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, 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 learning outcomes and school to work transitions, 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 foci in EEE include the expansion and transformation of higher education in South Africa and Africa; graduate transitions in Africa and 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 ; and the role of the informal sector in generating livelihoods, land, housing and economic development.
EEE seeks to appoint a Senior Research Specialist. This will be a permanent appointment, and the successful incumbent, can be based in any of the HSRC’s offices, namely Cape Town, Sweetwaters or Pretoria. This appointment will only be effective 1 January 2025, or soonest thereafter.
This position was advertised earlier this year and we encourage those who applied previously to reapply.
Senior Research Specialist (1 Position)
Ref. No: EEE-RS 10/24

Minimum Requirements

• A Ph D in Economics or Sociology or in a related social sciences and humanities field;
• Specialist interest and expertise in one of the EEE research foci areas, especially in higher education and graduate transitions, or food security;
• Between two and four years of research and management experience, preferably in a research institution or a university;
• At least seven (7) peer reviewed publications* (books, books chapters, journal articles), some of which should be sole or first authored;
• Excellent writing skills for drafting briefing papers, reports, academic publications and for wider public dissemination of research findings;
• Relevant quantitative and or qualitative research experience;
• Experience of securing funding for research (will be an advantage), or willingness to learn to do so;
• Research project management experience;
• Intellectual and personal integrity, imagination and drive;
• Enthusiasm to manage, mentor and train junior researchers; and
• Ability to work in a team on multidisciplinary research projects and to grow into a leadership role.

Duties and Responsibilities

The HSRC offers attractive, market-related packages depending on qualifications and experience.

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Applications should include:


The HSRC will only consider applications that comply with the above requirements.
Please note that applicants may be required to make a presentation pertaining to these positions.
Please register and submit your application on-line at https://hsrc.erecruit.co/
Application Instructions:

• Candidates can make use of their mobile devices or any browser to register on the Neptune recruitment site, as well as to make application for available vacancies;
• Candidates will be prompted to upload their documents;
• Attachments must be less than 1MB (here is an on-screen option to resize);
• The Neptune system will only allow you to upload 1 attachment. Please ensure that all documents are merged into 1 file before uploading.

Enquiries about the nature of the position, and NOT applications, may be directed to:
Economics - Dr Peter Jacobs at email address pjacobs@hsrc.ac.za.
Education – Prof Thierry Luescher at email address tluescher@hsrc.ac.za
For further information about the HSRC or the post, please consult our website www.hsrc.ac.za.
The HSRC is committed to accelerating the improvement in the proportion of its staff complement who are SA Citizens, black, female or disabled.
Closing date: 18 October 2024. We encourage applicants to submit applications prior to this date. Applicants who have not been contacted within eight weeks should assume that their application has been unsuccessful. Only applicants who are interviewed will be advised of the outcome of their applications.
The HSRC reserves the right not to make an appointment.
APPLICATIONS FROM RECRUITMENT AGENCIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED