Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Jobs

To apply, click on the link at the end of the posts and all the best with your applications

DIVISIONAL EXECUTIVE: DEVELOPMENTAL, CAPABLE AND ETHICAL STATE

Closing Date
2026/06/14
Reference Number
HSR260522-2
Job Type Fixed Term contract- long term
Job Title DIVISIONAL EXECUTIVE: DEVELOPMENTAL, CAPABLE AND ETHICAL STATE
Business Area Development, Capable and Ethical State – DCES
Department DCES
Number of Positions 1
Workplace Type Hybrid
Location – Town / City Pretoria
Location – Province Gauteng
Location – Country South Africa
Minimum Education Level NQF 10 – PhD Degree or equivalent
Application Closing Date 14-Jun-2026
Job Category Education
Job Advert Summary
The HSRC’s Developmental, Capable and Ethical State (DCES) division aims to be a national, regional and international hub for transformative research in the interest of a just and equal society. The DCES focuses on conducting innovative research in human security, sustainability, democracy, governance, and citizenship, with an engaged approach that aims to build a better life for all. It leads research, implementation, and advocacy support in the service of the public good and South Africa’s national priorities to strengthen social cohesion; create safe communities; build a capable, ethical and developmental state; and work towards a better Africa and world.

The DCES Division leads the HSRC research under Research Hub III: Sectoral studies – Mining, and co-leads the Research Hub: VII: Climate change and environmental sustainability, and Research Hub XI: Longitudinal studies

Within the DCES Division, the Africa, BRICS and the Global South (ABGS) sub-programme coordinates the HSRC’s Africa Focus mandate and activities related to engagements and collaborations in and on Africa, BRICS, and other countries in the Global South. The sub-programme comprises the Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA), which is primarily focused on and informed by Agenda 2063, and the BRICS Research Centre, guided by the BRICS Long-Term Research Agenda.

The ABGS sub-programme leads the HSRC research under Research Hub I: Regional integration and global partnerships, and Research Hub V: Democracy, peace, and security.

The HSRC seeks to appoint a Divisional Executive (DE) to direct, plan, and coordinate the work of DCES and its sub-programme. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the DE will lead a team in delivering globally recognised and locally relevant research and policy engagement on democracy, peace, and security. The position is based in Pretoria, with oversight of activities across the HSRC’s other locations.

DIVISIONAL EXECUTIVE: DEVELOPMENTAL, CAPABLE AND ETHICAL STATE DIVISION

Ref. DE/DCES/05/2026

5-year contract

Pretoria based

Minimum Requirements
A Doctoral degree (PhD NQF level 10) in the Social Sciences, Humanities, Development Studies, Political Science, Public Policy, International Relations, or related disciplines.
At least 10 years of senior-level experience, including 5 years or more in a strategic leadership role in a research, academic, public policy, or research innovation environment.
Proven track record in interdisciplinary research and policy engagement.
In-depth knowledge of issues related to democracy, governance, peace, security, sustainability, and human development in South Africa and the continent.
Proven ability to mobilise research funding, manage budgets, and build partnerships at national, regional, and international levels.
Demonstrated experience in managing large-scale research initiatives.
An academic leader with a strong publishing record (books, book chapters, journal articles), several of which must be international and first or sole-authored.
Fluency in English
Demonstrated experience in working in a similar regulatory environment

Additionalrequirements:

Experience in government, multilateral organisations, think tanks, or industry is an added advantage.
Excellent networking skills and experience in working with senior policy makers and decision
A track record of leading large-scale quantitative and/or qualitative research studies with demonstrable outcomes.
Demonstrated commitment toethical leadership, diversity, inclusion, and social justice.
Personal qualities that include intellectual and personal integrity, imagination, drive, and the ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines.
Leadership qualities that include humility, commitment to excellence, strategic advisory experience, the ability to work as part of an executive team and to lead multidisciplinary
Advanced business and commercial
Excellent computer literacy, including a knowledge of contemporary ways of communicating research outcomes.
Duties & Responsibilities
The successful candidate will actively engage in the following:

Strategic Planning and Leadership
Delivery of the HSRC’s Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plan targets as cascaded to the Division.
Financial Management of the Division’s
Innovative Resource Mobilisation and Partnership
People Management within the
Stakeholder and Customer Relationship
Risk and Compliance
Key and Strategic Functions and Responsibilities:

Strategic and Thought Leadership
Shape and implement a forward-looking strategy aligned with the HSRC’s strategic
Provide visionary leadership in positioning DCES as a hub for transformative research on democracy, governance, peace, human security, and sustainability.
Drive innovation in transdisciplinary and policy-relevant research to address national, regional, and global challenges.
Represent the HSRC and DCES at high-level forums, conferences, and stakeholder engagements.
Research and Policy Influence
Oversee the design, execution, and dissemination of cutting-edge research that informs evidence-based policy and practice.
Strengthen the impact of research outputs on public policy, governance systems, and civic engagement.
Promote participatory approaches that place citizens at the centre of governance and development.
Publish impactful research outputs and policy-relevant knowledge
Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation
Build strategic partnerships across government, higher education, industry, civil society, and global networks.
Drive resource mobilisation through grant acquisition and contract research aligned to the strategic agenda.
Operational and People Management
Ensure excellence in financial, project, and people
Cultivate a high-performing, diverse, and inclusive
Develop and oversee annual plans, budgets, and monitoring

