Research Coordinator (Lived Experience)

Africa Health Research Institute NPC; Durban; On-site; ZAR 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) is seeking a Research Coordinator (Lived Experience) to manage the day-to-day coordination of the Youth Lived Experience Group within our Mental Health team. This full-time role bridges IsiZulu-speaking youth with the English-speaking research team, facilitating co-creation and ensuring LE perspectives are documented and considered in decision-making.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, a postgraduate qualification is a plus,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, public health, or community development.
• Postgraduate qualification in one of these disciplines is desirable.
• Fluent in IsiZulu and English.

Responsibilities

• YLEG coordination and liaison with youth group.
• Embed lived experience perspectives across the research.
• Coordinate communications and translations.
• Governance and advocacy within the project.
• Documentation and learning from activities.

Skills

Bilingual IsiZulu/English

Strong written/verbal communication

Attention to detail

High computer literacy

Report writing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, public health or community development

Postgraduate qualification desirable

Job description

The application closing date: 4 Sept 2026 Description: The Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) is seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented, and skilled Research Coordinator to join our dynamic Mental Health team. The Research Coordinator (Lived Experience) will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination of this engagement. This is a full-time, embedded role within the research team, not an advisory or part-time position. The coordinator will be the primary link between the Youth Lived Experience Group (YLEG), a group of adolescents with mental health experience, and the research team. The coordinator will facilitate co-creation activities at each stage of the research, ensure that LE perspectives are formally recorded and visible in project documentation and decision-making. The Research Coordinator (Lived Experience) role will serve as the bridge between the YLEG (working in isiZulu) and the wider research team (working primarily in English).

Overview of Duties

• YLEG coordination
• Embedding LE across the research
• Communication and translation
• Governance and advocacy
• Documentation and learning.

Requirements of the Job

An inherent requirement of this role is the ability to draw on direct personal experience of mental health challenges in carrying out the work. This experience will be used to build trusted relationships with YLEG members, contribute an experiential perspective to the interpretation and understanding of the research, and identify where engagement and research processes may not adequately reflect the needs and perspectives of people with lived experience. Self-identification is sufficient. Applicants will not be required to disclose a diagnosis, medical records, treatment history or any other medical information.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, Psychology, Public Health, or Community Development.
• A postgraduate qualification in one of these disciplines is desirable and will be considered advantageous.
• Valid driver’s licence with at least 2 years driving experience.
• Fluent in both IsiZulu and English.

Minimum Experience

• Experience working in a research environment or on a research project.
• Experience working with adolescents or young people.
• At least 3 years' experience in lived experience, peer support, advocacy, or community engagement roles related to mental health.
• Experience facilitating or supporting groups, workshops, or advisory structures.
• Experience contributing to participatory, co-produced, or community-engaged projects.

Skills Required

• Good verbal and written communication skills in English
• Accuracy and precision
• High computer literacy
• Report writing
• Must be able to work under pressure Must be able to work under pressure

Worker Type: Employee

AHRI is a values-driven organisation. As an employer we are committed to staff engagement and development. Our culture is one of high performance and partnership.

The successful candidate will be expected to live by AHRI’s values, including collaboration, ubuntu, leadership, innovation, transformation, and excellence.

AHRI is fully compliant with South African labour law and is committed to employment equity. This position is primarily open to South African or other African applicants, with a valid work permit desirable.

AHRI reserves the right in special circumstances to accept late applications or to extend the above date to facilitate further searches. Furthermore, AHRI reserves the right not to make an appointment. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, kindly consider your application as unsuccessful if you do not hear from us within 14 days of the application closing date.

Africa Health Research Institute’s vision is optimal health and well-being of under-resourced populations. Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) is an independent, transdisciplinary scientific research institute based across two campuses in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in South Africa. AHRI’s research combines population, basic and translational, social, and clinical sciences to understand and intervene in the health and well-being of South African communities. AHRI works in partnership with local communities and South African academic, governmental, and other policy stakeholders and collaborates with over 60 institutions globally. AHRI prioritises the training of the next generation of African scientists. The work lives of AHRI’s ~700 scientists, students and staff members are driven by our values: ubuntu, transformation, leadership, innovation, excellence and collaboration.