Latest Recruitment at Human Sciences Research Council (HRSC)

Job Advert Summary

The eResearch Knowledge Centre (eRKC) intends to enhance the HSRC’s research capability through innovative information services, geospatial solutions, and digital curation. It is an informed research enabler that provides innovative knowledge services and access to resources that meet the needs of the HSRC’s research community and its stakeholders.

The eRKC provides ongoing and pro-active information service to staff of the HSRC. This unit wishes to appoint 4 suitably qualified Short-term Library Assistants. This is a short-term contract for 3 months. The successful candidates will be based in the Pretoria Office. The Short-term Library Assistants will be responsible for the identification and packaging of information resources according to the weeding criteria of the preparation of the library move project guidelines.

Staff who will be appointed in this temporary position will be expected to work as a team, to attend to all tasks necessary to incorporate the two collections successfully.

 Library Assistants X 4

Ref no: LA002

3 Months - contract

Pretoria office

Minimum Requirements

Key requirements

• A minimum of matric with library experience or a qualification in Library and Information Science is required.
• Understand the library’s shelving system according to the principles of the Dewey Decimal Classification system.
• Be familiar with the library environment.

Computer literacy.

Duties & Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Physically identify and collect information resources from library collections as per weeding criteria set in the Library Move Preparation guideline.
• Mark information resources by categories based on the decision reached about the resource.
• Prepare inventory lists for de-selected information resources for reconciliation purposes.
• Identify and create an information resources evaluation station.
• Sort resources by specific collection in preparation for seamless packaging.
• Are they not going to package the resources as well?

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Job Advert Summary

The Developmental, Capable, and Ethical State (DCES) is a research division within the HSRC and employs a multi-disciplinary group of social scientists who conduct numerous empirical and policy-related studies. The DCES Division was recently awarded a project on the Identification of Smart Urban Agriculture/Agro-processing solutions and assessing the feasibility to address food security challenges in the City of Johannesburg (CoJ).

The DCES division is looking to appoint a suitably qualified professional to take on the position of a Financial Modelling Specialist on a Freelance Contract.

The overall objective of the CoJ study is to identify smart urban agriculture/agro-processing solutions, conduct a feasibility study on investing in innovative and smart urban agriculture technologies, and recommend options and selection criteria for prioritising these options to improve food security in the City of Johannesburg. In line with the 4th Industrial Revolution, the study will establish a range of initiatives including but not limited to the development of a commercially viable and productive agricultural sector, employing innovative technologies such as rooftop gardens, vertical gardens, and aquaponics systems to address food insecurity in the city of Johannesburg. Lack of investment has been identified as the major underlying reason why the City of Johannesburg is a net food-importing region. The proposed study will identify new technologies that will improve infrastructure, increase productivity and affect domestic investments in production.

The proposed research design for the study is exploratory research design while the conceptual framework will adopt the principles of the Value Chain Analysis and Mapping; Measurement of Food and Nutrition Security Indicators; and Economic Analysis, Affordability Assessment and Value for Money Analysis.

Financial Modelling Specialist - 1 Position

Ref: DCES – FMS/PaSS

Six (06) Months Deliverables based Contract

Office Base: PRETORIA

Minimum Requirements

Requirements:

• A Masters (PhD preferable) in Economics, Agriculture Economics or Finance;
• 3 to 5 years research and management experience, preferably in a research or academic institution;
• At least 5 peer reviewed publications* (books, books chapters, journal articles), most of which should be sole or first authored;
• Strong statistical and quantitative research skills for data analysis and management;
• Excellent writing skills for drafting briefing papers, technical reports, academic publications and for wider public dissemination of research findings

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 multidisciplinary team
• Understanding of agricultural value chains will be an added advantage
• Shortlisted applicants may be required to undertake a written competency exercise for this position.

