Chief Research Specialist / Manager at HSRC

Minimum Requirements

• A doctorate (PhD) in the social or economic sciences or related disciplines;
• An established research career, as evidenced by publications.
• At least six years’ experience post qualification coupled with 12 or more peer-reviewed publications, of which several to be international;
• 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. Applicants applying for the CRS/M position should have larger fundraising experience;
• 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
• 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.
• 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.

Duties & 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;