HEAD OF RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY VACANCY

Location: Remote in South Africa, with travel. Position type: Full-time/permanent Remuneration: Salary will be competitive within the NPO sector.

Please note: We encourage all applicants to review our website prior to applying.

About the role

The Equality Collective (EC) is looking for an experienced researcher, who is excited by the work we do and can see ways in which we can deepen and broaden our impact using evidence-based research and provide strategic leadership based on lessons learnt from our model of collective advocacy. This is a senior role requiring agility, creativity, and versatility, and an ability to lead and manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects. As our Head of Research and Advocacy, you will also be responsible for building our internal research and learning capacity, in collaboration with the Director, and work closely with the Head of Communications to achieve the objectives of the EC strategy.

Our ideal candidate will be someone who has worked in the civil society sector and can combine academic rigour and practical or policy relevance in their work. Preferably, you will have expertise or experience in using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, but, more importantly, you will have initiative and commitment to continual learning and growth. You will also be passionate about conveying complex information in ways that are accessible and engaging. As a senior member of our team, you will further need to be able to think and plan strategically, provide mentorship, and be adept at managing a varied workload.

EC has a culture of self-management and self-leadership, and autonomy and accountability are among our core values. We are also a small team with a shared passion for personal growth, commitment to our work and each other as colleagues, and sense of responsibility to the communities we serve, all within a framework of excellence, constructive advocacy, and collaborative effort. If this is a team you can help nurture and thrive in, we are looking for you.

EC is a burgeoning organisation, and this is an excellent opportunity for someone who is willing and able to build a core component of the organisation's work and who has the flexibility to tackle a variety of tasks beyond the conventional job description.

About the Equality Collective

The Equality Collective is an activist, community-embedded organisation based in Mbhashe Local Municipality in the rural Eastern Cape's Amathole District Municipality. Our vision is to have thriving communities collectively participating in a just and caring society, and our mission is to be innovative in the advancement of access to justice, build the capacity and infrastructure for collective participation and action, and share research and learning. This, in turn, informs the strategic focus of our work on achieving improved access to socio-economic rights, enhanced responsive governance and accountability, and a strong, more active citizenry. Currently, we have three workstreams: Access to Justice, Right to Water and Local Government, and Right to Early Childhood Development.

What you will do

Research and collaboration

Lead, design, and manage research projects that drive the delivery of EC's strategic objectives.
Identify gaps in knowledge, evidence, and understanding and emerging issues in EC's areas of work and lead strategising and implementation of ways to address them.
Actively pursue opportunities for collaborative research to broaden the impact of EC's work.
Produce, and ensure the production of, quality research outputs including but not limited to research reports, policy analysis, position papers, and issue briefs.
Guide and support researchers/ intern researchers in producing quality research outputs.
Support programme staff in implementing community-data systems and social audits and conducting relevant analyses.
Guide and support both programme and research staff in producing research-informed outputs including but not limited to advocacy toolkits, training manuals, webinar and workshop content, podcasts, conference presentations, and long-form articles.

Monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting

Support the development and implementation of EC's monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems and processes.
Oversee, coordinate, and strengthen processes and tools to foster learning from EC's monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems.
Ensure the timely delivery of quality programme/project performance reports by EC staff.
Spearhead initiatives for pear learning and experience-sharing both internally and externally.

Networking and influence

Develop and maintain strong relationships with a broad cross-section of academic researchers, research professionals, policy experts, research centres and institutes, think tanks, and other relevant organisations.
Represent EC and participate in varied meetings, events, and forums at different levels (mainly local and national, but where possible, international) to share research and learnings.
Work with the Head of Communications to develop research-informed advocacy materials and learning resources for wide dissemination.
Ensure clear, consistent, and effective communication both internally and externally.

Fundraising and donor management

Support the Director in producing compelling grant proposals and reports.

Human resource management

Lead the co-creation of quarterly work plans with the research team.
Cultivate an empowering work environment that encourages self-management, accountability, passion, and excellence.
Foster a culture of innovative thinking in EC to explore new solutions to complex challenges.
Participate in recruitment and performance management processes.
Provide training, coaching, and mentoring to staff to build their research and/or writing skills.

Policy management and compliance

Ensure adherence to EC policies, procedures, and guidelines by the research team.

What we hope you will bring

Master's degree in social sciences, development studies, or law.
More than five years of relevant work experience, which must include some managerial experience (ideally two–three years) and some experience in the NGO sector.
Deep knowledge and understanding of one or more areas relevant to EC's work including but not limited to human rights, social justice, rural development, local government, water, early childhood development, government planning and budgeting, and community-based research.
Broad-based knowledge of the political, social, and economic context in which EC operates.
Strong understanding of research methods, data analysis techniques, and ethical research practices, with training or experience in both qualitative and quantitative methods preferred.
Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects involving multiple and diverse stakeholders.
Good knowledge or experience of developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation, and ideally comfort working with both qualitative and quantitative data.
Excellent writing and communication skills in English; especially the ability to write clearly, concisely, and impactfully for the intended audience.
Highly developed critical thinking and analytical skills with attention to detail.
Demonstrated ability and willingness to take initiative and fill gaps in own knowledge and skills.
Demonstrated skills of being a self-directed worker who embodies the skills of self-awareness, listening and empathy, facilitation, empowerment, adaptability, conflict resolution, integrity, coaching and mentoring, and systems thinking.
Comfort navigating a start-up non-profit environment, including the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively and to work well in a growing organisation.

How to apply

The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday, 17 August 2025.

Please apply online here: https://forms.gle/xgLNA1ykvEfbvKG58

After providing basic information, you will be asked to

upload a two-page resume or summary CV.
upload a writing sample, which should have been written solely by you.

If you have any trouble using the link, email us at admin@equalitycollective.org.za. We will reply to you as soon as possible.

If we shortlist you for the position, you can expect to hear from us by the end of August 2025. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will hear from us.

Thank you for your interest in joining our team and your commitment to rural justice.

@EqCollectiveSA @theequalitycollective Equality Collective @equality_collective

Nqileni Village, Xhora Mouth Administrative Area, Eliotdale District

tess@equalitycollective.org.za

047 577 8908

NPC Number: 2020/125379/08

This position was originally posted by Equality Collective and has been curated by PurposePhil Career. To apply, please visit the original listing on the "apply" link below. We are not affiliated with the employer organization of this job ad or consultancy, and provide this curated listing as a service to our users.

Equality Collective

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