{"id":3863000,"url":"https://alion.io/job/hsrc-chief-research-specialist","title":"Chief Research Specialist","company":{"id":1812211,"name":"HSRC","domain":"hsrc.ac.za","url":"https://alion.io/company/hsrc-ac-za","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"eRecruit","truth_index":null},"role":"Science & Research","role_family":"Science & Research","seniority":"head","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Pretoria, South Africa"],"countries":["ZA"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":6,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-11-06T10:44:29Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-11-06","last_verified_at":"2026-11-08T05:34:16Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":1,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":1},"description":"Job Advert Summary\nIn 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.\nThe 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.\nThe 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.\nRID seeks to appoint a Chief Research Specialist on a permanent contract based in the HSRC’s office, Pretoria.\nTo 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.\nExternal Applicants\nChief Research Specialist (2x Positions)\nRef. No: External RID-CRS\nPermanent contract\nMinimum Requirements\nA relevant PhD in Humanities and Social\nAt least six (6) years of research and management experience, preferably in a research institution or a university;\nExcellent writing skills in drafting reports and academic publications for wider public dissemination of research findings;\nDemonstrated 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;\nAt least 12 peer-reviewed publications* (books, books chapters, journal articles), of which several must be international, and several must be first or sole authored;\nRelevant quantitative and/or qualitative research experience;\nExtensive experience in securing funding for research;\nGood research project management experience and the ability and enthusiasm to lead research teams in a large multidisciplinary research division;\nIntellectual leadership in a specified area, personal integrity, imagination and drive; and\nSkills in managing, mentoring and training team members\nDuties & Responsibilities\nLead the design, planning and delivery of complex research projects with a focus on social\nimpact, ensuring that agreed objectives, timelines, budgets and quality standards are met;\nFormulate targeted research proposals and secure funding on a sustainable basis to enable policy relevant, strategic research projects;\nDeliver high-quality results and reports to budget and deadline;\nStimulate public debate, civil society engagement, and develop communities of practice to ensure uptake of evidence to transform educational and economic outcomes;\nProduce high-quality knowledge outputs through publishing in accredited refereed journals, books, and book chapters and with collaborators on the African continent;\nEnsure research impact through government and stakeholder engagement, policy briefs and research reviews;\nAssess how effectively research evidence is translated into organizational strategy, policy, programmes and practice, and recommend opportunities for improvement;\nProvide expert advice on research impact, monitoring, evaluation and learning across the organization;\nCommunicate research findings across multiple media platforms and at academic conferences and forums; and\nDevelop research skills and competencies through formal and informal training for self and\n*The HSRC offers attractive, market-related packages depending on qualifications and experience.\nPlease register and submit your application on-line at: https://hsrc.erecruit.co/\nApplication Instructions:\nCandidates can make use of their mobile devices or any browser to register on the Neptune recruitment site, as well as to make applications for available vacancies; Candidates will be prompted to upload their CV’s;\nAttachments must be less than 1MB, there is an on-screen option to\nThe Neptune system will only allow you to upload 1 Please ensure that all documents are merged into 1 file before uploading.\nApplications should include:\nA cover letter of motivation indicating your area of expertise (clearly marked), your suitability for the position, your goals, and the position you are applying for. Please do not apply for more than one position. You will be contacted if we think you qualify for a higher or lower ranking position.\nA detailed CV which should clearly indicate your highest qualification; an indication of your quantitative and qualitative research experience; your fieldwork experience (not related to your degree) and details of your citizenship.\nThe details of three recent referees with telephone number, email, and institutional\nDetails of three first- or sole-authored\nThe HSRC will only consider applications that comply with the above requirements.\nPlease 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.\nEnquiries, (NOT applications or CVs) relating to technical knowledge of the position may be directed to Dr Andrea Juan @ \nClosing date: 25 November 2026. We encourage applicants to submit prior to this date. Applicants who\nhave 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.\nThe HSRC reserves the right not to make an appointment.\nAPPLICATIONS FROM RECRUITMENT AGENCIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED","description_format":"text","description_chars":6225,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":6,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"phd","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Research Institutes"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-11-06T10:44:29Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":1,"expected_fill_days":29,"reasons":["conf:0","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-11-08T05:47:12Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/hsrc-chief-research-specialist","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/hsrc-chief-research-specialist.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-08T07:05:34Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":15361,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-09T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":1812211},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1812211"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fhsrc-chief-research-specialist"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fhsrc-chief-research-specialist"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fhsrc-chief-research-specialist"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/hsrc-chief-research-specialist\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fhsrc-chief-research-specialist"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3863000}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"hsrc.ac.za","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3863000},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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