of technology commercialization, IP management, and routes to market (licensing, spinouts, etc.).Working familiarity with techno-economic concepts and the ability to engage in discussions involving NPV, IRR, payback, discount rates, sensitivities, and scenario-based investment cases.Sound commercial reasoning and sufficient financial literacy to engage with business cases and pricing logic.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear business-facing and investor-facing material.Integrated solution development across divisions and clustersStakeholder engagement and relationship development. QUALIFICATIONS:A relevant Bachelor’s degree (BSc, BSc (Hons), BSc-Eng, or equivalent) in science or engineering, specifically in fields such as Materials Science and Engineering, Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.MBA or postgraduate business/commercial qualification supported by a strong technical grounding will be advantageous.An MSc or PhD in a relevant scientific or engineering field will be ideal. BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:Be able to work in a team.Excellent communication, presentation and organizational skills.Attention to detail, ability to follow up and take initiative.Initiative, judgment and delivery focus.