Current Jobs at HSRC

• The Press is seeking a skilled and experienced Editorial Project Manager to join our team. This is a pivotal role within the Press, responsible for driving the quality and timely delivery of our academic and non-fiction publishing programme from manuscript stage through to final print and digital output.
• The successful candidate will bring a strong command of traditional and digital editorial and production workflows, sound project management and financial oversight, as well as the interpersonal dexterity to manage a diverse set of stakeholders — from authors and suppliers to internal commissioning and marketing colleagues.
• This will be a permanent appointment, and the successful incumbent can be based in the HSRC’s Pretoria office.

EDITORIAL PROJECT MANAGER

(Ref. No. EPM 05/2026)

• Pretoria

Minimum Requirements    
Key requirements:

• NQF level 8 in humanities and social sciences: A relevant 4-year undergraduate degree or 3+1(Honours), preferably in publishing, humanities, information science, or a related field.
• A postgraduate qualification will be advantageous.

Experience & Skills

• A minimum of 5 years’ proven experience in editorial and production project management, with a track record of having produced at least ten academic or non-fiction books and/or journals
• Demonstrated ability to manage digital production workflows and publishing systems
• Experience working with printers and overseeing print quality from pre-press through to final delivery
• Exceptional attention to detail and a consistent commitment to producing high-quality outputs
• Excellent command of written and verbal expression in English, and blingual in one South African language other than English would be advantageous
• Proven ability to manage competing deadlines under pressure and to apply sound problem-solving judgement
• Strong, demonstrable project management skills, including planning, scheduling, and resource coordination
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to manage relationships with authors, suppliers, and service providers professionally
• Strong teamwork orientation, with experience briefing and collaborating with commissioning editorial and marketing teams
• Good grasp of academic and scholarly publishing requirements and environment.

Duties & Responsibilities    
Key responsibilities:

• Manage end-to-end editorial projects, ensuring delivery against agreed timelines
• Quality control all production and layout outputs across print and digital formats
• Monitor and control project budgets, tracking expenditure and flagging variances proactively
• Coordinate stakeholder communication across authors, external suppliers, and internal departments
• Maintain accurate project administration records, reporting, and documentation
• Ensure alignment with institutional corporate governance and compliance requirements

Deadline:10th June,2026

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• The HSRC seeks to appoint a Divisional Executive (DE) to direct, plan, and coordinate the work of DCES and its sub-programme. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the DE will lead a team in delivering globally recognised and locally relevant research and policy engagement on democracy, peace, and security. The position is based in Pretoria, with oversight of activities across the HSRC’s other locations.

 DIVISIONAL EXECUTIVE: DEVELOPMENTAL, CAPABLE AND ETHICAL STATE DIVISION

Ref. DE/DCES/05/2026

• 5-year contract
• Pretoria based

Minimum Requirements    

• A Doctoral degree (PhD NQF level 10) in the Social Sciences, Humanities, Development Studies, Political Science, Public Policy, International Relations, or related disciplines.
• At least 10 years of senior-level experience, including 5 years or more in a strategic leadership role in a research, academic, public policy, or research innovation environment.
• Proven track record in interdisciplinary research and policy engagement.
• In-depth knowledge of issues related to democracy, governance, peace, security, sustainability, and human development in South Africa and the continent.
• Proven ability to mobilise research funding, manage budgets, and build partnerships at national, regional, and international levels.
• Demonstrated experience in managing large-scale research initiatives.
• An academic leader with a strong publishing record (books, book chapters, journal articles), several of which must be international and first or sole-authored.
• Fluency in English
• Demonstrated experience in working in a similar regulatory environment

Additionalrequirements:

• Experience in government, multilateral organisations, think tanks, or industry is an added advantage.
• Excellent networking skills and experience in working with senior policy makers and decision
• A track record of leading large-scale quantitative and/or qualitative research studies with demonstrable outcomes.
• Demonstrated commitment toethical leadership, diversity, inclusion, and social justice.
• Personal qualities that include intellectual and personal integrity, imagination, drive, and the ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Leadership qualities that include humility, commitment to excellence, strategic advisory experience, the ability to work as part of an executive team and to lead multidisciplinary
• Advanced business and commercial
• Excellent computer literacy, including a knowledge of contemporary ways of communicating research outcomes.

Duties & Responsibilities    
The successful candidate will actively engage in the following:

• Strategic Planning and Leadership
• Delivery of the HSRC’s Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plan targets as cascaded to the Division.
• Financial Management of the Division’s
• Innovative Resource Mobilisation and Partnership
• People Management within the
• Stakeholder and Customer Relationship
• Risk and Compliance

Key and Strategic Functions and Responsibilities:

Strategic and Thought Leadership

• Shape and implement a forward-looking strategy aligned with the HSRC’s strategic
• Provide visionary leadership in positioning DCES as a hub for transformative research on democracy, governance, peace, human security, and sustainability.
• Drive innovation in transdisciplinary and policy-relevant research to address national, regional, and global challenges.
• Represent the HSRC and DCES at high-level forums, conferences, and stakeholder engagements.

Research and Policy Influence

• Oversee the design, execution, and dissemination of cutting-edge research that informs evidence-based policy and practice.
• Strengthen the impact of research outputs on public policy, governance systems, and civic engagement.
• Promote participatory approaches that place citizens at the centre of governance and development.
• Publish impactful research outputs and policy-relevant knowledge

Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation

• Build strategic partnerships across government, higher education, industry, civil society, and global networks.
• Drive resource mobilisation through grant acquisition and contract research aligned to the strategic agenda.

Operational and People Management

• Ensure excellence in financial, project, and people
• Cultivate a high-performing, diverse, and inclusive
• Develop and oversee annual plans, budgets, and monitoring

Deadline:19th June,2026