The Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) is recruiting

The Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) is a research centre set up as a partnership between the University of Johannesburg (UJ), the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits), the Gauteng Provincial Government, and organised local government in Gauteng (SALGA-Gauteng). The GCRO’s mission is to build the knowledge base that government, business, labour, civil society and residents all need to develop a functionally integrated, spatially coherent, economically competitive, environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive Gauteng City-Region. We undertake research ourselves and in partnership with others, collect data and use it to benchmark the region locally and internationally, and provide policy support to government, working to the highest academic standards.

1.GCRO Junior Researcher: Inclusive Economies (Wits University level AC09):

GCRO is seeking to appoint a highly motivated Junior Researcher (equivalent to Junior Lecturer) to the Inclusive Economies Research Programme (IERP) who will:

• Contribute to the development of a comprehensive Inclusive Economies Research Programme.
• Participate as a GCRO IERP team member to support the implementation of the programme’s defined research projects.
• Organise regular meetings with IERP stakeholders to maintain regular contact.
• Draft meeting minutes and reports on the progress of the IERP.
• Assist with drafting of terms of references and assist with the management of short-term appointments (on a consultancy basis) to supplement existing capacity and/or address urgent research needs.
• Contribute to analysis, research and quantitative and qualitative surveys on inclusive economic development.
• Work in collaboration with a range of research entities, locally and internationally, in pursuit of the programme’s objectives.
• Participate in the effective dissemination of the team’s output to stakeholders and society.
• Undertake academic research and publish in academic journals or books.

We are looking for (selection criteria):

• Applicants with a master's qualification, or in exceptional cases an Honour’s with considerable relevant experience and evidence of progress towards attaining a master’s degree in economics, Social Sciences, Urban Planning and/or related fields.
• A candidate with some applied work experience in research in inclusive economic development, regional economic development and/or related disciplines.
• Evidence of an appropriate mix of peer reviewed scholarly output and other research outputs.
• A candidate with qualitative and quantitative data analysis skills will be at an advantage.
• Ability to engage with a wide range of academic, research, government and civil society stakeholders.
• Applicants must have good communication and presentation skills.

A Junior Researcher is broadly equivalent to a university Junior Lecturer and a competitive remuneration package at the level of a Junior Lecturer is available. The successful candidate will be given a five-year contract, renewable.

2.GCRO Researcher: Inclusive Economies (Wits University level AC08)

GCRO is seeking to appoint a multi-skilled Researcher (equivalent to Lecturer) to the Inclusive Economies Research Programme (IERP) who will:

• Actively contribute to the conception and delivery of research projects on inclusive economic development.
• Contribute to the development of the Inclusive Economies Research Programme in close consultation with the IERP’s Joint Steering Committee (GPG and GCRO) and the GCRO’s Management Committee.
• Contribute to analysis, research and quantitative and qualitative surveys on inclusive economic development.
• Work in collaboration with a range of research entities, locally and internationally, in pursuit of the programme’s objectives.
• Draft terms of references and assist with the management of short-term appointments (on a consultancy basis) to supplement existing capacity and/or address urgent research needs.
• Support the drafting of policy proposals and/or co-production on inclusive economic development with provincial and/or local government.
• Contribute to the effective dissemination of the team’s output to stakeholders and society at large via media, social media and dialogues.
• Undertake academic research and publish in academic journals and books.
• Build local and international profile for the programme and its outputs, for example through projection of findings into conferences and other forums, and/or through engaging in selected international comparative research projects.

We are looking for (selection criteria):

• Applicant with a Masters degree or PhD or registered for PhD.
• A candidate substantially involved in research in inclusive economic development, regional economic development and/or related disciplines over three years.
• Applicants must have at least two peer reviewed journal articles or book chapters.
• Applicants with experience of translating research into public policy
• A candidate with significant quantitative data/statistical analysis will be at an advantage.
• Ability to engage at a high level with a wide range of academic, research, government and civil society stakeholders.
• Applicants must have excellent communication and presentation skills. A Researcher is broadly equivalent to a university Lecturer and a competitive remuneration package at this level is available. The successful candidate will be given a five-year contract, renewable.

