Researcher: Forestry, Fisheries and Environment at Parliament of The Republic of South Africa

Your key responsibilities will be:

Conduct Research

• Respond to research needs of clients
• Design and manage research projects to objectively answer specific questions
• Conduct planning meeting(s) to develop Project Plan and develop conceptual framework for research papers/reports

Strategic research support and planning

• Participate in Committee Business Planning processes in order to inform business plan programme
• Regularly attend Committee meetings and provide research input/advice as requested
• Through proactive research identify key issues within sector that should be brought to Committee’s attention for purposes of informing oversight, monitoring and legislative functions
• Participate in Unit publications to highlight strategic priorities for sector for purposes of informing oversight, monitoring and legislative functions

Oversight support, public and international participation

• Provide research, analysis and information support in relation to oversight visits, study tours, sectoral parliaments and parliamentary projects
• Prepare, in proactive manner, briefing documents for oversight visits, study tours and meeting of international parliamentary fora
• Participate in conceptualisation process for sectoral parliaments and parliamentary projects
• Prepare concept documents for sectoral parliaments and parliamentary projects
• Provide on-site research support to members of delegations to regional and international parliamentary fora, such as the IPU, CPA, PAP and SADC-PF
• Draft reports on meetings of regional parliamentary fora, such as the PAP and SADC-PF
• Provide content support at sectoral parliaments when required

Operational procedure and sector specialisation

• Keep abreast of policy and legislative developments, as well as the response of key role-players (such as civil society bodies) to new developments
• Enhance specialist knowledge and keep abreast of developments in sector through internal and external seminars, workshops, conferences, training and contacts/stakeholders
• Submit monthly report timeously in approved format inclusion in the Unit’s month report
• Participate in Parliament’s Performance management system

Quality control and information dissemination

• Quality control documents according to Unit Standards and Procedure
• Disseminate documents according to Units Standards and Procedure
• Present recommendations and proposals based on research finding and within the existing policy and legislative frameworks to Presiding Officers, Senior Management, delegates and colleagues

To qualify, you must have:

• Applicants should be in possession of Matric and an Honours Degree (Equivalent to NQF level 8) in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Natural Resource Management, Ecology, Forestry, Sustainability, Wildlife Management or a related field.
• This should be coupled with at least 3 years’ relevant research experience within a natural resource governance and policy space, with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Applicants should display a clear understanding of environmental governance, sustainable resource management, the legislative and oversight functions of Parliament, as well as the roles and responsibilities of different spheres of government in environmental management.