Duties & Responsibilities

The Financial Modelling Specialist will be required to provide:

• High-level financial modelling and analysis of all viable options to enhance food insecurity (using innovative technologies) within the seven regions of the City of Johannesburg.
• The study will explore possible avenues within the field of urban agriculture where the City could invest in order to enhance food security through smart innovative technologies. The analysis will consider the socioeconomic and environmental contexts of each region
• An economic analysis, affordability assessment, value for money analysis, information availability, PPP suitability and project charter, will consist of, but not limited to, the following deliverables:
• Economic analysis (including project affordability analysis, value for money analysis, analysis of the socioeconomic environment, and an assessment of the socioeconomic contributions of the proposed interventions).
• Investment decision to assess the welfare change attributable to implementing the investment. The purpose of CBA is to facilitate a more efficient allocation of resources, demonstrating the convenience for society of a particular intervention rather than possible alternatives (European Commission, 2014). Thus, CBA can provide a powerful tool for communicating the economic value of urban agriculture to policymakers, funders, and other decision-makers. CBA incorporates financial and economic appraisals.
• High level financial modelling – consider financing options as provided by policy (e.g. MAFISA).
• Economic evaluations draw from economic costs and benefits, discounted to produce a net present a comparative analysis for determining what to invest in; financial evaluations help to demonstrate affordability, and estimate resource requirements for scale-up and sustainability. Collectively, economic, and financial evaluations may be conceptualized as part of a larger appraisal process. What is critical is the perspective that determines the scope of analysis and interpretations. Appraisals encompass a broad framework of activities, which generate evidence necessary for decision-taking and reviews on the worth of an intervention

Key Deliverables:

Submit Monthly Progress Reports for applicable milestones

• Submit Draft Research Report that will include a detailed description of possible projects categorised according to their suitability for the seven regions of the city, the elements of the interventions and their financial analysis
• Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation at a Stakeholder Validation Workshop. A one-day workshop will be arranged with programme stakeholder representatives, the Policy Unit and the Project Steering Committee to discuss the findings of the Draft report and obtain comments and inputs.
• Submit the Final Report based on feedback from the funder

Key competencies:

• Proven track-record of designing, managing and conducting high quality financial and economic analyses research that has both strategic and policy relevance;
• Design and undertake research focusing on affordability assessments for defined research projects, including value for money analyses;
• Participate in medium-to-large scale research projects with tight deliverables;
• Attention to detail to deliver high-quality results and technical reports according to budget and deadlines;
• Engage targeted stakeholders and develop communities of practice to ensure uptake of evidence to transform economic participation outcomes;
• Ensure research impact through government engagement, policy briefs and research reviews;
• Produce high quality knowledge outputs through publishing in accredited refereed journals, books, and book chapters;
• Communicate research findings across media platforms and at academic conferences and forums; and
• Develop research skills and competences through formal and informal training for self and others.

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Job Advert Summary

The Impact Assessment sub-unit of the Impact Centre seeks to appoint a Chief Research Specialist/ Senior Research Specialist on a permanent basis.  The candidate should be an accomplished researcher with experience in impact evaluation research, evidence-informed public policy, evaluation science and research impact to support the Impact Assessment unit and the Impact Centre as a whole. The level of the appointment will depend on the mix of qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

Minimum Requirements

Key Requirements:

• A doctorate in behavioural economics, econometrics, demography, quantitative social science, or other related disciplines.
• At least 6 years’ experience in senior impact evaluation, implementation science research, research impact, policy evaluations or similar position.
• Excellent knowledge of impact evaluation methodologies (quantitative and qualitative skills applicable to impact evaluations)

Excellent analytical and computer skills

• A strong record of published research in both local and international journals, and/ or a strong record of public policy analysis and evaluation report development (at least 10 to 12 [publications in peer reviewed journals).
• Intellectual and personal integrity, imagination, and drive.
• A strong user orientation, based on a commitment to social research that makes a difference.
• The ability and enthusiasm to lead research and practice teams involved in large-scale multidisciplinary projects, to manage team members, and to mentor and train junior researchers; and
• The versatility to apply quantitative and qualitative methodologies to challenging subject matter across disciplinary boundaries.

