Job Description

The Africa Institute of South Africa in the HSRC wishes to appoint a suitable Research Director. AISA leads and coordinates the HSRCs engagements in Africa. It, therefore, acts as a catalyst for research and implementation support across the continent. AISA also undertakes basic, applied policy-relevant and comparative research. The Institute also seeks to build capacity and provide policy advice and implementation support to advance the HSRCs own Africa Research Partnership and Collaboration Strategy as well as South Africas African Agenda, DSIs Africa Strategy, SADCs Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030 (RISDP), the African Unions Agenda 2063, and the key frameworks of the United Nations (SDGs, UNSCR 1325). It collaborates with a range of national, continental, and international governments, as well as multilateral institutions, research institutes, universities, and civil society organisations in order to achieve its objectives.This appointment will be made on the 1st of January 2025
Minimum Requirements

• A Ph.D. degree in either the social sciences or humanities or a related field in a relevant subject pertinent to the study of Africa.
• An academic leader with a strong record of published research not less than 20 publications of which several must be international peer-reviewed journal articles
• Ten years of senior research leadership and people and business management experience of which 5 years should be on the Director or equivalent level, i.e., at the Associate professor or Professor level.
• Fundraising and large-scale research project management.
• Good networking skills and experience in working with senior policymakers;
• Research interests and experience in working on the study of Africa;
• 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;
• A track record of experience in conducting large-scale comparative studies.
• Intellectual and personal integrity, imagination, and drive.
• The ability to lead multidisciplinary research teams.
• Ability to work well under pressure and deliver to tight deadlines; and
• Excellent computer literacy
• Fluency in more than one of the major languages spoken on the continent would be an additional commendation.

• Lead, and manage the research activities of AISA in the context of the HSRCs mission and strategic goals;
• Develop research proposals that are in line with the programmes research agenda. This may include working with other units within both AISA and HSRC as well as collaborate with external researchers both within South Africa, in the rest of the African continent and elsewhere throughout the world;
• Write and publish research reports and publish research findings in accredited peer-reviewed international and local journals;
• Lead policy-related research, analyse data, interpret and report research findings and recommendations in high-level forums;
• Co-ordinate communication about research activities with members of the programme, the research team, the clients, and other stakeholders;
• Develop contacts and interact with policymakers outside the HSRC;
• Support the development of spatial information, its analysis and dissemination;
• Oversee the meeting of project deadlines together with the relevant project managers;
• Ensure adequate staffing of the institute, including ensuring that staff are supported, mentored and managed and that they act within the delegated authority parameters of the organisation; and
• Build and maintain high-performance teams and an appropriate culture within the area of responsibility to ensure the achievement of the institute and organisational targets.
• Ensure adherence to and compliance with applicable legislation/regulations/HSRC policies, procedures, and expectations of other regulatory and funding agencies;

HSRC