SWOP is looking to appoint a Senior Researcher to join its team. The candidate should have an established body of scholarship and be involved in ongoing intellectual production relevant to one or more of SWOP’s existing research clusters. Ideally, the candidate should be able to initiate, be productive in, and take leadership of research projects, and to contribute to the development of related intellectual networks both locally and internationally. An ability and willingness to fundraise and to perform administrative tasks related to project work are also important. In addition, the successful candidate should be able and willing to take up leadership roles required of senior academic staff in the university more broadly.
SWOP is a research institute in the Faculty of Humanities at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. SWOP’s work is shaped by the aim of producing knowledge to help understand ‘the making and unmaking of social order’ with a particular focus on disadvantaged communities and the problems they face, as well as possibilities for change. Activities include research and writing; public engagement; and teaching. SWOP’s current work is organised in three main research clusters – ‘Precarious Society’; ‘Nature and Society’; and ‘Land, Labour, Life’. Within these, existing projects focus on social movements and protest; democracy and government; coal mining and a just transition from coal; violence; and the relationship between land, waged forms of work, and poverty. Across these projects, SWOP is committed to the development of decolonising practices of knowledge production.
Qualifications: • A PhD whose focus relates to research topics that form part of SWOP’s intellectual agenda; • A substantial track record of research and publications; • Evidence of engagement with broader publics about research conducted.
To 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: 15 February 2021
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.
