Data Manager
Position summary
Introduction
Job description
The School of Social Science seeks to employ a research data manager to perform overall day-to-day creation, updating, maintenance and validation of USINGA population research databases to the highest quality standards for the Umlazi Surveillance Initiative to Nurture Grassroots Action (USINGA), using innovative, efficient, and cost-effective systems that are anchored on robust quality assurance and quality control practices. USINGA is a health and demographic surveillance node of the South African Population Research Infrastructure Network (SAPRIN).
The successful candidate will be responsible for managing data related to Population research studies. He/She is responsible for the creation, updating, maintenance, and validation of USINGA population research databases, for maintaining a high level of population-level data quality, and for the provision of computerized reports of these data. He/She is a key member of the Research Data Management team.
Minimum requirements
- A Bachelor’s degree in either computer science or other information technology (IT) field
- At least three years of working experience in data extraction and analysis or research data management
- Valid Drivers’ Licence
- Experience in working with complex and large databases
- Experience in working with longitudinal data in an HDSS
- Exposure to data extraction, transformation and loading, and business analytics
- Experience in working with scientists, such as demographers, clinicians and epidemiologists, in formulating data requirements and preparing data for statistical analysis
- Experience in successfully mentoring junior staff to fulfil data management functions such as data extraction, analysis, and reporting.
- Knowledge of the Structured Query Language (SQL), MS Office software packages, and Statistical analysis programs e.g. STATA, SAS, SPSS, or R
The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 24th April 2026
Applicants are required to complete the relevant application form which is available on the Vacancies website at www.ukzn.ac.za.
Kindly note that the University of KwaZulu-Natal (“the University”) is required to process any Personal Information (as defined by the Protection of Personal Act, 2013 “POPIA”) submitted by candidates when applying for positions at the University. The provision of the Personal Information is a requirement in terms of the University’s recruitment and selection process. The retention of any personal information is as a consequence of the University being bound by legislative requirements and / or good governance practices as well as record keeping for statistical purposes. The University will endeavour to ensure that the appropriate security measures are in place and implemented for both electronic and paper-based formats that are used for processing of the personal information recorded through this recruitment and selection process.
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is committed to meeting the objectives of Employment Equity to improve representivity within the Institution. Preference will be given to applicants from designated groups in accordance with our Employment Equity Plan.
- Please do not send us copies of your degree and other certificates. We will request certified copies if you are short listed for interview.
- Please read the advertisement carefully. We do not consider applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements.
- The University is committed to Employment Equity.
- The University reserves the right not to fill a vacancy.
- Should you not hear from us within six weeks of the closing date, please assume you are unsuccessful
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