Senior Researchers: Regional and Urban Planning

Location: South Africa, Pretoria

Organisation: CSIR


Closing Date: 26 July 2011

EN

The CSIR’s Built Environment unit has two vacancies for a Senior Researcher in the fields of Regional and Urban Planning; Human Geography; Spatial Planning; Development Planning; Development Economics; or Planning Support Systems. The successful candidate will join a multi-disciplinary team with a focus on research related to cities and regions as socio-ecological systems.

The incumbent will be expected to lead and contribute to research work in the fields of urban and regional planning; intergovernmental planning; regional development; spatial analysis; spatial planning; planning support systems; risk and vulnerability assessment; and management and sustainable development.

These positions are based in Pretoria, but appointees may be expected to travel from time to time.

Responsibilities
· Conceptualise, structure, manage and implement large scale multi-disciplinary research projects. · Responsible for client liaison and relationship management. · Write, and review research proposals; research reports, client reports and peer-reviewed publications. · Contribute to the fiscal sustainability of the research group by securing and managing research funding and relevant R&D contracts. · Contribute to policy research in support of South Africa’s national priorities. · Responsible for quality control of research and R&D project outputs. · Responsible for the supervision and performance management of junior researchers. · Mentor junior researchers.

Experience Required
The positions require a high level of technical expertise, management skills and the ability to lead. The incumbent should: · Have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in at least four (4) of the following fields: urban and regional planning; intergovernmental planning; regional development; spatial analysis; spatial planning; planning support systems; risk and vulnerability assessment; and management and/or sustainable development. · Have a minimum of five (50 years experience in supporting South African planning and policy-making processes. · Be able to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the theory, policies and principles underpinning planning and development in South Africa. · Be regarded as a national specialist/expert in the planning or planning support system domain or should be recognised as a specialist/expert in a number of related fields allowing the individual to contribute to integration across disciplines. · Be able to demonstrate primary strategic leadership and management skills on at least five (5) national or provincial scale research and development contracts (conceptualisation / development / integration / implementation of new, highly-innovative or substantially-improved products, processes, systems, services, tools and other technologies) in the fields of national; sub-national and urban planning; and development processes. · Have established networks within the planning, development and governance fields demonstrated through participation on national or provincial level committees, task teams and working groups. · Have extensive (five (5) years or more) project management experience on medium to larger scale projects (with a contract value of more than R1 million per annum), preferably in relation to research and development projects. · Have practical experience of research methods demonstrated through collaboration on at least five (5) R&D projects. · Have a minimum of five (5) years experience in developing and managing revenue streams in the field of regional and urban planning and development processes, preferably within a science council, research or development organisation. · Be able to demonstrate experience in coaching and mentoring junior researchers or practitioners in the field demonstrated through the lecturing and examination or the supervision of Honours or Master’s students or managing a team of young researchers of planners. · Have demonstrable experience with respect to report writing and/or the preparation of journal articles and conference papers.

Salary Benefits
Negotiable

To apply for the position please visit www.csir.co.za/apply.php