Senior Specialist: Market Segment Research at The South African Revenue Service (SARS)

Job Purpose

• To provide in-depth market research and analysis of products as per legislative requirements.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

• Honours Degree (NQF 8) in Behavioural Science, Behavioural Economics, Psychology, Industrial Psychology, Economics, Sociology, Cognitive Science, Public Policy, Statistics, Data Science with 10 - 12 years' experience in behavioural research, applied social research, behavioural insights, policy research, customer or taxpayer research, or programme evaluation environment, of which 3 - 4 years at a specialist level.

   #Alternative/OR

• Bachelor’s degree in (NQF 7) in Behavioural Science, Behavioural Economics, Psychology, Industrial Psychology, Economics, Sociology, Cognitive Science, Public Policy, Statistics, Data Science with 12-15 years’ experience in behavioural research, applied social research, behavioural insights, policy research, customer or taxpayer research, or programme evaluation environment, of which 3 - 4 years at a specialist level.

Added Advantage Requirements:

• Data analysis: R Studio
• Power BI Data Analytics
• Python
• SQL Query Basics and Fundamentals
• AI & Machine learning research
• Natural language processing
• Cognitive biases and heuristics
• Nudge theory
• Behavioural change frameworks (COM-B, EAST, MINDSPACE, BASIC, Behaviour change wheel)

Job Outputs:

Process

• Analyse and make recommendations about improvements to specialist systems, procedures, policies and practices.
• Contribute to the optimum utilisation of org. resources, advising on effective planning and development of area of specialisation resource plans.
• Develop multiple practices in alignment with operational policy and procedural frameworks, supporting tactical development and excellence.
• Draw on own technical or professional expertise, knowledge and experience to identify and recommend tactical solutions to defined problems in practices.
• Ensure timeous communication on progress and challenges in achieving divisional and business unit goals to all relevant stakeholders.
• Implement research methodologies and techniques that enables monitoring and reporting of research and analytical activities.
• Influence and communicate across business areas impacted by practice area to minimise resistance and ensure onboarding of new thinking.
• Integrate business information, compare, analyse and produce reports to identify trends, discrepancies and inconsistencies for decision making purposes.
• Optimise goal achievement through tactical strategy development and optimisation of practises, processes and systems across an internal value chain.
• Plan for value-added, continuous multiple practice and system improvement optimisation to deliver on objectives and to enhance tactical excellence.
• Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives; developing best practice solutions.
• Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, practice areas and associated procedures and execute the implementation of change and innovation.
• Translate top-down policy, apply modification in relation to own practice area and communicate impact to relevant stakeholders.

Governance

• Develop and /or align governance and compliance policies for own practice area to identify and manage risk exposure liability.
• People
• Integrate new knowledge and transfer skills attained through formal and informal learning opportunities in the execution of your job.
• Provide specialist know-how, support, advice and practice thought leadership in area of expertise.

Finance

• Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of specialisation.

Client

• Develop and ensure implementation of own practices to build delivery excellence, encouraging others to provide exceptional stakeholder service.
• Participate in the specialist practice community and contribute positively to organisation knowledge management.
• Provide authoritative, specialist expertise and advice to internal and external stakeholders.
• Research, benchmark and develop client service delivery and efficiency models that leads to optimal service deliver

Behavioural competencies

• Accountability
• Analytical thinking
• Attention to details
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Conceptual Ability
• Expertise in Context
• External Awareness
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty & Integrity
• Organisational Awareness
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Respect
• Trust

Technical competencies

• Business Knowledge
• Creative and Innovative Thinking
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Economic Research
• Efficiency improvement
• Functional Policies & Procedures
• Policy Analysis
• Reporting
• Research

Deadline:23rd October,2026