CORE PURPOSE:

The Senior Research Associate provides academic and operational support within the Doctoral Research Office, contributing to the effective delivery and continuous improvement of the institution’s doctoral programmes.

The role supports doctoral student progression and success, strengthens doctoral research governance, ensures regulatory and quality assurance compliance, and advances a strong doctoral research culture. The incumbent will contribute to the institution’s strategic objective of strengthening its research position.

CORE FUNCTIONS INCLUDE:

• Lead and support initiatives aimed at improving doctoral student progression, engagement and completion.
• Monitor doctoral student progress and identify and coordinate appropriate interventions for students who may be at risk.
• Coordinate doctoral student orientation, induction, research workshops and other student support initiatives.
• Support effective supervisor-student engagement and facilitate interventions where challenges may affect doctoral progression.
• Support doctoral assessment and examination processes, including reviewing theses for examination readiness and monitoring assessment turnaround times.
• Prepare and analyse reports relating to doctoral student progression, programme performance and student success.
• Support doctoral governance structures and ensure effective implementation of institutional doctoral policies, procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Develop, review and implement doctoral governance documentation, policies, procedures and operational frameworks.
• Monitor compliance with research policies, Standard Operating Procedures, research ethics requirements and institutional governance frameworks.
• Coordinate and support quality assurance reviews, doctoral programme audits and internal reviews against institutional requirements and sector best practice.
• Support compliance with relevant DHET, CHE and institutional requirements relating to doctoral education.
• Benchmark doctoral policies, processes and practices against developments within the higher education sector and recommend areas for improvement.
• Develop monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to strengthen doctoral programme quality, governance and operational efficiency.
• Contribute to the design, planning, review and delivery of doctoral programmes.
• Plan and facilitate doctoral research workshops, supervisor development initiatives and supervisor induction programmes.
• Participate in relevant institutional committees, governance structures and doctoral programme review processes.
• Provide high-level academic and regulatory input into doctoral programme development, student success and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to institutional reporting and strategic initiatives relating to research, quality, student centricity and academic excellence.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• A completed Doctoral degree (PhD/DPhil) is essential.
• A qualification in Higher Education Management, Research Management or Quality Assurance would be advantageous.
• A minimum of 2–3 years’ relevant experience within a higher education research development and/or research management environment.
• Experience in doctoral student supervision.
• A demonstrable record of research output.
• Experience in doctoral programme delivery and/or development.
• Knowledge and experience of doctoral research processes, including the doctoral thesis lifecycle.
• Knowledge of doctoral student support, progression and supervision models.
• Understanding of the South African higher education research and publishing environment.
• Knowledge of journal production and accreditation would be advantageous.