Website Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)
The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) isa public entity in South Africa that funds and supports technological innovation to promote economic growth and improve the quality of life for its citizens.
The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) isa public entity in South Africa that funds and supports technological innovation to promote economic growth and improve the quality of life for its citizens. The agency acts as a bridge between research and development in higher education, science councils, and the private sector to bring new ideas to market. TIA was established by the South African parliament in 2008 and operates under the Department of Science and Innovation.
Job Purpose
- To provide legal services, including intellectual property (IP) support and advice to all TIA Business Units in respect of TIA projects/programs.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor degree in Engineering (Chemical) or Bachelor degree in Science .
- A Law degree
- Admission as an Attorney or Advocate
- At least four (4) years’ post admission experience.
- Two (2) years’ experience in an intellectual property environment and/or prior exposure to the technology innovation environment.
- Experience in Local and International Intellectual Property trends in relevant industries.
- Litigation experience.
- Laws, legislation and compliance requirements for the various operational aspects of TIA.
- Sound Knowledge of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999).
Skills:
- Assertive
- Critical judgment
- Customer-centricity
- Decisiveness
- Decision-making
- Negotiation skills
- Analytical and interpretation skills
Duties and Responsibilities
Financial Perspective
- Contribute towards saving for TIA by limiting operational costs, also complying with the National Treasure Cost Containment Measures (NTCM).
Stakeholder Management
- Participate in establishing cooperative customer relationships with stakeholders internally and externally.
- Provide quality services that meets corporate programme and project needs of TIA.
- Represent the Head: Legal Services on various committees, as may be required.
Internal Processes
- Perform Intellectual Property (IP) due diligence on TIA’s projects and programs and issue report on outcomes.
- Draft and/or review contracts for TIA operations, TIA projects and TIA programs, also focusing IP clauses.
- Draft legal opinions.
- Provide input in the formulation of legal policies, guidelines, frameworks and business processes.
- Provide input in the review Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the Legal Services BU.
- Capture all legal information relating to TIA operations on the applicable systems.
- Produce workflow management status reports, as and when required.
- Assist with quality assurance of work produced by the Legal Advisors.
- Identify and report on potential legal risks.
- Identify and implement development opportunities to ensure continuous improvement of work effectiveness and efficiency.
- Identify root causes of delays in the processes and implement measures to address the delays.
- Provide support and assistance to other Legal Advisors to achieve their milestones.
Governance and Compliance
- Participate in the internal and external audit exercise and resolution of all audit matters in the Business Unit.
- Ensure compliance with all TIA’s policies, frameworks, guidelines and systems (performance management, HR, finance, Stakeholder information, fund management, reporting, etc).
- Proactively identify and address internal and external risks to protect the organisation.
Learning and Growth
- Mentor other Legal Advisors to transfer knowledge and skill.
- Attend work-related, self-development courses including training (both external and internal) seminars, conferences, webinars and workshops.
