Senior Lecturer.2.01 - Quantitative Research Methodologies and Statistics Specialist (3-year contract) at University of the Witwatersrand

Department Description        

• The Faculty of Commerce, Law, and Management (CLM) seeks to appoint a Quantitative Research Methodologies and Statistics Specialist at senior lecturer level within its Teaching and Learning Unit (TLU) on a three-year contract. 
• The primary focus of the job will be to develop strategies for enabling postgraduate students in the faculty to design and conduct research. This is primarily a teaching role that will focus on postgraduate researcher education. 
• Successful candidates must have: i) wide-ranging knowledge and experience of quantitative research methodologies, 
• a working knowledge of qualitative and mixed methods research methodologies, and
• an excellent command of research statistics and the use of statistics software. 
• The candidate would be expected to conceptualise, implement, and manage a range of faculty-wide initiatives/programmes to promote student success and throughput at postgraduate level.  
•  Whomever comes into this role will be required to work with the Head: CLM TLU and other key stakeholders from across the faculty (e.g., Qualitative Research Methodologies and Mixed Methods Specialist, CLM Head of Postgraduate Writing, Academic Director: Digital Learning, Assistant Dean: PG Affairs, research degree coordinators, and supervisors).

Brief Description        
Applicants are expected to have:

• a PhD
• exceptional quantitative methodologies and statistics knowledge and skills,
• a working knowledge of qualitative and mixed methods research methodologies,
• demonstrated experience of teaching research methodologies and statistics to postgraduate students with varying levels of aptitude  (experience in CLM disciplines would be an advantage),
• demonstrated experience of online and blended teaching (experience of working with Canvas would be an advantage),
• experience of supervising master’s students and/or PhD candidates to completion,
• an interest in teaching and/or research, which may be evidenced by research and publication in higher education (broadly), and/or research methods and/or the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL).

Key Responsibilities

• Conceptualise, implement, and manage a range of faculty-wide initiatives/programmes on quantitative research     methodologies and statistics that are responsive to the needs of postgraduate students, research coordinators,   supervisors, and relevant members of senior management.
• Support CLM postgraduates to learn how to conceptualise, design, and conduct research.
• Support CLM postgraduates to learn how to analyse, interpret, and consolidate quantitative data using relevant   statistics software.
• Consult with CLM postgraduate students and their supervisors about research and statistical analysis.
• Stay at the leading edge of contemporary thinking in higher education broadly and research methodologies specifically.
• Engagement and Interaction
• Participate in training, workshops, and symposia.
• Participate in relevant committees, working groups, and task teams.
• Build networks with relevant stakeholders, including supervisors, research degree coordinators, and relevant members of senior management.
• Interact with School and Faculty Graduate Studies Committees.
• Work with other members of the CLM TLU around strategy and crosspollination of initiatives

Key Competencies

• Evidenced proficiency in a range of quantitative research methodologies.
• A working knowledge of qualitative and mixed methods research methodologies.
• Proficiency in using and teaching SPSS and STATA (knowledge of or proficiency in other relevant statistics packages, including the        use of SAS, R, and/or Python, would be an advantage).
• Proficiency in the use of data collection tools (e.g., Qualtrics) and data management tools.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills appropriate to working effectively in a range of contexts and settings with students and staff           from  diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent English oral presentation, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Experience of working with online and digital technologies.
• Excellent organisational and project-management skills.
• Reliability and conscientiousness, with the ability to follow through with responsibilities.
• The ability to be self-directed: anticipating needs and taking initiative.
• The flexibility to adapt, and to optimise resources in an emerging/changing environment.
• The ability to work independently or in a team, and to manage multiple concurrent responsibilities.
• A high level of proficiency in MS Office and related applications, and in using learning management systems.