Chief Research Specialist

HSRC Recruitment; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) in Pretoria invites applications for Chief Research Specialist (CRS) on a permanent contract. The CRS will lead design and delivery of complex policy-relevant research with a focus on social impact, budgets, timelines and quality.

The candidate must hold a PhD, have extensive policy research experience and a strong record of peer‑reviewed outputs and funding success.

Qualifications

• PhD in Humanities and Social sciences required.
• Minimum of six years’ research and management experience.
• Excellent writing skills for reports and publications.
• Proven ability to translate research into policy outputs and briefs.
• At least 12 peer-reviewed publications, including international authorship.
• Extensive experience in securing funding for research.
• Strong project management and leadership of multidisciplinary teams.
• Intellectual leadership, integrity and drive.
• Experience in mentoring and training team members.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, planning and delivery of complex research projects with a focus on social impact, ensuring objectives, timelines, budgets and quality standards are met.
• Formulate targeted research proposals and secure funding on a sustainable basis for policy-relevant work.
• Deliver high-quality results and reports to budget and deadline.
• Stimulate public debate, civil society engagement and uptake of evidence by policymakers.
• Publish knowledge outputs in refereed journals, books and chapters with international collaborators.
• Ensure research impact through government and stakeholder engagement and policy briefs.
• Assess how research informs organizational strategy, policy, programmes and practice.
• Provide expert advice on research impact, monitoring, evaluation and learning across the organization.
• Communicate findings across media and at academic forums; develop research skills through training.
• The HSRC offers attractive, market-related packages depending on qualifications and experience.

Skills

Policy impact research

Academic writing

Funding acquisition

Team leadership

Research management

Dissemination

Mentoring

International publications

Proposal writing

Education

PhD in Humanities and Social

Job description

In delivering ‘social science that makes a difference’ in South Africa and the region, the Research Units of the Human Sciences Research Council initiate and undertake policy-oriented research projects and programmes from its offices in Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg, and Pretoria. Its public-purpose mandate is set out in the Human Sciences Research Council Act of 2008.

The Research Impact division (RID) plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the Human Sciences Research Council’s (HSRC) work extends beyond academic outputs to create real and lasting change in society. Our mission is to support, strengthen, and institutionalise the impact of HSRC research by aligning it with South Africa’s development priorities and the broader African and global context.

The Research Impact Division comprises four interconnected units, each contributing to our overarching goal of translating research into measurable impact: Impact Evaluation; HSRC Press; Strategic Partnerships and External Capacity Development; Internationalisation; and Governance, Ethics and Integrity. Together, these units ensure that the HSRC’s research is not only rigorous and relevant but also transformative to shape a more inclusive, informed, and just society.

RID seeks to appoint a Chief Research Specialist on a permanent contract based in the HSRC’s office, Pretoria.

To be eligible for appointment as a CRS, the candidate must have a PhD and extensive knowledge of policy-relevant research experience in impact evaluation studies.

External Applicants

Chief Research Specialist (2x Positions)

Ref. No: External RID-CRS

Permanent contract

• A relevant PhD in Humanities and Social
• At least six (6) years of research and management experience, preferably in a research institution or a university;
• Excellent writing skills in drafting reports and academic publications for wider public dissemination of research findings;
• Demonstrated experience in translating complex research and evaluation findings into high-quality, policy-oriented outputs- such as policy briefs, evidence summaries, policy recommendations and briefing notes for policymakers, senior decision-makers and other non-technical audiences;
• At least 12 peer-reviewed publications* (books, books chapters, journal articles), of which several must be international, and several must be first or sole authored;
• Extensive experience in securing funding for research;
• Good research project management experience and the ability and enthusiasm to lead research teams in a large multidisciplinary research division;
• Intellectual leadership in a specified area, personal integrity, imagination and drive; and
• Skills in managing, mentoring and training team members

Duties & Responsibilities

Lead the design, planning and delivery of complex research projects with a focus on social

impact, ensuring that agreed objectives, timelines, budgets and quality standards are met;

• Formulate targeted research proposals and secure funding on a sustainable basis to enable policy relevant, strategic research projects;
• Deliver high-quality results and reports to budget and deadline;
• Stimulate public debate, civil society engagement, and develop communities of practice to ensure uptake of evidence to transform educational and economic outcomes;
• Produce high-quality knowledge outputs through publishing in accredited refereed journals, books, and book chapters and with collaborators on the African continent;
• Ensure research impact through government and stakeholder engagement, policy briefs and research reviews;
• Assess how effectively research evidence is translated into organizational strategy, policy, programmes and practice, and recommend opportunities for improvement;
• Provide expert advice on research impact, monitoring, evaluation and learning across the organization;
• Communicate research findings across multiple media platforms and at academic conferences and forums; and
• Develop research skills and competencies through formal and informal training for self and

*The HSRC offers attractive, market-related packages depending on qualifications and experience.

Please note that applicants may be subject to a competency assessment pertaining to this position. For further information about the HSRC or the post please consult our website www.hsrc.ac.za.

Enquiries, (NOT applications or CVs) relating to technical knowledge of the position may be directed to Dr Andrea Juan @ [e-mail]

Closing date: 25 November 2026. We encourage applicants to submit prior to this date. Applicants who

have not been contacted within eight weeks should assume that their application has been unsuccessful. Only applicants who are interviewed will be advised of the outcome of their applications.

The HSRC reserves the right not to make an appointment.

APPLICATIONS FROM RECRUITMENT AGENCIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED