Associate Researcher (2 Year Fixed-Term Contract)

Brief Description

About The Position

• The Associate Researcher will be employed by the African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS) at Wits University and supervised by Associate Professor Jo Vearey
• This is a 24 month (2 year) contract position

Key Responsibilities

Research Coordination

• The Associate Researcher work closely with the research group manager (University of Essex) and a research coordinator based at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.
• The Associate Researcher will be responsible for the coordination of GEMMS research activities taking place in South Africa and Zimbabwe, involving the practical and ethical concerns, and their theoretical implications.
• Key tasks will include:
• Coordinate research activities and reporting in South Africa and Zimbabwe for all three workstreams.
• Work closely with the ACMS Finance Officer and Operations Manager to ensure all financial and administrative processes are developed and implemented correctly and in line with ACMS and Wits requirements
• Responsibility for all administrative processes including:
• Coordinating team meetings, including organising meeting agendas, invitations, managing RSVPs, setting up meetings, booking venues/organising virtual meetings, arranging necessary transport, accommodation and refreshments
• Managing day-to-day financial administration, including reconciliation processes associated with clearing cash advances; organising subsistence/similar payments
• Collating information required for NIHR reporting
• Oversight of budget, expenditure and forecasting and working with the ACMS operational staff team to ensure timeous reporting to NIHR as required
• Coordinate fieldwork in South Africa and Zimbabwe to ensure that it is planned and implemented efficiently
• Coordinate fieldwork reports
• Coordinate research reports
• Coordinate the local/regional technical advisory groups. This includes:
• Maintaining database of members and ensuring terms of reference are signed and filed
• Regular communication of project updates to TAG members
• Coordinating TAG meetings, including organising meeting agendas, invitations, managing RSVPs, setting up meetings, booking venues/organising virtual meetings, arranging necessary transport, accommodation and refreshments
• Participating in TAG meetings, including taking minutes and circulating to TAG members

Research Ethics Coordination

• The Associate Researcher work with the GEMMS ethics lead ( Jo Vearey) to coordinate with the implementation of an ethics and risk management programme within the project
• Key tasks will include:
• Support institutional leads in obtaining research ethics clearance.
• Support to Jo Vearey with Wits ethics applications
• Tracking research ethics clearance processes across all institutions
• Keeping copies of applications and certificates on file
• Support the Wits research team by coordinating the management of Wits ethics processes during fieldwork

Communication and Dissemination Coordination

• Support implementation of the GEMMS communication and dissemination strategy in the Southern African context
• Key tasks will include:
• Working with the GEMMS Manager and the Research Coordinator in India to support implementation of the GEMMS communication and dissemination strategy across all institutional partners
• Coordinate implementation of the GEMMS communication and dissemination strategy in South Africa and Zimbabwe
• Ensure regular communication of project updates to TAG members
• Engaging with the media

Essential Qualifications And Experience

• Familiarity with Wits and ACMS administrative systems
• Experience in international research collaborations and partnership building
• Experience in coordinating research projects, including in coordination of logistics, budgets and reporting
• Fluency in English
• A Masters degree
• A demonstrated ability to work independently and excellent time management
• A demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, including with partners based in other countries/institutions
• An ability to travel outside Johannesburg and to other countries required for fieldwork and/or project meetings

Desirable Qualifications And Experience

• Familiarity with NIHR reporting mechanisms
• Familiarity with research in the field of migration, health, gender and violence in South Africa, Zimbabawe, India and Cambodia
• Familiarity with the global migration and health governance terrain
• Knowledge of and research in the global migration and health governance terrain
• A PhD in Migration & Displacement, Health Sociology, Public Health or an associated discipline

Detailed Description

Job Requirements

Additional Details