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EDITORIAL PROJECT MANAGER

Closing Date
2026/06/10
Reference Number
HSR260522-1
Job Type Permanent
Job Title EDITORIAL PROJECT MANAGER
Business Area Publishing
Department HSRC Press
Number of Positions 1
Workplace Type Hybrid
Location – Town / City Pretoria
Location – Province Gauteng
Location – Country South Africa
Minimum Education Level NQF8 – Hons Degree or equivalent
Application Closing Date 10-Jun-2026
Job Category Publishing
Job Advert Summary
In 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.

HSRC Press, the publishing division of the Human Sciences Research Council, is a small but prolific and innovative publishing house of social science and humanities scholarship and outstanding non-fiction from and about Africa and the global south.

The Press is seeking a skilled and experienced Editorial Project Manager to join our team. This is a pivotal role within the Press, responsible for driving the quality and timely delivery of our academic and non-fiction publishing programme from manuscript stage through to final print and digital output.

The successful candidate will bring a strong command of traditional and digital editorial and production workflows, sound project management and financial oversight, as well as the interpersonal dexterity to manage a diverse set of stakeholders — from authors and suppliers to internal commissioning and marketing colleagues.

This will be a permanent appointment, and the successful incumbent can be based in the HSRC’s Pretoria office.

EDITORIAL PROJECT MANAGER

(Ref. No. EPM 05/2026)

Pretoria

Minimum Requirements
Key requirements:

NQF level 8 in humanities and social sciences: A relevant 4-year undergraduate degree or 3+1(Honours), preferably in publishing, humanities, information science, or a related field.
A postgraduate qualification will be advantageous.
Experience & Skills

A minimum of 5 years’ proven experience in editorial and production project management, with a track record of having produced at least ten academic or non-fiction books and/or journals
Demonstrated ability to manage digital production workflows and publishing systems
Experience working with printers and overseeing print quality from pre-press through to final delivery
Exceptional attention to detail and a consistent commitment to producing high-quality outputs
Excellent command of written and verbal expression in English, and blingual in one South African language other than English would be advantageous
Proven ability to manage competing deadlines under pressure and to apply sound problem-solving judgement
Strong, demonstrable project management skills, including planning, scheduling, and resource coordination
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to manage relationships with authors, suppliers, and service providers professionally
Strong teamwork orientation, with experience briefing and collaborating with commissioning editorial and marketing teams
Good grasp of academic and scholarly publishing requirements and environment.

Duties & Responsibilities
Key responsibilities:

Manage end-to-end editorial projects, ensuring delivery against agreed timelines
Quality control all production and layout outputs across print and digital formats
Monitor and control project budgets, tracking expenditure and flagging variances proactively
Coordinate stakeholder communication across authors, external suppliers, and internal departments
Maintain accurate project administration records, reporting, and documentation
Ensure alignment with institutional corporate governance and compliance requirements
Please register and submit your application on-line at https://hsrc.erecruit.co/

Application Instructions:

Candidates 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;
Attachments must be less than 1MB, there is an on-screen option to resize.
Your application must include:

A cover letter of motivation indicating your suitability for the position.
A detailed CV including your highest qualification, and citizenship.
Contact details for three recent referees (telephone/cell, email, and institutional affiliation).
Certified copies of your identity document and qualifications.
For further information about the HSRC or the post please consult our website (www.hsrc.ac.za). Enquiries, to application process, can be directed to Ms Aurelia Smith at asmith@hsrc.ac.za and those relating to technical knowledge for the positions (NOT applications or CVs) may be directed to Ms Roshan Cader at rcader@hsrc.ac.za.

Closing date: 10 June 2026. We encourage applicants to submit prior to this date. Applicants who have 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.

The HSRC reserves the right not to make an appointment.

APPLICATIONS FROM RECRUITMENT AGENCIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Click here to apply

RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Closing Date
2026/06/01
Reference Number
HSR260520-2
Job Type Fixed Term contract- long term
Job Title RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Business Area Research Impact Division
Department Research Impact Division
Number of Positions 1
Workplace Type Remote
Location – Town / City Pretoria, Cape Town and Sweetwaters
Location – Province KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, North West, Northern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State
Location – Country South Africa
Minimum Education Level NQF 9 – Masters Degree or equivalent
Application Closing Date 01-Jun-2026
Job Category Other
Job Advert Summary
In 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.

The Research Impact Division (RID) 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; and Research Ethics. Together, these units ensure that the HSRC’s research is not only rigorous and relevant, but also transformative – helping to shape a more inclusive, informed, and just society. The RID plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the HSRC’s 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.

