Senior Research Associate -DBN

MANCOSA; Durban; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 660,000; Full time

Job summary

MANCOSA, a DHET registered and CHE accredited private higher education distance education provider, invites applications for a Senior Research Associate in Durban. This role focuses on specialist research, analytics and technical support across the Institutional Research and Publishing Unit and Doctoral Research Office.

The Senior Research Associate will drive institutional intelligence, support doctoral programme quality, and enable evidence-informed decision-making through advanced

Qualifications

• 3–5 years' relevant experience within higher education.
• Experience in institutional research and advanced quantitative research.
• Experience in analysing large and complex datasets.
• Experience in business intelligence, research reporting and research methodology.
• Experience in higher education information systems, data governance and enterprise data environments would be advantageous.
• Advanced research and analytical capability.
• Strong quantitative data analysis and research methodology skills.
• Proficiency in SQL, Python, Power BI, data modelling, database querying and ETL processes.
• Strong academic writing, editing, reporting and research mentoring skills.
• Ability to translate complex data into accessible institutional intelligence for technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and support institutional research projects, programme evaluations and benchmarking studies.
• Analyse complex datasets using descriptive, inferential and predictive methods to generate institutional intelligence.
• Integrate data from institutional systems to support planning, reporting and decision-making.
• Develop dashboards, reports, scorecards and executive summaries.
• Develop and automate analytical workflows using SQL, Python, Power BI and related BI technologies.
• Support data engineering, data governance and ETL processes.
• Collaborate with IT, Data Management and other units on intelligence initiatives.
• Explore AI applications in institutional research and reporting.
• Support doctoral research methodology workshops and advanced data analysis.
• Provide technical support for research software and reporting of findings.

Skills

Strong quantitative data analysis

Academic writing

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Collaborative working

Mentoring

Tools

SQL

Python

Power BI

ETL processes

Data modelling

SQL querying

Job description

Job category: Others: Education and Training

Location: Durban

Contract: Fixed Term Contract

EE position: Yes

Introduction

MANCOSA, a DHET registered and CHE accredited private higher education distance education provider, offering undergraduate and postgraduate business qualifications, has the following vacancy available: Senior Research Associate

CORE PURPOSE:

The Senior Research Associate provides specialist research, analytical and technical expertise across the Institutional Research and Publishing Unit and Doctoral Research Office. The role supports research excellence, doctoral programme quality, institutional intelligence and evidence-informed decision-making through advanced research methodologies, data analytics, business intelligence, systems integration and research support.

The position contributes to institutional research and strategic reporting while strengthening doctoral research capability through methodology support, advanced data analysis, supervision and academic research activities.

CORE FUNCTIONS INCLUDE:

• Conduct and support institutional research projects, programme evaluations, benchmarking studies, environmental scans and institutional effectiveness research.
• Analyse complex institutional datasets using descriptive, inferential and predictive analytical approaches to generate actionable institutional intelligence.
• Integrate data from institutional systems, surveys and enterprise platforms to support strategic planning, quality assurance, regulatory reporting and organisational decision-making.
• Develop dashboards, analytical reports, executive summaries, scorecards and other institutional intelligence products.
• Develop and automate analytical workflows using SQL, Python, Power BI and related business intelligence technologies.
• Support data engineering, systems integration, ETL processes, data modelling, data governance and quality assurance.
• Collaborate with Information Technology, Data Management, Quality Assurance, Registry, academic units and other institutional stakeholders on institutional intelligence and digital transformation initiatives.
• Explore appropriate applications of artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and emerging technologies within institutional research and reporting.
• Support doctoral research methodology workshops, advanced research design and qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
• Provide technical support in the use of research and analytical software and support the interpretation and reporting of research findings.
• Analyse doctoral programme and academic activity data, develop reports and dashboards, and contribute to academic manuscripts and research outputs.
• Supervise doctoral research projects, undertake internal moderation and provide advanced methodological and technical research guidance.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• 3-5 years' relevant experience within higher education.
• Demonstrated experience in institutional research and advanced quantitative research.
• Experience in analysing large and complex datasets.
• Experience in business intelligence, research reporting and research methodology.
• Experience in higher education information systems, data governance and enterprise data environments would be advantageous.
• Advanced research and analytical capability.
• Strong quantitative data analysis and research methodology skills.
• Proficiency in SQL, Python, Power BI, data modelling, database querying and ETL processes.
• Strong academic writing, editing, reporting and research mentoring skills.
• Ability to translate complex data into accessible institutional intelligence for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Knowledge of data governance, systems integration, data quality and technical documentation.
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement and collaborative working skills.
• Project management and business analysis capability.
• Proficiency in digital research tools, analytical software, citation management and publishing platforms.
• Ability to work across academic, research, technical and institutional environments.

Special Conditions:

• Regular travel to MANCOSA learning centres may be required.
• Willingness to work overtime and weekends when operationally required