Duties & Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop a programme of work in the Impact Assessment unit around impact evaluation research, evidence-informed policy making, government policy and policy evaluations, and evaluation science
• Engage stakeholders including policy makers in government, and other bodies on conceptualising, methodologies and evaluations for research impact.
• Provide leadership on impact evaluations across divisions in the HSRC
• Conceptualise and lead on impact evaluation inputs on proposals, protocols, and tools for key projects  
• Provide guidance on evaluation design (experimental/quasi-experimental, quantitative/qualitative, sampling and sample sizes, evaluations methods etc)
• Provide workshops/training on impact evaluations concepts (theory of change models, attributions and causations, implementation science, frameworks, logic models etc)
• Support strengthening of impact evaluation capacity in the HSRC.
• Design and implement impact evaluations in with divisions in the HSRC with government and other partners on projects of interest
• Support and conduct evaluation studies to assess the impact and effectiveness of various policies and intervention and develop accessible knowledge products.
• Foster knowledge sharing and disseminate evaluation findings and lessons to increase awareness and knowledge of impact evaluations and research in SA and beyond.
• Build visible national, continental, and international impact research partnerships
• Deliver high-quality results and reports within budget and deadline.
• Communicate research findings and publish in peer reviewed journals.
• Mentor junior researchers

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Job Advert Summary

The HSC division is looking to appoint a suitably qualified researcher and specialist to take on the responsibilities of Research Director for the Identity and Belonging sub-division. The Director position supports and assists the Human and Social Capabilities (HSC) Divisional Executive (DE) in implementing the five-year strategic plan of the HSRC. The Human and Social Capabilities division conducts transdisciplinary, intersectional, policy and programme-relevant research to improve health, well-being and promote a socially just and cohesive society.

The HSC therefore seeks to appoint a Research Director on a permanent and indefinite contract; the suitably qualified incumbent that is being sourced must be an accomplished scholar with experience in the research area in health policy and conducting research that is transdisciplinary, intersectional and is aimed at improving health and well-being; and the promotion of a socially just and cohesive society.

Minimum Requirements

Key requirements:

• A PhD in either in Social Sciences or Humanities;such as Gender Studies, Psychology, Anthropology or Sociology or related areas;
• Ten (10) years’ experience conducting, leading and managing research, team leadership preferably in a research institution or a university;
• An established research career as evidenced by at least twenty (20) publications (journal articles, reports, book chapters, books) of which several must be international and first or sole authored;
• Experience and strength in social sciences methods and design;
• Evidence of successful research fund raising;
• Evidence of existing funding and research networks at country and international levels;
• An interest and experience in one of the priority research areas of the HSC Division;
• Experience in supporting and managing the professional development activities of young researchers and PhD and Masters interns;
• Personal qualities that include intellectual and personal integrity, imagination, drive, and the ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines;
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment;
• Good communication and leadership skills;
• The versatility to apply qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies to challenging subject matter across disciplinary boundaries will be advantageous;
• Proficiency in or working experience with some of the following data software packages: STATA, Epi Info, SPSS, Nvivo, AtlasTI or other relevant statistical packages;

Duties & Responsibilities

Key responsibilities:

• Developing the work of HSC by providing leadership in a cluster of key areas of the identity and belonging sub-division’s research agenda;
• Networking with major national and international users and funders of social science and humanities research to understand their research needs, and build research links;
• Responding to calls for research funding proposals as well as initiating and formulating grant applications for major long-term problem-oriented interdisciplinary research projects;
• Leading senior research specialist and teams in conducting high quality research, data analysis and evaluation (using qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies) that has both strategic and policy relevance;
• Delivering high-quality outputs and reports to budget and deadline;
• Managing and leading research teams and large-scale long-term research projects;
• Disseminating research findings in different forums (conferences, webinars, etc) and publishing in accredited and refereed journals;
• Participating in public debates as part of disseminating project outputs; and
• Mentoring and developing the research capacity of young South African researchers and supporting colleagues to advance their research careers.