Mining Technology Advisor – Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub

Job Description

The mandate of the Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BDIH) is to catalyse the diversification of Botswana’s economy, towards a knowledge economy. To do this, the Hub works closely with innovation ecosystem players to facilitate the development, growth and exportation of home-grown solutions (products and services) driven by innovative and technology-driven start-ups and existing companies. The Hub does this by:

• Collaboratively rolling out initiatives aimed at fostering a culture of innovation in Botswana and providing innovation capacity building opportunities.
• Incubating and scaling enterprises through the provision of tailored business and technical advisory services.
• Offering technology transfer office services to identify, protect and monetise Intellectual Property (IP)

AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY, AS LISTED BELOW HAS ARISEN WITHIN THE BOTSWANA DIGITAL AND INNOVATION HUB (BDIH).

TITLE: MINING TECHNOLOGY ADVISOR

LOCATION: GABORONE

APPOINTMENT TYPE: 3 YEAR FIXED TERM CONTRACT

The Mining Technology Advisor plays a strategic role in advancing Botswana’s mining innovation ecosystem by identifying, developing, and commercialising cutting-edge technologies. Reporting to the Innovation and Technology Coordinator, this role involves driving technology readiness levels (TRL) progress, supporting digital transformation in the mining sector, and fostering public-private-academic partnerships. The advisor will provide technical guidance to startups, researchers, and industry players on R&D, innovation commercialisation, and mining tech deployment while ensuring alignment with global best practices (ISO 56002 Innovation Management, (ISO 9001:2019 Quality Management System) OECD innovation policies, and sustainable mining frameworks).

Main Responsibilities

Mining Innovation & Technology Strategy

Development

• Contribute to the formulation of BDIH’s Mining Technology Strategy, ensuring alignment with national economic diversification policies and the global mining technology landscape.
• Provide insights on emerging technologies such as automation, Al. ML, DL, AR/VR to guide BDIH’s innovation agenda.
• Support the development of innovative solutions for local mining challenges, such as, energy management, assests reliability applications, mineral beneficiation and geoscience applications for mining operational efficiency enhancement.
• Identify technology gaps in the mining industry and propose innovation programs that drive local and regional competitiveness.
• Assess the feasibility of emerging mining technologies and monitor global industry trends to maintain competitiveness and guide the innovation Hub’s mining technology strategy.
• Oversee pilot projects that test and validate new digital mining solutions, ensuring compliance with local regulatory standards.

Research, Development & Commercialisation of Mining Technologies

• Screen Botswana Innovation Fund applications for evaluation and funding.
• Guide mining startups, SMEs, and R&D teams in transitioning from concept to commercialisation by advising on TRLs, pilot testing, and regulatory approvals.
• Conduct technology and market assessments to determine feasibility scalability, and commercial potential of mining-related innovations.
• Support the development of prototypes and proof-of-concept (PoC) trials for new mining solutions in collaboration with research institutions and industry.
  Promote intellectual property (IP) protection strategies for mining innovations, working with legal and policy teams to enhance patenting and licensing opportunities.

Industry Stakeholder Engagement & Ecosystem

Development

• Build and strengthen collaboration between government agencies, mining companies, research institutions, technology firms, and venture capitalists to advance mining tech innovations.
• Establish partnerships with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), mining solution providers. and digital mining startups to facilitate technology transfer and investment opportunities.
• Facilitate cross-sector knowledge exchange through conferences, hackathons, and workshops on digital mining, Al, and automation.
• Act as a liaison between government bodies (e.g.,.
  Ministry of Minerals, Energy, and Water Resources) and the private sector to align policy and regulatory frameworks with technological advancements.

Funding, Investment & Policy Support

• Identify and pursue funding opportunities from local and international sources to support mining technology projects.
• Develop and submit funding proposals to secure venture capital, grants, and private sector investments for high-potential startups and research projects.
• Provide input on policy recommendations to enable tech-driven mining sector growth, including taxation incentives for R&D, ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) compliance, and sustainability guidelines.
• Work closely with financial institutions to mobilise resources for mining innovation scale-up projects.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Impact Reporting

• Develop and oversee KPIs for startup engagement, ecosystem partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives.
• Implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness of entrepreneurship programs
• Track startup progression rates, investment attraction, and technology commercialisation outcomes.
  Prepare quarterly and annual reports, providing data-driven insights and recommendations for mining program improvement.
• Conduct entrepreneurship ecosystem research, identifying emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities.
  Assist in preparing performance reports and tracking resource allocation to ensure accountability and effective support services.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Materials & Metallurgy.
  Mining Engineering, Mineral Processing, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Project management methodologies (Agile/Scrum, PMBOK or PRINCE2 for example and product development lifecycles.
• A postgraduate qualification (Masters in a above fields or related would be an added advantage).

Experience

• Minimum 5 years experience in Mining, Metallurgy, Minerals and Materials Processing Technology, Research & Development and or Innovation Management.
• Competent in leading mining tech projects from concept to market adoption.
• Experience in mining sector digitalisation, automation, or Al applications.
• Strong industry network across mining firms, research institutions, and innovation hubs.
  Familiarity with venture funding mechanisms for mining startups.

Competencies Technical

• Project Management & Execution – Strong skills in planning, implementing, and monitoring technology projects within the mining sector.
• Digital Mining & Smart Technology Expertise – Knowledge of Industry 4.0 applications in mining. including Al, automation, and loT solutions.
• Intellectual Property & Regulatory Compliance – Understanding of patenting, licensing, and compliance requirements for startups.
• Technical Evaluation & Business Development – Ability to assess startup applications, product feasibility, and market potential.
• Business Advisory & Capacity Development – Expertise in guiding startups through business model validation and scale-up strategies.
• Monitoring & Evaluation of Innovation Programs – Proficiency in impact measurement and performance tracking.

Core Competencies

• Emotional Intelligence and Self-Awareness –
  Recognising personal emotions and their impact on relationships and leadership.
• Results Orientation and Execution Excellence – Driving operational efficiencies, achieving performance targets, and delivering high-quality solutions.
• Written and Oral Communication – Effectively conveying ideas through structured reports, presentations, and discussions.
• Stakeholder Engagement – Building and maintaining relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to align strategies with organisational goals.
• Resilience and Stress Management – Maintaining composure under pressure and adapting to challenges while ensuring business continuity.
• Ethical Behaviour and Integrity – Acting with transparency, accountability, and a commitment to ethical decision-making.