The HSRC’s Research Ethics Committee seeks to appoint external committee members. Applicants would represent academic backgrounds in varied fields such as Social Sciences, Humanities, Medicine, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Law and Human Rights. The function of the Research Ethics Committee (REC) is to promote research ethics in the organisation, including the ethics review of research proposals. The HSRC REC is accredited with the South African National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC) and has Federal Wide Assurance (FWA) in place with the US Office of Human Research Protections.

The contract duration for REC Members at the Human Sciences Research Council is Five (5) Years.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE MEMBERS

(Ref. No: REC MEM 05/2026)

Minimum Requirements
Suitable candidates should:

Have a good understanding of research ethics, human rights, and community welfare.
Have awareness of the role of research in society.
Have a track record in work related to research ethics in their areas of specialization.
Have completed a recognised online training module dealing with research ethics in South Africa.
Keep up to date with national and international research ethics and regulatory guidance.
Duties & Responsibilities
EXPECTEDPERFORMANCEAREASFORTHERESEARCHETHICSCOMMITTEE:

Reviewing and monitoring research proposals and practices in the HSRC from an ethical perspective.
Promoting respect for human rights in researc
Ensuring that informed consent is obtained in the case of human participant
Ensuring that ethical values are promoted, both within the HSRC and within the broader social sciences community in South Africa

This appointment will be on a five-year cycle from 01 July 2026 to 30 June 2031. Please be advised that this is not a full-time position, and external members of the REC are reimbursed according to predetermined rates for their time spent attending and preparing for meetings.

Applications:

A cover letter of motivation indicating your suitability and goals for the position.
A detailed CV, as well as a certified ID copy and qualifications.
Three recent referees with telephone/cell number, e-mail and institutional affiliation.
The HSRC will only consider applications that comply with the above requirements.

Please register and submit your application on-line at https://hsrc.erecruit.co/

Application Instructions:

Candidates 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;
Attachments must be less than 1MB, there is an on-screen option to resize.
For further information about the HSRC or the post please consult our website (www.hsrc.ac.za). Enquiries, to application process, can be directed to Ms Aurelia Smith at asmith@hsrc.ac.za and those relating to technical knowledge for the positions (NOT applications or CVs) may be directed to Dr Mzikazi Nduna at mnduna@hsrc.ac.za.

Closing date: 01 June 2026. We encourage applicants to submit prior to this date. Applicants who have 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.

The HSRC reserves the right not to make an appointment.

APPLICATIONS FROM RECRUITMENT AGENCIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Click here to apply

MASTERS RESEARCHER TRAINEE

Closing Date
2026/05/31
Reference Number
HSR260520-1
Job Type Fixed Term contract- long term
Job Title MASTERS RESEARCHER TRAINEE
Business Area Public Health, Societies and Belonging – PHSB
Department PHSB
Number of Positions 2
Workplace Type Hybrid
Location – Town / City Cape Town, Pretoria and Pietermaritzburg
Location – Province KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Western Cape
Location – Country South Africa
Minimum Education Level NQF8 – Hons Degree or equivalent
Application Closing Date 31-May-2026
Job Category Scientific
Job Advert Summary
The Public Health, Societies and Belonging (PHSB) research division within the HSRC employs a multi-disciplinary group of social scientists and public health specialists who conduct numerous empirical and policy-related studies each year, three-quarters of which are donor-funded. PHSB division conducts transdisciplinary, intersectional, policy and programme-relevant research to improve health, well-being and promote a socially just and cohesive society.

PHSB has offices in Pretoria, Cape Town and Pietermaritzburg. The division seeks to appoint Two (2) Masters interns to join a dynamic team of researchers in the HSRC community. The incumbent will be based in one of the HSRC offices.

Minimum Requirements
Key requirements:

Applicants must be in possession of a relevant Honours degree and be registered, or intending to register, for a Master’s degree at a recognised South African or international university in Public Health, Social Sciences, Behavioural Sciences, Health Sciences, Biostatistics, Data science, Epidemiology or a related field relevant to the work of PHSB;
A sound grounding in research methods will be a strong recommendation;
Requisite computer skills (e.g. Microsoft Office,)
Working experience with some of the following data software packages: STATA, SPSS, R, Nvivo, AtlasTI or other relevant statistical packages;
Ability to work well under pressure and to meet deadlines.
Duties & Responsibilities
Key responsibilities:

In addition to being registered for a Masters degree, at a recognized South African university and currently working on their degrees, or eligible for registration at a recognized South African university, research interns are required to participate in all aspects of the research process as they work with other staff on different research projects.
Among other duties, they will participate in the following activities under supervision:
Participation in the conceptualization and execution of research projects;
Participation in the formulation of research questions and writing proposals;
Assisting with the submission of research proposals for ethical review;
Management or supervision of research projects
Collection and analysis of data;
Writing up of research results, research reports and manuscripts for publication;
Presenting results of projects in different forums (webinars, conferences, seminars, and other forums);

Click here to apply

We wish you all the best with your applications