Position Title:  Senior Research Officer / Research Officer

Research Officer/ Senior Research Officer

(4-year contract, full-time)

Division of Public Health Medicine

Faculty of Health Sciences

The School of Public Health, in the Faculty of Health Sciences at UCT provides a range of under- and postgraduate teaching in population-based public health sciences to students training to be health professionals and conducts globally and nationally relevant research across a range of areas with a view to enhancing population health, including work on the social and commercial determinants of health.

The Division of Public Health Medicine in the School of Public Health is seeking to appoint at the level of Research Officer OR Senior Research Officer to start as soon as possible. The incumbent will conduct research, supervise students and provide support to the project up until December 2029.  The study is called Collaboration for Harm Reduction and Alcohol Safety in the Environment in Southern Africa (CHASE-SA), the project includes working in partnership with local communities across nine sites (three each in the Western Cape, Gauteng and Botswana).  The study formally commenced in 2025 and ends 31st December 2029.

Requirements

At Research Officer level:

·       A master’s degree either in public health, policy analysis, health systems, social sciences or a related discipline.

·       Evidence of scientific publications, including 2 as lead author.

·       Demonstrable knowledge and research experience in two of the following areas: commercial/social determinants of health and/or alcohol research and/or health policy analysis and/or legal research relevant to public health.

·       2 years of non-degree related experience conducting social science or health related research in low-resource settings

·       Evidence of competency in mixed methods research (e.g. study design development and/or analysis and/or knowledge translation and/or interpretation of results)

·       Demonstrable evidence of engaging with qualitative research, including conceptualisation, data collection, data analysis and writing.

·       Experience in research coordination.

·       Demonstrable experience in supervision of students (at least two students currently registered and/or graduated)

·       Experience with research that actively engages with local communities.

·       The ability to work both independently and as part of multi- and/or interdisciplinary research teams.

·       Evidence of knowledge translation and/or knowledge dissemination activities

·       Willingness to travel locally and internationally.  

·       Fluency in English.

·       Never having received funding from alcohol or associated industries for research or related activities.

At Senior Research Officer level:

·       PhD in either public health, policy analysis, health systems, social sciences or related discipline OR a master’s degree in these areas with ten years research experience and at least fifteen scientific publications.

·       Evidence of scientific publications, including 2 as lead author (5 as lead author if master’s degree candidate).

·       Demonstrable knowledge and research experience in two of the following areas: commercial/social determinants of health and/or alcohol research and/or health policy analysis and/or legal research relevant to public health.

·       At least 3 years of non-degree related experience conducting social science or health related research in low-resource settings.

·       Evidence of competency in mixed methods research (e.g. study design development and/or analysis and/or knowledge translation and/or interpretation of results).

·       Demonstrable evidence of leading qualitative research, including conceptualization, data collection, data analysis and writing.

·       Experience in research coordination.

·       Demonstrable experience in supervision of students (at least two graduated students).

·       Experience with research that actively engages with local communities.

·       The ability to work both independently and as part of multi- and/or interdisciplinary research teams.

·       Evidence of knowledge translation and/or knowledge dissemination activities.

·       Willingness to travel locally and internationally.  

·       Fluency in English.

·       Never having received funding from alcohol or associated industries for research or related activities.

The following will be advantageous:

·     Experience in facilitating stakeholder engagements with communities and/or policy makers.

·     Experience of working in large grants with international funding.

·     More than 5 years non-degree related experience.

·     Published systematic review and/or meta-analysis and/or evidence synthesis

·     Ability to work both remotely and/or in the office.

·     A complement of quantitative research skills.

·     Experience in university teaching.

·     Valid Driver’s license.

·     At least one additional Southern African language.

Responsibilities

At Research Officer:

·     Work collaboratively with a team of scientists in South Africa, the UK and Botswana and with a civil society partner organization.

·     Conduct policy and political economy analyses on topics related to alcohol as a commercial determinant of health in South Africa, Botswana and globally.

·     Conduct data collection, engage in primary and secondary data analysis and the production of research reports and scientific publications.

·     Coordinate webinars and engagement with policy makers, civil society partners and in communities.

·     Occasional travel to community sites to facilitate and oversee community workshops, in partnership with a civil society partner. 

·     Support operational cross-country collaboration and learning with the team in Botswana.

·     Engage in evidence synthesis of project results to support knowledge translation and dissemination of results in communities and with policy makers.

·     Support the development of a community action manual for alcohol harm reduction.

·     Supervision of students. 

At Senior Research Officer:

·     Relationship building and working collaboratively with a team of scientists in South Africa, the UK and Botswana and with a civil society partner organisation.

·     Conduct policy and political economy analyses on topics related to alcohol as a commercial determinant of health in South Africa, Botswana and globally.

·     Conduct data collection, engage in primary and secondary data analysis and the production of research reports and scientific publications

·     Establishes a course of action to design and manage webinars and engagement with policy makers, civil society partners and in communities.

·     Occasional travel to community sites to facilitate and oversee community workshops, in partnership with a civil society partner 

·     Support strategic and operational cross-country collaboration and learning with the team in Botswana.

·     Engage in evidence synthesis of project results to support knowledge translation and dissemination of results in communities and with policy makers.

·     Provide joint oversight of and participate in the development of a community action manual for alcohol harm reduction.

·     Support monitoring that project deliverables are met.

·     Supervision of students. 

For detailed information on this post, please view the job description on the following link: (view).

The annual cost of employment, including benefits, are between: 

Research Officer:                   R 703 422 and R 941 184

Senior Research Officer:       R 795 970 and R 1 147 460

To apply, please visit the UCT Jobs Site (www.jobs.uct.ac.za). (Link for internal applicants) and (Link for external applicants) to create a candidate profile and to submit your application.

Please complete/attach the following to your profile before submitting your application:

·     Motivational letter that speaks to the requirements of the position

·     Curriculum Vitae (CV)

·     Three referee names which must include their title and name, position details, relationship to you, their e-mail address and telephone number

·     ID/Passport

·     Proof of qualifications

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

Shortlisted candidates may be required to undergo competency and pre-placement-medical assessments.  References may be requested by UCT at any stage of the selection process.

Any enquiries for the position to be addressed to Ms Tracy Moore at tracy.moore@uct.ac.za or 021 650 4505.

Closing date:               8 June 2025

Website:                     www.publichealth.uct.ac.za

Reference number:    ID1102

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 Employment equity | University of Cape Town (uct.ac.za).

UCT reserves the right not to appoint.