Associate Researcher (2 Year Fixed-Term Contract)
University of the Witwatersrand
Job TitleAssociate Researcher (2 Year Fixed-Term Contract)LocationOrganization NameAfrican Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS)Department DescriptionOverview
GEMMS is a Global Health Research Group on Disrupting the cycle of gendered violence and poor mental health among migrants in precarious situations. The Group is a collaboration between the Universities of Essex, the Witwatersrand (Wits), Johannesburg, and Oxford, the Tata Institute for Social Science (TISS, Mumbai), African University (Zimbabwe), and Health Poverty Action. While the link between gendered violence and poor mental and psychosocial health is widely acknowledged, it remains poorly understood, particularly in migrant and mobile populations. In addition, interventions that address gendered violence and/or mental health often ignore the ways in which gendered violence reinforces mental health and vice versa. These interventions are also often limited in reach as they often address the needs of sedentary populations, ignoring the needs and realities of migrant and mobile groups. The GEMMS research group aims to create the necessary tools, actions, and evidence-informed intervention pathways to disrupt the damaging cycle of gendered violence and poor mental health to improve the wellbeing of migrants in precarious situations, including responsive interventions that can address migrants changing needs over time and in different contexts. This research is funded by the NIHR (grant nihr134629) using UK aid from the UK Government to support global health research.
Brief DescriptionAbout 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 DescriptionJob RequirementsAdditional DetailsHow To ApplyTo apply, submit a letter of motivation - clearly indicating which position you are applying for, detailed CV and the names and contact details of three referees (incl. e-mail addresses).
Internal employees are invited to apply directly on Oracle by following the path: iWits /Self Service application/ Apply for a job
External applicants are invited to apply, by registering a profile on the Wits i-recruitment platform located at https://irec.wits.ac.za and submitting your application.
*The University is committed to employment equity. Preference may be given to appointable applicants from the under-represented designated groups in terms of the relevant employment equity plans and policies of the University. Designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, as amended, means black people, women and people with disabilities.
WITS Employment Equity Policy: https://www.wits.ac.za/media/wits-university/footer/about-wits/transformation-office/documents/Policy%20-%20Employment%20Equity.pdf
Closing Date: 20th October 2024
NB: Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Please note that only applications via the website will be considered for shortlisting. The University reserves the right to verify all information provided by candidates and to verify credit standing. Please note that correspondence will only be entered into with short-listed candidates.
The University reserves the right not to make an appointment or to re-advertise.
Further information ONLY: jo.vearey@wits.ac.za
Minimum SalaryMaximum SalaryCurrencyAmount of TravelWork At Home
GEMMS is a Global Health Research Group on Disrupting the cycle of gendered violence and poor mental health among migrants in precarious situations. The Group is a collaboration between the Universities of Essex, the Witwatersrand (Wits), Johannesburg, and Oxford, the Tata Institute for Social Science (TISS, Mumbai), African University (Zimbabwe), and Health Poverty Action. While the link between gendered violence and poor mental and psychosocial health is widely acknowledged, it remains poorly understood, particularly in migrant and mobile populations. In addition, interventions that address gendered violence and/or mental health often ignore the ways in which gendered violence reinforces mental health and vice versa. These interventions are also often limited in reach as they often address the needs of sedentary populations, ignoring the needs and realities of migrant and mobile groups. The GEMMS research group aims to create the necessary tools, actions, and evidence-informed intervention pathways to disrupt the damaging cycle of gendered violence and poor mental health to improve the wellbeing of migrants in precarious situations, including responsive interventions that can address migrants changing needs over time and in different contexts. This research is funded by the NIHR (grant nihr134629) using UK aid from the UK Government to support global health research.
Brief DescriptionAbout 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 DescriptionJob RequirementsAdditional DetailsHow To ApplyTo apply, submit a letter of motivation - clearly indicating which position you are applying for, detailed CV and the names and contact details of three referees (incl. e-mail addresses).
Internal employees are invited to apply directly on Oracle by following the path: iWits /Self Service application/ Apply for a job
External applicants are invited to apply, by registering a profile on the Wits i-recruitment platform located at https://irec.wits.ac.za and submitting your application.
*The University is committed to employment equity. Preference may be given to appointable applicants from the under-represented designated groups in terms of the relevant employment equity plans and policies of the University. Designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, as amended, means black people, women and people with disabilities.
WITS Employment Equity Policy: https://www.wits.ac.za/media/wits-university/footer/about-wits/transformation-office/documents/Policy%20-%20Employment%20Equity.pdf
Closing Date: 20th October 2024
NB: Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Please note that only applications via the website will be considered for shortlisting. The University reserves the right to verify all information provided by candidates and to verify credit standing. Please note that correspondence will only be entered into with short-listed candidates.
The University reserves the right not to make an appointment or to re-advertise.
Further information ONLY: jo.vearey@wits.ac.za
Minimum SalaryMaximum SalaryCurrencyAmount of TravelWork At Home
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