Job Description

In delivering social science that makes a difference the Research Divisions, Units, Institutes and Centres of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) undertake policy-oriented research from its offices in Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, and Pietermaritzburg. Our public purpose mandate is set out in the Human Sciences Research Council Act of 2008.

The Equitable Education and Economies (EEE) division undertakes research to transform educational outcomes and increase economic participation. It recognises that education and the economy have long been linked and conducts research to understand educational performance and improve learning outcomes, and to interrogate social, spatial, and structural obstacles to economic participation.

EEE is looking to appoint 6 Project Advisory Group Members for a period of 5 years to be based in any of the 12 focus countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Romania, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, or Vietnam) of a research programme, commencing 1 February 2024. The project for which this appointment is to be made is called uGood!? and aims to test and further develop relational approaches to wellbeing (RWB); and generate empirical insights into key contemporary challenges to young peoples wellbeing, and how they are addressing these. It embraces people-centred, collaborative, and participatory approaches to conducting research generating insights into how the relational aspect of multiple domains may make contributions to well-being. A key component of governance is an advisory group to provide strategic and scientific advice on the implementation of the programme.

Project Advisory Group Experts x 6 (Freelancers)

Ref. No: UGOOD- EX -01/2024

RE-ADVERTISEMENT (PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT APPLY)

Minimum Requirements

• Expertise in one of the following areas: relational wellbeing, youth wellbeing, youth, and any of the four thematic focus areas: climate change, digitalisation, livelihoods and mental health, research impact.

• Access to reliable, high-quality, and stable internet connection with access to remote conferencing facilities/software such as Zoom.

• Availability to travel to attend a minimum of 3 research project conferences and contribute to the programme over a 5-year period as a freelancer.

• A PhD degree in the Social Sciences.

• At least 20 years research experience in a research environment.

• Exposure to multi-stakeholder and/or multi-country research would be an advantage.

• Documented leadership experience.

• Track-record of peer reviewed, accredited publications (at least 20, with some first authored and some international).

• Understanding of research processes and activities.

• Fluency in English with excellent written and verbal communication

• Fluency in one or more of the following languages: Spanish and French.

• Competency in computer programmes such as Word, OneDrive, Excel, PowerPoint, referencing software.

• Academic affiliation will be an advantage.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Support the Principal Investigators (PIs) and thematic leads by providing guidance relating to the substantive aspects of the programme from theoretical, research design, and methodological perspectives.

• Provide comment and expert input reflective of their respective knowledge areas.

• Support the decision-making process on the Expression of Interests (EoIs) and the selection of funded projects.

• Form the nucleus of the Community of Practice (CoP) and steer its development and activities.

• Provide guidance on priority areas and topics, including the development of new priority areas, actions, or interventions that encourage ambitious and innovative research.

• Mentor research PIs, if and where this might be required.

• Contribute to improving the potential uptake of the research findings by, for example, policy- and decision-makers and funders of youth-related programmes.

• Act as ambassadors for the programme internationally.

• Attend CoP events (a minimum of 3 per annum).

Remuneration for this position will be based on inputs over the five-year period, as listed below:

Categories of payment

Year

Amount

Attendance and input into Advisory meeting

Half-Day Meeting (2024-2028)

$150 each

Attendance and input into Advisory meeting

Full-Day Meeting (2024-2028)

$300 each

Attendance and input at three Project Conferences

2025-2028

$750 each

Critical review of mid-term report

2026

$300 for 2 days

Critical review of final report

2028

$300 for 2 days

Ad hoc tasks

2025-2028

$37,5 per hour

APPLICATIONS:

• A 1-2 pages cover letter indicating your suitability for the position by highlighting: 1) your experience in Relational Wellbeing (RWB), 2) the contribution you would make towards advancing RWB, and 3) your experience in youth wellbeing.

• A detailed CV with a list of publications and an indication of your country of origin.

Please register and submit your application on-line at

Application Instructions:

Candidates can make use of their mobile devices or any browser to register on the Neptune recruitment site, as well as to make application for available vacancies;

Candidates will be prompted to upload their CVs; Please note that currently the system cannot accept multiple, separate, attachments, please ensure that you PDF your CV and ALL your supporting documents into one file and attach it when prompted to do so, ensuring that it complies with the file size below;

Attachments must be less than 1MB, there is an on-screen option to resize.

Enquiries (NOT Applications or CVs) may be directed to Dr Angelique Wildschut email

Closing date: 31 January 2024. We encourage applicants to submit their applications prior to the closing date. If you do not receive any response from us within eight weeks, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Only candidates who are interviewed will be advised of the outcome of their application.

The HSRC reserves the right not to make an appointment.

APPLICATIONS FROM RECRUITMENT AGENCIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

HSRC