Research Analyst

**Gauteng**, Tshwane (Pretoria)**

**R 1073183 - R 1073184 Annually**

**Our government client GTAC Strategic and Technical Advisory is looking for an experienced Research Analyst for a 2 year fixed term contract. The Research Analyst is responsible for advancing the Jobs Fund Knowledge Agenda through targeted research and in-depth big data analysis to inform fund design and evidence-based policy making.**

**Main Job Functions & Responsibilities**:
**1) Developing a comprehensive understanding of the organisation, its strategy, its projects and where it is located within South Africa’s development landscape;**

**2) Conducting in-depth analyses of Jobs Fund performance data and extracting useful insights for the Fund;**

**3) Using knowledge of South Africa’s economy and political climate in the interpretation of job creation and social**

**impact results;**

**4) Producing well thought-out feedback reports and articles that are tailored to different audiences;**

**5) Working largely independently and ensuring analytics targets are reached;**

**6) Extracting key learnings on supported financial models**

**and assessing the impact of these models on the success or failure of the project or elements thereof; and**

**7) Providing strategic advice, and support to the office of the Deputy Director General Employment Facilitation and the Jobs Fund Business Units.**

**OUTPUTS**:
**1) Planning & Conducting Research**:
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- **Plan for and conduct research and provide strategic inputs on the design of the Jobs Fund funding initiatives.**
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- **Initiate research and benchmarking on the Jobs Fund and related initiatives.**
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- **Analyse the portfolio by review of available data, as well as planning for additional data collection to align with strategic research objectives of the Jobs Fund.**
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- **Research relevant technical information and trends to contribute to projects/ current work as required.**
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- **Conceptualise research studies to be conducted by external researchers/evaluators and write relevant Terms of Reference documents for the work.**
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- **Effectively manage researchers/evaluators and quality assure research outputs.**
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- **Compile and deliver business intelligence reports to Jobs Fund end users on a regular basis.**
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- **Distil research findings into concise reports and policy recommendations for dissemination to the Jobs Fund Team and external stakeholders.**
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- **Perform analyses on economic sectors and the labour market in relation to job creation, with a focus on priority groups (i.e., women, youth, and previously disadvantaged individuals).**
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- **Research and produce contextual information for the annual strategic planning of Jobs Fund Business Units.**
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- **Investigate and deliver financial software tools, that are compatible with existing JF systems, to effectively analyse data.**
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- **Develop a detailed understanding the project models that drive job creation, social impact, and economic development.**
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- **Develop job impact funding financial models.**
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- **Develop innovative and alternative models of assessing Fund value for money (including social innovation) to stakeholders.**
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- **Develop metrics for assessing the performance and trends across job creation models/sectors in the Fund.**
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**2) Aligning Portfolio & Business Strategy**

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- **Use research findings to inform the Fund’s business strategy and design - ensuring alignment between the portfolio and strategic plan.**
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- **Define how the scope, goals, and deliverables of projects should support business goals, in collaboration with senior management.**
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- **Ensure that the project portfolio remains in tune with changing business objectives and strategy.**
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**3) Learning & Knowledge Management**

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- **Perform general analysis of the portfolio to generate knowledge for the Jobs Fund Learning Agenda.**
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- **Analyse study results and produce insightful feedback reports.**
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- **Develop a knowledge culture (including promoting open communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing) between sections/divisions through methods such as knowledge forums and workshops so as to trigger the formation of a community of practice.**
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- **Develop Knowledge Management directories and repositories.**
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- **Work closely with the Communications team to ensure relevant and up to date content is accessible to them for advocacy purposes.**
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- **Collaborate with the Monitoring & Evaluation unit in identifying key performance indicators and monitoring systems.**
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- **Work closely with procurement in the contracting and management of external service providers (researchers/evaluators).**
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- **Develop best practices, techniques, and tools for on-going milestone/deliverable tracking.**
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- **Develop and deliver training as necessary.**
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- **Collaborate with the Project Management Unit during project completion reporti