Research Specialists || University of Zimbabwe (UZ)

DUE: 23 FEB 2024

RESEARCH INNOVATION AND INDUSTRIALISATION DIRECTORATE

The University of Zimbabwe Research and Innovation Directorate is seeking three (3)
dynamic persons to fill in the new positions that are within the Directorate.

3.1 Research Specialist – Natural and Applied Sciences (1 Post)
3.2 Research Specialist – Life Sciences

Qualifications, Experience and Attributes:

 Must have a PhD/DPhil degree and are preferably at Professorial Grade.
 An excellent record of teaching and research experience at University Level.
 Minimum of five years in the field of research.
 Proven record of published scholarship with a focus on teaching and learning,
 Proven ability to analyse intelligence to identify trends, issues and concepts.
 Proven commitment to academic excellence and innovation.

Key Competencies

The ideal candidate should have:-

 Experience in competitive grant application.
 Exceptional budgeting analytical and monitoring skills.
 A logical thinker, efficient, organised and hardworking.
 Experience in research methodologies (quantitative and qualitative) and techniques.
 Excellent interpersonal, team working and communication skills.
 Excellent written and verbal communication skills including report writing and project
management.
 Ability to work under pressure and observe and respect deadlines

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties of the Research Specialists will include:-

 Championing the University’s Research Innovation and Industrialisation ecosystem in
ways that connect the institutions Faculty programmes to needs of society at national
level and beyond.
 Designing research frameworks that meet the rigor of University standards while
promoting a programmatic approach to research and innovation in line with
Education 5.0
 Reviewing and /or identifying reviewers for different disciplines including but not
limited to competitive grant bidding and manuscript development.

 Keeping in regular contact with the Faculty Research Groups on progress of research,
innovation and community outreach.
 Identifying needy areas of collaborative applied and relevant research.
 Assisting researchers in acquiring documentation for grant proposals such as
partnership letters, signatures from the Executive, etc.
 Working with Faculty Research Managers to ensure projects outputs are delivered
within the agreed timeframe
 Spearheading fundraising for the University through research grant calls.
 Training young and emerging researchers in proposal writing, manuscript publication,
and prototyping and business development.
 Facilitating protection of intellectual property (IP) Innovations produced by the
University.
 Identifying relevant and outstanding research and innovations from within the
University, Industry and Community towards granting Innovation Hub status.
 Promoting the participation and presentation of outstanding research findings by
researchers at various national and international conferences, seminars and
workshops.
 Producing research briefs and dissemination materials for the Directorate.
 Managing a researcher and innovator database including keeping a record of all new
publications from the different Faculties in close collaboration with University Library.
 Spearheading the development of a knowledge bank of research, innovation and
internal business information, to support business development activities and
industrialisation.

TO APPLY

Applicants must submit cover letter with six (6) copies of applications. Each set of application
must be accompanied by a Curriculum Vitae, giving full particulars including full names; place,
date of birth, copies of I.D, birth certificate and copies of academic (O’ and A’ level) and
professional qualifications, all certified. Applicants must give information on experience, date
of availability, telephone numbers, names, email addresses and physical addresses of three
contactable referees. Applications should be hand delivered to Office No. 113, Administration
Building at the University of Zimbabwe or posted to:

DEPUTY REGISTRAR, HUMAN RESOURCES
University of Zimbabwe
P O Box MP167
Mount Pleasant
HARARE

The closing date of receipt of applications is 23 February 2024 .

The University of Zimbabwe is an equal opportunity employer and therefore, men and women
are equally encouraged to apply.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.