The African Centre for Cities (ACC) at the University of Cape Town invite applications for three full time Research Officers or Senior Research Officers for a two-year period (1 June 2023 – 31 May 2025).
We are looking for candidates to work as part of the African Mayoral Leadership Initiative (AMALI) Data Programme team, located within the African Centre for Cities (ACC). ACC was established in 2007 at the University of Cape Town as an urban research institute.
The ACC is based in the School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, but is interdisciplinary in scope, drawing on expertise on urban issues from across the university. AMALI, located within ACC, focuses on supporting African Mayors in their legacy goals and involves in-depth and ongoing technical and skills support over the course of a calendar year. The AMALI Data Programme specifically focuses on supporting African mayors and their executive and data teams in the collection, analysis, and use of data necessary for effective decision making and reporting at a city-scale.
The AMALI Data Programme Research Officers / Senior Research Officers will work with a portfolio of cities, engaging with data experts and city leadership to deliver coaching and capacity building to ensure better collection and analysis of data, which in turn will support the success of city leaderships’ visions for their cities. These positions will therefore also support the management and utilization of data into routine city governance processes. To achieve this, these positions will assess the current data capabilities of city teams, scope specific activities focused on improving skills and guiding each city through the implementation of a chosen data initiative, provide ongoing support to city teams to help improve outcomes, regularly evaluate city progress and track impact, and conduct research/analysis to then write up and present findings. This work will involve extensive travel each year to selected cities across Africa.
Requirements:
• Good qualitative and quantitative research skills.
• Evidence of academic writing ability.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• Strong understanding of quantitative research methods, and the ability to work with and understand complex datasets.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to work independently in a pressurized environment.
• Ability to interact successfully with individuals from a wide range of professional and non-professional backgrounds, including internal (UCT) and external stakeholders.
• Good knowledge of urban issues in Africa, how local government functions, and the collection/analysis of urban data is essential.
• Ability to travel internationally (the work will require repeat visits to a number of African cities every year).
The following would be advantageous:
• Skills in website development/maintenance and statistical software (such as GIS and XPSS).
• Fluency in French.
Requirements for a Research Officer position:
• A Masters degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. urban studies, geography, urban planning, sociology, public policy/administration, statistics, GIS)
• At least three years relevant postgraduate experience working in academia, public policy, public administration, government, non-profit, or a related field with well-developed research management skills and a track record of peer-reviewed academic publications.
Requirements for a Senior Research Officer position:
• A PhD in a relevant discipline (e.g., urban studies, geography, urban planning, sociology, public policy/administration, statistics, GIS)
• At least five years relevant postgraduate experience working in academia, public policy, public administration, government, non-profit, or a related field with well-developed research management skills and a track record of peer-reviewed academic publications.
The annual remuneration package is:
– Research Officer (between R446 627 and R853 709)
– Senior Research Officer (between R498 708 and R1 027 040)
To apply, please e-mail the below documents in a single pdf file to Ms Ulpha Ismail at Ulpha.Ismail@uct.ac.za
– UCT Application Form (download at http://forms.uct.ac.za/hr201.doc)
– A 1-2-page motivation letter specifying the relevance of experience for the position.
– A detailed curriculum vitae. An application which does not comply with the above requirements will be regarded as incomplete and might not be considered.
Reference number: E23505
Closing date: 19 May 2023
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and may be required to undergo competency assessments.
“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 www.uct.ac.za/downloads/uct.ac.za/about/policies/eepolicy.pdf. “ www.hr.uct.ac.za/hr/policies/employ_equity.
UCT reserves the right not to appoint.