Job Description

The Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA) leads and coordinates the HSRCs Africa research agenda, programs, and engagements. It acts as a catalyst for research and implementation support across the continent. AISA undertakes basic, applied policy-relevant and comparative research, and seeks to build capacity and provide policy advice and implementation support to advance South Africas African Agenda, Agenda 2063, and the Sustainable Development Goals. It collaborates with a range of national, continental, and international governments, as well as multilateral institutions, research institutes, universities, and civil society to achieve its objectives.The HSRCs mandate requires a broad focus on, and contribution to, eradicating poverty, reducing inequality and unemployment, and facilitating a peaceful future for a prosperous Africa. The United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU) and the South African government have developed policy frameworks towards these goals. Such frameworks require monitoring, adaption, and implementation to be successful. AISA seeks to provide a deeper understanding of and thought leadership on a range of issues that can inform policy and practice, as well as narrow the persisting gaps and disjuncture between developed frameworks, policies, and their implementation. AISA, in conjunction with the rest of the HSRC, seeks to do this through evidenced-based research, convening forums, providing strategic and policy advice to governments and intergovernmental organisations, forming partnerships, and engaging in implementation support for civil society and governments.Executive Head: Africa Institute of South Africa(Ref. No. EH: AISA 03/24)5-year contract appointmentAISA wishes to appoint a suitable candidate to fully establish AISAs role in the HSRC as the carrier of the HSRCs Africa focus, and to guide AISA towards fulfilling a leading role on the Continent. The incumbent will work closely with the Chief Executive Officer to develop and implement a strategy, structure, and programme of work in furtherance of its mandate.
Minimum Requirements

• A Ph.D. degree in either the social sciences and humanities, or a related field in a relevant subject pertinent to the study of Africa.
• A strong publication record, including books, book chapters and scientific journal articles, several of which must be in international peer-reviewed journals. Conference presentations, opinion pieces and populist writings will not count towards this requirement.
• Fifteen years of collective experience in senior research leadership, people management, stakeholder relations and business management, of which five years should be on the Director or equivalent level, e., at the Associate professor or Professor level.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Additional requirements

• Proven ability to mobilise sustainable sources of external funding.
• Good networking skills and experience in working with senior
• Research interests and experience in working on the study of
• A sound grounding and competencies in quantitative and/or qualitative research
• Proven record of leading multidisciplinary research teams and managing budgets.
• Proven record of implementing strategic reforms and institutional transformation imperatives.
• Ability to work well under pressure and deliver to tight deadlines.

Beneficial commendations that will be an added advantage to the application include:

• Fluency in more than one of the major languages spoken on the
• Established networks on the Continent.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Promote knowledge and understanding of Africa through research;
• Perform strategic analysis of the implementation plans for the effective pursuit of the stated African agenda;
• Produce and disseminate information on African affairs and give effective policy advice and implementation support to the South African governments focus areas in relation to other African governments and intergovernmental organisations;
• Provide institutional coordination and strategic direction on the African research agenda;
• Convene policy dialogues on contemporary questions affecting Africa and its people;
• Facilitate training and mentorship for emerging scholars;
• Foster collaboration with leading social scientists and humanities scholars, policymakers, and practitioners on the Continent, including the establishment and maintenance of strategic partnership arrangements;
• Provide leadership to the AISA team, including sourcing and allocating resources to ensure successful implementation of and performance on the AISA mandate.

The Executive Head of AISA will drive the strategy, role and structural arrangements, within a clearly articulated organising principle for AISA. The successful candidate is expected to provide strategic support to the overall management and organisational (i.e. corporate) decision-making process as a member of the HSRC Executive Committee to ensure that the HSRC meets its mandate. The successful incumbent will be an accomplished academic with intellectual and personal integrity, with a mission to serve the Institute and build it to realise its full potential. The role requires hands-on management and leadership of exceptional quality to assert AISAs role and potential impact internally and externally.

HSRC