Research Enablement Specialist

FirstRand Limited; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 480,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstRand Limited is seeking a Research Enablement Specialist to ensure editorial quality and efficient content management across research outputs. You will edit, proofread, and align materials with regulatory and internal standards, collaborating closely with analysts and stakeholders to improve narrative flow and usability.

The role focuses on governance, knowledge management, and continuous improvement within the research enablement team, requiring strong language skills and attention to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Publishing or related disciplines (e.g. PPE, Language Practice, Information Science).
• 3+ years in editorial, research production, or content management roles.
• Experience in financial services or research environments is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Edit, proofread, and quality‑assure research publications, presentations, and client‑facing materials for clarity and accuracy.
• Act as quality checkpoint for high‑impact outputs ensuring editorial standards are met before release.
• Uphold and apply editorial style guidelines across asset classes, product types, and platforms.
• Partner with analysts to improve narrative flow and close content gaps.
• Strengthen structure and readability to enhance client value and usability.
• Maintain and organise the research content repository and version control.

Skills

Editing

Proofreading

Content management

Workflow coordination

Stakeholder communication

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's in Economics/Publishing

Tools

MS Office

CMS

Publishing tools

Job description

Job Description

The Research Enablement Specialist provides high‑quality editorial, production, and content‑management support to the Research function. This role is ideally suited to an individual with exceptional English language editing and proofreading skills, strong attention to detail, and a keen interest in economics, financial markets, and research. The role strengthens the clarity, accuracy, and usability of research outputs by ensuring they meet established editorial standards, comply with regulatory requirements, and are delivered efficiently across channels. The incumbent partners closely with analysts and stakeholders to enhance content quality, streamline workflows, and maintain the organisation's research knowledge base.

Key Responsibilities

Editorial Quality and Content Assurance

• Edit, proofread, and quality‑assure research publications, presentations, and client‑facing materials to ensure clarity, coherence, and factual accuracy
• Act as a quality checkpoint for high‑impact or time‑sensitive outputs, ensuring all content meets agreed research and editorial standards before release
• Uphold and apply editorial style guidelines consistently across asset classes, product types, and distribution platforms

Research Content Development Support

• Partner with research analysts and senior stakeholders to improve narrative flow, challenge assumptions where needed, and close content or logic gaps
• Strengthen the structure, readability, and overall effectiveness of research insights to enhance client value and usability

Knowledge and Content Management

• Maintain and organise the research content repository, ensuring efficient archiving, retrieval, and version control of research outputs
• Support the preservation of institutional knowledge through structured documentation practices

Research Production and Workflow Management

• Support the coordination of publishing schedules, production timelines, and dependencies to ensure predictable and timely delivery
• Monitor workflow progress, flag risks, and facilitate communication between contributors to reduce bottlenecks

Tools, Templates, and Enablement Platforms

• Maintain and continuously refine research templates, publishing tools, and authoring platforms to ensure usability, accuracy, and alignment with business needs
• Identify opportunities to enhance production efficiency through improved tools and processes

Governance, Risk, and Compliance

• Ensure all research outputs comply with regulatory requirements, internal policies, and approved financial-services DISCLAIMERS
• Apply appropriate review protocols to protect the organisation's brand, reputation, and legal standing

Continuous Improvement and Issue Analysis

• Track recurring quality issues, workflow challenges, and turnaround‑time delays to identify root causes
• Recommend and support the implementation of enhancements that improve the research production lifecycle and stakeholder experience

Stakeholder Support and Engagement

• Assist in the preparation and distribution of research outputs for publications, webinars, and client engagements
• Provide responsive support to analysts, leadership, and client‑facing teams on content development and publishing queries

Collaboration and Team Contribution

• Work closely with the Team Leader of Research Enablement to uphold standards and deliver strategic enablement initiatives
• Share knowledge, provide informal guidance to colleagues, and support a culture of continuous improvement within the enablement team

Qualifications

A completed undergraduate degree in Economics, Publishing or related disciplines (e.g. PPE, Language Practice, Information Science)

Experience and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in English, Publishing, Language Practice, Economics, or related field.
• 3+ years' experience in editorial, research production, or content management roles.
• Experience in financial services or research environments advantageous.

Skills and CompetenciesTechnical Skills

• Strong editorial, proofreading, and writing ability
• Content quality management
• Knowledge of economics, financial and investment research terminology (advantageous)
• Workflow and production coordination
• Content management systems and publishing tools
• MS Office and document‑design proficiency

Competencies

• Attention to detail and analytical thinking
• Ability to challenge assumptions constructively
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• Time management and prioritisation under pressure
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Professional discretion and compliance orientation