Located in the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Engineering, the WASH R&D Centre is an externally funded contract-based research Centre which has a long history dating back to the early 1970s when it was established as the Pollution Research Group (PRG). The WASH R&D Centre is one of the largest research centres in the University, with more than 25 researchers and support staff, numerous national and international collaborators, and the supervision of postgraduate students and interns. Having been led by highly regarded researchers in the field of Chemical Engineering, the Centre has produced Masters and PhD graduates coming from within South Africa, as well as many other countries in Africa, Europe and Asia. Successful collaborative research partnerships have been derived on a local and global level. The impact of this research collaboration can be measured by the contribution made for real applications in industry, government infrastructure and operations, and community development.

The Centre works closely with other disciplines within UKZN, which results in broad research outputs that includes social and gender aspects, circular economy, environmental protection, food security, food-water-energy nexus, and innovative technological water and sanitation interventions. This trans-disciplinary facilitates large scale evaluation of community impact and hence deeper understanding and the development of longer-term solutions.

The Deputy Director is responsible for providing support to the Director with regard to the overall strategic management of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Programme to ensure that the mission, vision and goals of the WASH Centre is met. The Deputy Director must contribute to fundraising, management systems and the implementation and review of WASH’s strategic direction. The Deputy Director will support the Director in the implementation of a 5-year strategy aimed at creating a Centre of Excellence in WASH on a local and national level, and raising funds to become financially independent. The Deputy Director will work with the Director in developing collaborative relationships with external bodies at the national and international level. In addition, the Director will conceptualise research projects aimed at realising the goals of the WASH Centre and be actively involved in the supervision of Research Projects in the Centre.

Advantages

• Research and development experience from a University or Research Institute
• A sustained track record of successful supervision of postgraduate students at Masters and PhD level, appropriate for the level
• Evidence of national and /or international recognition in a research area within the discipline