Current Vacancies at HSRC

Job Advert Summary    

The Research Director role in DCES demands that the incumbent to drives and lead a team of senior researchers in large and strategic research projects, innovating methodologies and coordinating working groups, flagship projects and task teams in order realise the vision of the DCES division and that of the HSRC. The successful candidate’s responsibility will be to ensure that, the quality of research outputs, and enabling dissemination strategies, research partnerships and collaboration which drives the HSRC’s quest for impact in policy-engaged research.

Minimum Requirements    

• A doctorate (PhD) in Social Sciences or related disciplines
• Additional Management Qualifications (e.g. MBA or equivalent) will be an added advantage
• At least ten (10) years’ experience in managing and leading in senior research teams.
• At least 5 years’ experience at a strategic and senior management level in an academic environment or research institution
• An academic leader with an impressive and strong publishing record of at least 20 peer reviewed publications (books, books chapters, journal articles) of which several must be international and first or sole authored.

Duties & Responsibilities    

• Lead, manage and coordinate various research themes, senior researchers and teams in the areas of Democracy, Governance & Citizenship, Sustainable Security.
• Build visible national, continental and international research partnerships in the HSC area of specialisation that result in collaborative and multidisciplinary studies, high quality publications, evidence reviews and policy briefs.
• Coordinate and review strategic plans and opportunities for fund raising to meet agreed upon targets for the team.
• Together with the team and supported by the division’s business development team foster concrete plans and activities for meeting the divisional goals and targets.
• Ensure that grants obtained are strategic and focussed on public-oriented research in keeping with the HSRC’s vision.
• Manage the outputs of researchers in the team to ensure maximum impact of the HSRC.
• Together with the Divisional Executive and Strategic Leads, spearhead formal government engagements through joint projects, partnerships, secondments, workshops and research dissemination.
• Drive and enable a relationship of trust and influence in appropriate ways amongst all levels of research staff.
• Actively forge research collaborations with Universities and Science Councils.
• Ensure that each team member aligned to the designated theme of leadership is capacitated, managed, supported, mentored (if they are trainees) and motivated to ensure a high performance team that meets strategic targets.
• Actively promote and support talent management, succession planning, retention strategies and achieve equity targets.
• Ensure that fair conflict and consequence management takes place.
• Oversight for achieving delegated designated targets for the theme / sub-division.
• Contribution to the division’s risk profile and mitigation strategies.
• Ensure that research grants are well managed and that good relationships with collaborators and grant making organisations/institutions are maintained.

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Minimum Requirements    

• A relevant Ph.D. qualification and experience in the social, natural or economic sciences with at least 5 years in pratice;
• Extensive experience in research environment in the context of Africa region, and publications in the peer-reviewed journals i.e. accredited;
• Seasoned researcher in the areas of Agenda 2063, intersectional challenges in Africa’s development;
• Demonstratable ability to creative ways of producing cutting-edge research outputs;
• Proven experience of having conducted/implemented in-depth research in other African countries;
• Ability to advise senior management on the strategic objectives i.e. advise on changing landscapes within National System of Innovation and regional economic communities (REC) in Africa;
• Experience in quantitative and qualitative research approaches and the ability to undertake advanced statistical analysis using appropriate/relevant software;

Duties & Responsibilities    

• The candidate is expected to contribute to proposals, publish journal articles and book chapters in a scientific manner i.e. accredited and open access (where possible);
• Ability to plan deliverables to enhance the Institute’s performance profile and conduct policy-relevant and engaged research;
• Collaborating with other colleagues working on the existing or new projects, and engaging high-level stakeholders through evidence dissemination or consultative strategy within and outside South Africa’s borders is an expectation;
• The is expected to travel to the countries of interest as part of the data collection for research projects – this will be part of advancing mutual co-delivery with strategic partners where necessary, as well as delivering on public engagement with scholars, researchers, and policymakers.
• The preferred candidate should be versatile and able to fit in a fast-paced environment;
• Co-develop and/or be able to work on Artificial Intelligence research and policy gaps in Africa, use of technology and innovation to respond to climate change in Africa. The incumbent is not limited to performing in the aforementioned areas, it will be crucial to think beyond areas of specialisation;
• It is anticipated that the appointed candidate will also endeavour to create an enabling environment for emerging researchers and identify opportunities for AISA research outcomes to be applied through collaboration on the continent.