GCRO seeks a Senior Researcher

Closing date for applying is close of business on 11 June 2026

The Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) is a research centre set up as a partnership between the University of Johannesburg (UJ), the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits), the Gauteng Provincial Government, and organised local government in Gauteng (SALGA-Gauteng). The GCRO’s mission is to build the knowledge base that government, business, labour, civil society and residents all need to develop a functionally integrated, spatially coherent, economically competitive, environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive Gauteng City-Region. We undertake research ourselves and in partnership with others, collect data and use it to benchmark the region locally and internationally, and provide policy support to government, working to the highest academic standards. The GCRO is hosted by Wits and is subject to its employment processes.

Job Description:

GCRO is seeking to appoint a flexible, multi-skilled Senior Researcher in the office of the Director: Research Strategy. The incumbent will devote 50% of their time to working with and supporting the Director of Research Strategy, with responsibilities that will include the following:

• Working with the Director: Research Strategy on key research projects, either defined by
  the GCRO or responding to short-term research needs as requested by the government.
  • Supporting processes to implement the GCRO’s five-year research strategy, and annual
  reviews and plans for research projects.
  • Supporting the coordination, commenting, editing, oversight, and quality control role of
  the Director: Research Strategy on GCRO outputs, terms of reference, research proposals, and plans, etc.
  • Assisting in ensuring final completeness and quality of organisational reporting processes.
  • With the Director: Research Strategy and other research staff, supporting processes to
  build innovative practice around research co-production with government.
  • Support collaboration with a range of research entities, locally and internationally, in
  pursuit of the GCRO’s research objectives.
  • Provide general support for the management of the GCRO’s programme of research, and the administrative needs of the Director: Research Strategy’s office, where required.

While a key focus will be on supporting the Director: Research Strategy, the incumbent will also be expected to undertake their own research towards publication in GCRO and peer-reviewed academic research outputs. The incumbent will also participate in all organisational structures and processes required of Senior Researchers; like all GCRO researchers, take responsibilities for other minor organisational tasks and roles; help respond to ad hoc government, media, and other external requests; participate in the effective dissemination of research outputs to stakeholders and society at large, etc.

We are looking for applicants (selection criteria) with:

• A PhD-level qualification, or in exceptional cases, a Master's with substantial experience
  and evidence of progress towards attaining a PhD. While we do not specify a particular
  disciplinary background, GCRO’s research staff typically have qualifications in the fields of social science, geography and environmental science, planning; public administration, economics, data science, or related.
• Research experience and interest in urban development and urban governance, noting the thematic focus areas of the GCRO (https://www.gcro.ac.za/research/research-themes/).
• Experience in translating research into public policy.
• Research management and administration experience (e.g., mentoring post-doctorate
  fellows; editing and reviewing research outputs; managing production of research
  outputs; reporting; contract management of outsourced work; project management;
  etc.)
• The ability to engage at a high level with a wide range of academic, research, government, and civil society stakeholders.
• Experience working in research teams and cross-organisational research
  collaborations.

This appointment will be formally made by the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, which is the GCRO’s host institution, and the successful candidate will be appointed by the university on behalf of the GCRO. A Senior Researcher is broadly equivalent to a university Senior Lecturer, and a competitive remuneration package at the level of a Senior Lecturer is available.

The successful candidate will be given a five-year contract, renewable, and will be based at the GCRO Offices at the University of the Witwatersrand, in Johannesburg.

How to apply:
If you have any further queries, please address them to: The Executive Director, GCRO, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050 or e-mail to info@gcro.ac.za. Closing date for applications: Thursday 11 June 2026.

Applicants are invited to apply, by registering their profile on the Wits i-recruitment platform located at https://irec.wits.ac.za and submitting their application. Internal Wits employees are invited to apply directly on Oracle by following the path: iWits /Self Service application/ “Apply for a job”.

To apply, submit a covering letter addressing the selection criteria specifically; a detailed CV with names, addresses, contact numbers, and email addresses of 3 referees willing to provide references, and certified copies of your academic qualifications, i.e., degrees/diplomas. Applicants should include examples of published work, preferably their last three published items.

The closing date for all applications is 11 June. Shortlisted applicants may be required to sit for skills and psychometric assessments as part of the interview process. The University is committed to employment equity. Preference may be given to appointable
applicants from the underrepresented designated groups in terms of the relevant employment equity plans and policies of the University. The University retains the right to verify all information provided by candidates.

Please note that correspondence will only be entered into with shortlisted candidates. The
University and GCRO reserves the right not to make an appointment or to re- advertise.