About the position
Postion Summary:
The National Research Foundation (NRF) seeks to make an appointment for the position of Professional Officer: Evaluation and Impact within the Research, Innovation, and Impact Support and Advancement (RIISA) Division. Reporting to the Specialist: Evaluations and Impact Department. The incumbent will be responsible for supporting the design, implementation, and management of the evaluation processes and impact assessment of the NRF research programmes and interventions, to ensure that the NRF - funded research is beneficial to society, (including industry, and academia).
Key Responsibilities:
- Establish and maintain professional relationships with stakeholders to promote the appreciation of responsible research assessment, performance evaluation and impact assessment
- Coordinate and implement the end-to-end process for evaluation and impact assessment for research programmes and interventions using robust project management disciplinesAssist in developing new and reviewing existing evaluation and impact assessment frameworksAssist in developing data collection tools, surveys, interviews, focus groups, and case studies, to capture both qualitative and quantitative impact data
- Analyze and interpret data to identify trends, evaluate performance, and provide actionable insights to improve future research programs
- Review literature to benchmark and update NRF evaluation methods Assist the unit manager to prepare regular and annual reports, collaborating with internal and external RIISA stakeholders to exchange ideas, resources and know-how to ensure that outcomes of supported research align with impact goals and prescribed performance indicators Provide technical support and guidance to program teams in developing responsible research assessment, monitoring and evaluation strategies, ensuring alignment with industry best practices
- Monitor the progress of research programmes and interventions, tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) and assessing if they are meeting intended impact goals
- Support capacity building efforts, including training staff and partners on Responsible Research Assessment and M&E best practices and tools
- Contribute to the development of impact dissemination strategies to share evaluation findings and lessons learned with broader audiences
Minimum Qualification:
- Honours Degree / Post Graduate Qualification / Professional Qualification / NQF 8
Minimum Experience:
- Minimum, Honours or 4-year degree (NQF 8) in Natural/or Social Science/or Business Management, experience in research evaluation, strong communication/writing skills and organisational skills
- A master’s degree will be an added advantage
- 3-5 years’ work experience in role with clear responsibilities for coordination and facilitation of organisational performance monitoring and evaluation processes and organisation wide reports
- Exposure to organisational planning, monitoring and evaluation functions in a public organisation
- Experience in programme coordination in public administration or science coordination
- Good understanding of the statutory requirements for organisation planning, monitoring and evaluation in public entities and applicable frameworks
Experience:
- Critical thinking, problem solving, an eye for detail, quantitative and qualitative analytical capabilitiesDemonstrable knowledge of monitoring and evaluation of research programmes Good verbal and written communication skills in business language (English)Public speaking and presentation capabilities (oral and written)Good interpersonal, stakeholder relations and conflict resolution skillsIntellectual agility and influential to others to instill monitoring and evaluative thinking within RIISAProgramme, project (planning and coordination skills), process and time management Being technically advanced in computer literacy and savvy with data software packages Financial resourcing, human resources management, change management and diplomacy skills Policy development (guidelines/rules) and framework development (for policy implementation)
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of frameworks and best practices for planning, monitoring and evaluation of research
- Knowledge of the South African Higher Education System; the National System of Innovation; National and International Human Resource Development Strategies and associated challenges
- Knowledge of relevant policies; legislation and regulations pertaining to research, innovation and postgraduate education in South Africa
- Knowledge of the global research landscape and innovation trends
- Familiarity with PFMA, labour legislation, and management best practices
- Fair knowledge in strategy development and implementation
The NRF website provides more details on the initiatives and activities Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by registering and apply online through the NRF Recruitment and Selection Portal. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating the applicant·s suitability for the position. The names and contact details of at least three referees should be provided.
Desired Skills:
- Skilled in applied field of position
- Knowledge to be relevant
- Responsible in performing duties
About The Employer:
The National Research Foundation (NRF) was established by an Act of Parliament and mandated to contribute to national development by supporting, promoting, and advancing research and human capacity development, through funding and the provision of the necessary research infrastructure, in order to facilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation, and development in all fields of science and technology, including humanities, social sciences, and indigenous knowledge; and supporting and promoting public awareness of, and engagement with, science. The NRF is a well-established organisation that is highly networked within the knowledge system, nationally and internationally. It is the principal organisation responsible for promoting the national research enterprise and is the primary public funder of postgraduate students and researchers and provider of research infrastructure in the country. It has well-developed, best-practice research evaluation and support systems.