3.Junior Researcher - Office of the Executive Director (Wits University level AC09)

The GCRO seeks to recruit a highly motivated individual who will work as a Junior Researcher for the Executive Director (ED) and report directly to the ED. The incumbent will perform both executive support and research functions in the ED’s office. The position blends managerial support and research functions enabling the incumbent to gain vital exposure to the strategic and operational management of a research entity as well as attaining appreciable experience in their own research interests. The work will enable the incumbent’s engagement with a wide range of academic, research, government and civil society stakeholders and international partners.

The key functions of this position are:

• Assist the ED in fulfilment of his research functions through coordination of research collaborators and/or direct involvement in research;
• Work under supervision on GCRO research projects in conjunction with senior staff aimed at publication in accredited and non-accredited scholarly publications;
• Support the ED on government requests for data, research and policy development;
• Provide executive logistical and administrative support to the ED on his strategic and operational functions;
• Assist the ED in his engagement with academic, research, government and civil society stakeholders and international partners;

We are looking for (selection criteria):

• Applicants with a Masters qualification, or in exceptional cases an Honour’s with considerable relevant experience and evidence of progress towards attaining a master’s degree in urban planning, development studies, social sciences, economics, demographics, urban geography, political studies, public management, or cognate discipline;
• Evidence of research potential through some published work is not essential but is highly recommended;
• Administrative skills are essential for this position;
• Attention to detail and numeracy literacy is required;
• Capacity to work independently, be deadline driven and communicate well (written and verbal);
• Computer literacy is essential (MS Word, Excel, Internet, e-mail);
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver a professional service;
• High level of competence and organisation skills;
• Ability to work productively and positively in teams.

A Junior Researcher is broadly equivalent to a university Junior Lecturer and a competitive remuneration package at that level is available. The successful candidate will be awarded a five-year contract.

4.Junior Researcher: Understanding Quality of Life (Wits University level AC09)

Understanding Quality of Life

The GCRO works in diverse areas including economic development, sustainability, space and mobility, governance and intergovernmental relations, and social development. Understanding Quality of Life has been integral to the GCRO’s work since its inception in 2008. The GCRO’s flagship project Quality of Life (QoL) Surveys has historically been at the core of the theme of Understanding Quality of Life. Work in the QoL surveys includes all the processes involved in the collection, analysis and innovative dissemination of primary data on key trends and dynamics in the city-region. The results from the QoL surveys are shared with government stakeholders, launched publicly to widespread media attention, and fed into many applied research and academic research projects. The incumbent for this position will work in a team that runs the QoL Survey project which involves the development of terms of reference, questionnaire development, contract management with service providers for the project, quality control of survey data, and providing administrative support to the overall running of the project. The incumbent will also undertake data analysis using QoL surveys, develop/conceptualise new research topics aligned to the theme of Understanding Quality of Life, and present results at various platforms such as academic conferences, policy workshops and dissemination seminars.

We are looking for (selection criteria):

• Applicants with a Masters qualification, or in exceptional cases an Honour’s with considerable relevant experience and evidence of progress towards attaining a master’s degree.
• A candidate with expertise in data management of large-scale quantitative datasets.
• A candidate with the ability to analyse quantitative data using SPSS, Stata or R and present results. Demonstrable experience with advanced statistical analysis and knowledge of a GIS application will be an advantage.
• An applicant interested in pursuing scientific research in the field of quality-of-life studies.
• An applicant with the ability to conceptualise own research topics using existing quantitative datasets.
• A candidate with interest in, and ideally some prior work experience in, household- based survey management and / or project management.

How to apply:

Applicants are invited to apply, by registering their profile on the Wits i-recruitment platform located at https://irec.wits.ac.za and submitting their application. Internal Wits employees are invited to apply directly on Oracle by following the path: iWits/Self Service application/“Apply for a job. Applications received via email will not be considered.

To apply, submit a covering letter addressing the selection criteria specifically; a detailed CV with names, addresses, contact numbers and email addresses of 3 referees willing to provide references; certified copies of your academic qualifications, i.e. degrees; and an example of written/published work.

The University is committed to employment equity. Preference may be given to appointable applicants from the underrepresented designated groups in terms of the relevant employment equity plans and policies of the University. The University retains the right to verify all information provided by candidates. Please note that correspondence will only be entered into with shortlisted candidates. The University and GCRO reserves the right not to make an appointment or to re-advertise.

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If you have any further queries, please address them to: The Executive Director, GCRO, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050 or e- mailed to info@gcro.ac.za. Closing date for applications: close of business on 28 June 2024.