SENIOR RESEARCH SPECIALIST/ MANAGER

Job Advert Summary

The Developmental, Capable and Ethical State (DCES) is a research division within the HSRC that employs a multi-disciplinary group of social scientists who conduct numerous empirical and policy-related studies.

The DCES division is looking to appoint suitably qualified professionals in the position of Senior Research Specialist/Manager. These positions support and assists the Divisional Executive in implementing the five-year strategic plan of the HSRC. The Developmental, Capable and Ethical State (DCES) division conducts transdisciplinary, intersectional, policy and programme-relevant research. The over-arching questions that guide the research are:

• How to strengthen democracy through transparent governance, accountable leadership and reinvigorated public participation/ civic engagement and inclusion. In this regard, research on digital tools and strategies such as participatory platforms are crucial to address the digital divide and help build citizen trust in digital public services.
• How to ensure sustainable development in an increasingly globalising, urbanising and rapidly changing world.

Minimum Requirements

• A doctorate (PhD) in the social or economic sciences or related disciplines;
• An established research career as evidenced by publications. For SRS/M – at least seven (7) peer reviewed publications in accredited academic journals some of which to be first / sole authored coupled with several years’ experience post PhD qualification
• Excellent writing skills necessary for publication in internationally accredited peer-reviewed academic journals, and for drafting briefing papers and reports;
• Record of raising funds for research.
• An interest in one of the priority research areas of DCES will be an advantage;
• A sound grounding in research methods, especially quantitative approaches, will be a strong recommendation;
• The versatility to apply quantitative and qualitative methodologies to challenging subject matter across disciplinary boundaries will be advantageous
• Expertise in ethical leadership, public service professionalisation and good governance
• Intellectual and personal integrity, imagination and drive;
• A strong user orientation, based on a commitment to social research that makes a difference;
• The ability and enthusiasm to engage as a team player in large scale multidisciplinary research projects, to manage research teams, and to mentor and train team members.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Conducting high level scholarly research which meets the challenge of peer review, and has both strategic and policy relevance;
• Responding to requests for tenders and formulating grant applications;
• Managing research teams and large-scale long-term research projects;
• Proposal writing to secure external funds;
• Mentor fellow employees and emerging researchers;
• Deliver high-quality results and reports to meet set budgets and deadlines;
• Network with major users and funders of social science research to understand their research needs;
• Communicate research findings through modalities like policy briefs;
• Publish in refereed journals;
• Build national and international research links; and
• Manage staff and build capacity within the division.