Group Executive : Research Impact

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the HSRC seeks to appoint a suitably qualified and respected executive leader, academic and scholar, to take on the responsibilities of Group Executive: Research Impact.

The successful incumbent shall be required to lead, mentor and direct the team of research specialists in various strategic units, and to drive the team to formulate impact assessment strategies, innovating methodologies and coordinating working groups to realise the vision of Research Impact and that of the HSRC.

The successful candidate will ensure the quality of research outputs and enable research dissemination strategies, research partnerships and collaboration, which drive the HSRC's quest for impact in policy-engaged research.

Minimum Requirements

1. A PhD in either Social Sciences or other related fields (NQF 10).
2. Fifteen years of experience as a senior researcher, managing and leading senior research teams with demonstrable impactful outcomes and results.
3. At least ten years of experience at a strategic and senior management level in an academic, research or research institution environment.
4. An academic leader with a strong publishing record (books, book chapters, journal articles), several of which must be international and first or sole-authored.
5. Excellent networking skills and experience working with senior policymakers and decision-makers.
6. Fluency in English.

Duties & Responsibilities

1. Provide strategic leadership for Research Impact in quality assurance, science communication, impact assessment and dissemination for research outputs along with designated staff and HSRC resources.
2. Work with the Unit managers to oversee strategic administrative leadership for the Unit's support team and ensure each Unit component is adequately resourced.
3. Ensure the successful provision of strategic initiatives that contribute towards creating a culture of impact for the HSRC.
4. Ensure the successful sourcing of strategic external partners (locally and internationally) aligned with the social research objectives of the HSRC and drive successful liaising between strategic partners of the policy-making environment and researchers within the HSRC.
5. Ensure the provision of sustainable and impactful research that government, communities and state bodies can take up through policy improvements.