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Position Title:  Senior Research Officer/ Chief Research Officer, DataFirst, Commerce

Requisition ID:  1041
Department:  Faculty of Commerce
City:  Cape Town

CHIEF/SENIOR RESEARCH OFFICER (T2, 2.5 years)

DataFirst

FACULTY OF COMMERCE

 

About DataFirst
Founded in 2001 at the University of Cape Town, DataFirst promotes open access to African data. We provide data curation, hosting services, and expertise in research on data quality, usability, and comparability. DataFirst also has a strong history of capacity building, offering training in data curation and data analysis. We have been awarded funding to establish the African Foundational Learning Data Hub (AFLEARN), aimed at improving educational outcomes across Africa by supporting the effective use of foundational learning data for evidence-based advocacy and policymaking. Our goals include:

  1. Creating an African hub for foundational learning data, methods, measurement, data quality, and comparability.
  2. Empowering African organizations and ministries to use data for evidence-based policymaking.
  3. Expanding the pool of researchers working on foundational learning in Africa.

 

Position Overview
DataFirst is seeking a Chief Research Officer or Senior Research Officer, on a fixed term contract basis, to play a pivotal role in the AFLEARN Data Hub. The successful candidate will work closely with the DataFirst Director on partnerships, capacity building, data enhancement, and research. The successful candidate will lead and manage research projects, design and deliver capacity-building workshops, enhance foundational learning data, supervise and mentor researchers, and contribute to strategic partnerships and fundraising efforts to advance AFLEARN’s mission of improving educational outcomes across Africa.

 

Requirements for the position at Senior Research Officer level:

  • PhD in economics, statistics, or another quantitative social science.
  • Minimum of two years' experience post PhD analyzing social survey data.
  • Experience teaching or training quantitative social science courses.
  • Proficient in Stata or R.
  • Evidence of publications in relevant fields.
  • Strong command of English (oral and written).
  • Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills.

 

Additional requirements for the position at Chief Research Officer level:

  • At least 10 years of relevant experience analyzing social survey data, including survey, administrative, and educational assessment data.
  • Strong publication record, with a range of outputs for different audiences.
  • Proven ability to secure research funding.
  • Experience leading successful collaborations (e.g. workshops) with universities, think tanks, and education ministries.
  • Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and coordinating complex research projects.
  • Experience convening and leading discussions with policymakers, educators, and researchers.
  • Strong team management skills.

 

Advantageous skills and experience

  • Commitment to advancing the inclusion of underrepresented groups in education and policy research.
  • Experience working with large-scale African foundational learning data.
  • Proven network of African education stakeholders (e.g., ADEA, AU, SADC).
  • Knowledge of regional and international education assessment programs (e.g., SEACMEQ, TIMSS, PASEC, UNESCO).
  • Working knowledge of French.
  • Academic training in survey research methods and data analysis.
  • Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines and maintain positive relationships in a multicultural environment.
  • Record of postgraduate student supervision.

 

Responsibilities at the Senior Research Officer Level:

Training

  • Design and deliver residential workshops for technical and non-technical education stakeholders from across Africa.
  • Coordinate and provide follow-up support through online sessions for workshop participants.

Research

  • Lead and manage research projects related to foundational learning data.
  • Conduct collaborative research with education advocates and researchers across the continent.
  • Supervise and mentor AFLEARN postdoctoral researchers and other African scholars.

Data Enhancements

  • Take responsibility for data enhancement work, including harmonization across datasets and integrating administrative and spatial data.

Management and Administration

  • Manage administrative functions related to training, research, and workshops.
  • Participate in fundraising efforts to support AFLEARN’s work
  • Attend conferences and write progress reports for DataFirst and AFLEARN.

 

Additional responsibilities at the Chief Research Officer Level:

  • Develop and strengthen partnerships with African education stakeholders.
  • Lead fundraising efforts to support AFLEARN's work.
  • Together with the Director, take responsibility for strategic relationships with donors.
  • Collaborate closely with the Director to provide strategic leadership and guidance for AFLEARN’s overall direction and goals.

 

Appointment level

The successful candidate will be appointed at either the Senior Research Officer or Chief Research Officer level, depending on their qualifications, experience, and alignment with the Faculty’s expectations for performance at each rank.

 

This is a full-time permanent position, contingent on the ongoing availability of funding.

The annual cost of employment, including benefits (where applicable), is R1,147,460 at the Senior Research Officer level and R1,378,741 at the Chief Research Officer level.

 

To apply, please visit the UCT Jobs site to create a candidate profile and to submit your application. Please complete/attach the following to your profile before submitting your application:

 

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV).
  • Motivation/Cover letter that speaks to the specific requirements of the position.
  • The names of three referees  which must include their title and name, position details, relationship to you, their e-mail address and telephone number.

 

An application which does not comply with the above requirements will be regarded as incomplete.

 

Shortlisted candidates may be required to undergo competency assessments and references may be requested by UCT at any stage of the selection process.

 

Any enquiries for the position can be addressed to Mr. Ian Petersen at ian.petersen@uct.ac.za or 021 650 6123.

 

Closing date:     04 April 2025

          

Website:           https://hr.uct.ac.za/

    

 

UCT is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at https://uct.ac.za/media/9482.

UCT reserves the right not to appoint.

 

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