Research Director - Cape Town, Durban, and Pretoria at HSRC

Job Advert Summary    

In delivering ‘social science that makes a difference’, the Research Divisions, Units, Institutes and Centres of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) undertake policy-oriented research from its offices in Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, and Pietermaritzburg. Our public purpose mandate is set out in the Human Sciences Research Council Act of 2008.

The Equitable Education and Economies (EEE) division undertakes research to transform educational outcomes and increase economic participation. It recognises that education and the economy have long been linked and conducts research to understand educational performance and improve learning outcomes, and to interrogate social, spatial and structural obstacles to economic participation.

EEE has a large and vibrant research programme with over 60 experienced and emerging researchers working on methodological and transformative research. Current research in EEE includes young people and the future of work; undoing spatial divides in access to education and economies; the impact of digitalisation on education and the economy; the innovation needed to ensure wider participation in the economy and allow for greater services and support for food security; the role of the informal sector in generating livelihoods, land, housing and economic development; and the transformation of higher education including a wider role for Technical Vocational Education and Training colleges (TVETs). We are particularly keen to attract new team members in the areas of future of work, digitalisation, innovation, informality and TVETs.

The EEE Research Division currently has a number of research vacancies available. They are currently seeking to appoint two (2) suitably qualified Research Director’s. These are permanent positions, and the successful incumbents can be based in any one of the HSRC’s office’s, namely Cape Town, Durban, or Pretoria.

Research Director (2 Positions)

• Ref. No: EEE-Dir 08/23

Minimum Requirements    

• A PhD in Education, Economics, Sociology or in a related social sciences and humanities field;
• At least eight (8) years of research and management experience, preferably in a research institution or a university;
• Excellent writing skills in drafting briefing papers, reports, and academic publications for wider public dissemination of research findings;
• At least 20 peer-reviewed publications* (books, books chapters, journal articles), of which several must be international, and several must be first or sole authored;
• Relevant quantitative and or qualitative research experience;
• Extensive experience in securing funding for research;
• Good research project management experience and the ability and enthusiasm to lead research teams in a large multidisciplinary research division;
• Intellectual leadership in a specified area, personal integrity, imagination and drive; and
• Skills in managing, mentoring and training team members.

Duties & Responsibilities    

• Identify key research areas in support of national, African and global South development agendas;
• Formulate targeted research proposals and secure funding on a sustainable basis to enable policy relevant, strategic research projects;
• Implement and manage high quality, large scale, long-term research studies with a focus on social impact;
• Deliver high-quality results and reports to budget and deadline;
• Stimulate public debate, civil society engagement, and develop communities of practice to ensure uptake of evidence to transform educational and economic outcomes;
• Produce high quality knowledge outputs through publishing in accredited refereed journals, books, and book chapters and with collaborators on the African continent;
• Ensure research impact through government and stakeholder engagement, policy briefs and research reviews;
• Communicate research findings across multiple media platforms and at academic conferences and forums; and
• Develop research skills and competencies through formal and informal training for self and others.