Job Description

The Public Health, Societies and Belonging (PHSB) research division within the HSRC employs a multi-disciplinary group of social scientists and public health specialists who conduct numerous empirical and policy-related studies each year, three-quarters of which are donor-funded.
PHSB is seeking to appoint a dynamic and visionary Research Director to co-lead the Health Policy and Belonging sub-division. The position will strengthen the PHSB's contribution to the HSRC's 2025-2030 priorities, with a focus on intersectional, community-engaged research across health, wellbeing, health policy, identity, and belonging. The successful candidate will be expected to drive a transdisciplinary, impact-driven research agenda aligned to the HSRC's national and continental commitments, including the DSI Decadal Plan, Africa Agenda 2063, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
RESEARCH DIRECTOR
PERMANENT
OFFICE BASE: PMB/PTA/CPT
REF: RDIR/PHSB/1525
Minimum Requirements

• A PhD in Social Sciences or Humanities; such as Gender Studies, Psychology, Anthropology or Sociology or related areas; public-health or social epidemiology
• 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 extensive publications record (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;
• Experience in Health Policy and Belonging y research areas;
• Experience in the implementation of inclusive, gender-responsive, or health policy research.
• Previous leadership in multi-partner, transdisciplinary research collaborations addressing health, gender, GBV, mental health and other societal challenges in the Global South.
• Experience in supporting and managing the professional development activities of young researchers and PhD and Masters Researcher Trainees;
• Large-Scale research project management.

• 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;

• Developing the work of PHSB by providing leadership in a cluster of key areas of the Health Policy 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 within budget and deadline;
• Managing and leading research teams and large-scale long-term research projects;
• Disseminating research findings in different forums (conferences, webinars, seminars, and other relevant platforms) 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.
• Ensure compliance with the PFMA and HSRC policies and procedures.