Senior Scientist

We invite applications for a Senior Scientist role at the Health Systems Research Unit (HSRU), an intra-mural research unit at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). The HSRU hosts the Cochrane Africa network, which is a partner of the What Works Climate Solutions (WWCS) initiative to accelerate climate solutions through a transition to evidence-based climate policy. The WWCS initiative aims to provide an organizational foundation for evidence-informed climate solutions, to provide an evidence base needed to inform climate solutions, and to build a community that is fit-for-purpose to drive climate solutions. An appropriately qualified and experienced researcher is required to join our team to support the successful implementation of the project activities that Cochrane Africa is leading. This includes providing training in evidence synthesis and methodological support to author teams conducting a suite of living systematic reviews on priority climate and health issues for Africa and coordinating research-related activities.

The position will involve supporting and leading research, interest-holder engagement, contributing to grant writing, project management, and publishing and communicating scientific publications.

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to and lead the development of research within the field of health policy and systems and publish scientific research in peer reviewed journals
• Present research findings at local or international conferences or at external meetings
• Collaborate on proposal writing for grant funding
• Contribute and lead scientific project work, including managing timelines, budget, staff support, output quality, project risk, research dissemination and stakeholder engagement
• Capacity development, including the supervision of Masters’ students, facilitating workshops, and mentoring
• Research translation, including contributing to policies, guidelines or legislation; reviewing abstracts, journal articles, proposals; and development of research translation strategies
• Contributing to the scientific life of the Unit through journal clubs, research days and other relevant activities

Duration of the contract

• 2 years

Remuneration

• R831 798 per annum (cost to company)

• Master’s degree in Public Health or Clinical Epidemiology
• At least three years working experience in quantitative research including systematic review methods.
• Record of 3 lifetime publications (ISI journal articles, editorials or book chapters and technical reports) with at least 1 as first/senior author.
• Successfully co-supervised at least one post-graduate student to graduation.
• Records of translating professional, scientific or clinical expertise, new knowledge and research findings into public understanding, policy, and/or practice, in order to improve health.
• Experience in leading of research project(s), including mentoring and managing a research team.
• Experience in budgeting, financial and risk management.
• Excellent interpersonal relations and communication skills.

Advantageous:

• Registration for a PhD
• Author on a Cochrane review or systematic reviews
• Teaching experience in Cochrane systematic review methods
• Work experience in the field of climate and health
• Experience in knowledge translation
• Experience in networking and collaborating with international partners and stakeholders, including policymakers.

Closing Date:

• 14 April 2026