Job Description

Senior Specialist ScientistDuration: One-year contractThe Health Systems Research Unit (HSRU), based at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), leads work in the field of evidence-informed policy and practice. An appropriately qualified and experienced Senior Specialist Scientist is required to join our team on a full-time basis to support the successful conduct of research, project management and delivery on the EDCTP funded project: Global Evidence, Local Adaptation (GELA). GELA aims to enhance evidence-informed guideline recommendations for newborn and young child health in three countries in sub-Saharan Africa.The job holder's responsibilities will include leading development protocols, conducting, and publishing research projects, project management and knowledge translation evaluation work of the project to understand the impact of the evidence we produce on policy and practice, particularly in the field of newborn and child health and public health.Responsibilities:

• Lead the conduct and publication of scientific research in the field of research methodology, specifically evidence synthesis and knowledge translation.

• Manage research projects as principal- and co-investigator, managing all aspects of staff, budgets and outputs.

• Grant writing and income generation for future research projects

• Research translation through development and dissemination of research findings, and leading knowledge translation projects

• Capacity development through supervision of masters', doctoral and post-doctoral students, facilitating workshops, mentoring staff.

• Contribution to international and national science systems through participation in technical and methodological working groups, editorial boards, peer review of indexed publications

Core Requirements:

• PhD in Public Health or Clinical epidemiology or similar qualification or higher

• Principal investigator and project lead for more than one research project, with evidence of successful grant writing > 300 000

• Financial, project, process, and people management across more than one research project

• National expert, and international recognition emerging in field of evidence synthesis and knowledge translation.

• Developing proposals and publishing scientific articles in relevant national and international peer-reviewed journals, with at least 25 lifetime publications

• NRF C or Y or P rating or (if an international hire) having two of more of the following: i) on 1 or more international or national working groups, ii) editorial board of an ISI journal, iii) service as a TA at the UN/WHO, iv) invited to write a commentary for an international ISI journal, v) invited to review papers for 5+ ISI journals.

• Experience with both qualitative and quantitative research methods in the context of conducting systematic reviews.

• Experience in presenting research findings and reports at relevant international conferences/meetings,

• Track record of developing capacity, such as providing mentorship and supervision to students including supervision of two or more master's with supervision of PhD students and/or engagement in teaching or training of staff in the Unit or at Universities.

Advantageous:

• Experience in conducting and publishing systematic reviews of qualitative and quantitative research.

• Experience leading knowledge translation research projects and evaluations

Terms & Conditions: The SAMRC retains the right not to make an appointment. In accordance with the SAMRC's Employment Equity Plan, preference will be given to suitably qualified candidates from the designated groups. For this reason, we require race, gender and disability status to be specified. Disabled persons are encouraged to apply. By submitting your application, SAMRC concludes that you are a competent person to consent and that you are giving consent to the SAMRC to process and further process all personal information contained in the application in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, Act No 4 of 2013 (as amended). The SAMRC does its best to provide the most accurate information; however, if there is anything wrong and unclear applicants are encouraged to contact the HR Recruitment Office at 021-938 0648 before the closing date.A salary in the region of R 1 332 256 per annum, cost-to-company, will be negotiated in consideration of experience and qualifications.Closing date: 23 March 2024PLEASE QUOTE THE REFERENCE NUMBER (R 712A) IN ALL COMMUNICATIONS. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT YOUR SUBMISSION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED SHOULD YOUR APPLICATION NOT BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE REQUIRED INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION.This website is optimised for secure, standards compliant web browsers. In order to view and use this website, you should use a web browser other than Internet Explorer.Options include: The latest version of "Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Opera and Safari"

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