Unit Director

South African Medical Research Council; Durban; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 600 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health research organization is seeking a Director to enhance and manage the national research infrastructure. The ideal candidate will have proven leadership skills, a strong background in research, and experience in building networks for impactful dissemination. Responsibilities include shaping the SAPRIN platform, engaging with communities, and developing funding strategies. This role is crucial to advancing health equity in South Africa, contributing to the SAMRC's transformation agenda. The position is full-time with a 5-year contract and offers remuneration based on experience.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership skills and ability to enhance research infrastructure.
• Experience in building networks for research dissemination.
• Knowledge in community engagement and participation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the national research infrastructure according to strategic plans.
• Build networks for research findings dissemination.
• Enhance community agency through engagement with research.
• Attract and develop operational and research talent.
• Innovate to increase research efficiency and productivity.
• Develop external research funding plans.
• Expand influence beyond South Africa.

Job description

In its vision to strive for equitable health and social wellbeing, SAPRIN generates valid and robust longitudinal data available to South African policymakers, implementation, programme and research communities. The research agenda is to understand population dynamics and promote effective interventions, respond to national and local research priorities aimed at under-resourced communities and support the achievement of Universal Health Care and the implementation of National Health Insurance. The SAPRIN platform comprises a network of seven harmonised health and demographic surveillance system population nodes located in diverse vulnerable and marginalised communities around the country, four in rural and three in metropolitan settings. Each node has a minimum population of 100 000 people. There are more than 600 000 people and 120 000 geolocated households across the seven nodes, that represent around 1% of the South African population. More details on the network and its data repository can be found on the SAPRIN website (https : / / saprin.mrc.ac.za).

SAPRIN is advertising for a new Director. The position requires a senior researcher with national and international standing, proven leadership skills and the ability to enhance and maintain the national research infrastructure to meet the goals of a newly established strategic plan. SAPRIN comprises a Management Hub based in the SAMRC Durban Offices that is led by the Director. It reports to a Steering Committee that is the main decision-making body, chaired by the SAMRC Vice-President, comprising nodal directors and representation of key stakeholders. Each SAPRIN node has its own governance structure and is linked to the Management Hub through a funding contract that stipulates the operations of the health and demographic surveillance system through a standardised research protocol. An independent Scientific and Policy Advisory Committee guides developments in the research programme.

The post holder will assist with and form an integral part of the SAMRC’s transformation agenda.

Applicants for SAPRIN Director should possess the following knowledge, skills and experience :

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE :

• Leading and managing all aspects of the national research infrastructure in line with its strategic plan.
• Building networks locally, nationally and globally to support the dissemination of research findings that aim to understand population dynamics and promote effective interventions, and to maximize impact on equitable health and social wellbeing.
• Leading on the enhancement of community agency through engagement with research
• Increasing awareness of and participation by service providers and research institutions with SAPRIN.
• Retaining, attracting and developing operational and research talent in an equitable manner.
• Leading the organisation in innovations that increase research efficiency and productivity.
• Developing and implementing an external research funding plan to augment core funding of SAPRIN
• Expanding the influence of SAPRIN beyond the borders of South Africa.

Duration of contract :

5 years

Remuneration :

Remuneration commensurate with experience and qualifications