Researcher: Science, Technology and Innovation at Parliament of The Republic of South Africa

Detailed Description
Conduct Research 

• Respond to research needs of clients and anticipate clients’ research needs 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
• Collect and verify information from appropriate sources Interpret data guided by policy/legislative frameworks Provide input on briefings to service providers for commissioned research and coordinate pro-active collaborative research project across clusters 

Strategic research support and planning 

• Participate in Committee Business Planning processes to inform business plan and programme Regularly attend Committee meetings and provide research input/advice as requested Attend Committee management meetings and implement tasks emanating from meetings
• 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 Attend task teams/Exco/any other related meeting when required to provide content and input 

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 Identify policy and legislative gaps for future research
• Enhance specialist knowledge and keep abreast of developments in sector through internal and external seminars, workshops, conferences, training and contacts/stakeholders
• Participate in staff development initiatives and in Unit business planning processes Submit monthly report timeously in approved format for inclusion in the Unit’s monthly report Participate in Unit, Divisional and Institutional activities Utilise Project Management, Research and Computer skills 

Quality control and information dissemination 

• Identify appropriate clients for dissemination of proactive research products Quality control documents according to Unit Standards and Procedure and 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

Job Requirements        

• Applicants should be in possession of Matric and an Honours Degree (Equivalent to NQF level 8) in either Natural or Life Sciences.
• This should be coupled with three years’ relevant work related (applied) policy research experience in the science, innovation and technology sector, with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Applicants should possess sector-specific knowledge and an understanding of the legal and policy framework that regulates the science, innovation and technology sector.