Senior Research Associate -DBN
Listing reference: manco_000947
Listing status: Online
Apply by: 15 October 2026
Position summary
Industry: Education & Training
Job category: Others: Education and Training
Location: Durban
Contract: Fixed Term Contract
EE position: Yes
Introduction
MANCOSA, a DHET registered and CHE accredited private higher education distance education provider, offering undergraduate and postgraduate business qualifications, has the following vacancy available: Senior Research Associate
Job description
CORE PURPOSE:
The Senior Research Associate provides specialist research, analytical and technical expertise across the Institutional Research and Publishing Unit and Doctoral Research Office. The role supports research excellence, doctoral programme quality, institutional intelligence and evidence-informed decision-making through advanced research methodologies, data analytics, business intelligence, systems integration and research support.
The position contributes to institutional research and strategic reporting while strengthening doctoral research capability through methodology support, advanced data analysis, supervision and academic research activities.
CORE FUNCTIONS INCLUDE:
- Conduct and support institutional research projects, programme evaluations, benchmarking studies, environmental scans and institutional effectiveness research.
- Analyse complex institutional datasets using descriptive, inferential and predictive analytical approaches to generate actionable institutional intelligence.
- Integrate data from institutional systems, surveys and enterprise platforms to support strategic planning, quality assurance, regulatory reporting and organisational decision-making.
- Develop dashboards, analytical reports, executive summaries, scorecards and other institutional intelligence products.
- Develop and automate analytical workflows using SQL, Python, Power BI and related business intelligence technologies.
- Support data engineering, systems integration, ETL processes, data modelling, data governance and quality assurance.
- Collaborate with Information Technology, Data Management, Quality Assurance, Registry, academic units and other institutional stakeholders on institutional intelligence and digital transformation initiatives.
- Explore appropriate applications of artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and emerging technologies within institutional research and reporting.
- Support doctoral research methodology workshops, advanced research design and qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
- Provide technical support in the use of research and analytical software and support the interpretation and reporting of research findings.
- Analyse doctoral programme and academic activity data, develop reports and dashboards, and contribute to academic manuscripts and research outputs.
- Supervise doctoral research projects, undertake internal moderation and provide advanced methodological and technical research guidance.
Minimum requirements
Required Qualifications and Experience:
- Doctoral qualification.
- 3–5 years' relevant experience within higher education.
- Demonstrated experience in institutional research and advanced quantitative research.
- Experience in analysing large and complex datasets.
- Experience in business intelligence, research reporting and research methodology.
- Experience in higher education information systems, data governance and enterprise data environments would be advantageous.
Essential Skills:
- Advanced research and analytical capability.
- Strong quantitative data analysis and research methodology skills.
- Proficiency in SQL, Python, Power BI, data modelling, database querying and ETL processes.
- Strong academic writing, editing, reporting and research mentoring skills.
- Ability to translate complex data into accessible institutional intelligence for technical and non-technical audiences.
- Knowledge of data governance, systems integration, data quality and technical documentation.
- Strong communication, stakeholder engagement and collaborative working skills.
- Project management and business analysis capability.
- Proficiency in digital research tools, analytical software, citation management and publishing platforms.
- Ability to work across academic, research, technical and institutional environments.
Special Conditions:
- Regular travel to MANCOSA learning centres may be required.
- Willingness to work overtime and weekends when operationally required