Economist, Development Specialists and Social Scientists

HSRC

Employment and Economic Policy Research

In delivering 'social science that makes a difference”, the ten interdisciplinary research programmes of the HSRC are engaged in two hundred and fifty projects and programmes serving diverse users in South Africa and the region. There are HSRC offices in Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban.

Economist, Development Specialists and Social Scientists
(Research Specialist, Senior Research Specialist, Chief Research Specialist and Research Director Levels)

We seek to appoint dynamic researchers and research leaders into the Employment and Economic Policy Research Programme. We offer challenging opportunities to participate or lead in the design and delivery of cutting-edge projects in policy-oriented research related to Employment, Labour Market Analysis, Industrial Analysis, Technology Policy and Macro-economics. Our programmes focuses on promoting employment and economic growth in SA and the region, with an emphasis on economy-wide employment analysis, diversification strategies, the role of procurement, employment and basic needs sectors, skills development and labour market policy. We develop and implement these programmes in close cooperation with key stakeholders to ensure relevance and absorption into policy and action.

The Research Programme seeks candidates with a strong background in policy impact research and one or more of: industry studies, technology policy, labour market analysis, employment studies, poverty studies, HIV/AIDS in industry, macro-economic policy and modelling and/or applied statistics/econometrics.

Key requirements for these positions include:
Designing programmes for problem-oriented interdisciplinary research;
Delivering high-quality results and reports to budget and deadline;
Communicating research findings and publishing in refereed journals;
Building national and international research links;
Networking with major users and funders of social science research to understand their research needs;
Responding to requests for tenders and formulating grant applications;
At Director level and chief specialist level, leading and managing large-scale rigorous social-science projects shaped to users' needs;
A Masters degree and preferably a doctorate in Economics, Development Studies or related field, some publications, and a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience.

In addition, we seek candidates with:
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 engage as a team player in large scale multidisciplinary research, and at senior levels, demonstrated achievement and enthusiasm for managing research teams, and mentoring and training their members;
Experience and strengths in research method and design;
The versatility to apply quantitative and qualitative methodologies to challenging subject matter across disciplinary boundaries.

The HSRC offers attractive, market-related packages. Depending on qualifications, experience and recent performance, the annual 'cost to company' package for Research Specialists starts from R215 200, Senior Research Specialists from R242 700, Chief Research Specialists from R327 600 and Research Directors (equivalent to professors with extensive publications and consulting experience) from R442 200.
We prefer appointees to live in or near Pretoria, but appointments in Cape Town, or Durban may also be considered. Secondments and Fixed-term appointments will also be considered.
APPLICATIONS:
In your application, please include: Your CV; a letter of motivation (stating for which rank you are applying); the names of three referees (with telephone, fax and e-mail contact details); a copy of current earnings on a cost-to-company basis; and copies of three of your sole or first-authored publications (applicants may additionally submit examples of research/ consulting reports). Please submit this in hard copy and on a disk. The HSRC will only consider applications that include the above requirements. Applicants may be required to undertake a written exercise in the competencies required for the position.

Applications should be submitted to: The Head: Human Resources, HSRC, Private Bag X41, Pretoria, 0001, or delivered to Room 1353, HSRC Building, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria.

Enquiries and not applications may be e-mailed to [email protected]

The HSRC is committed to accelerating the improvement in the proportion of its senior managers and research leaders who are black, female or disabled.

The closing date for applications is 17 June 2005. We encourage applicants to submit prior to that date.