Chief Statistician

Stellenbosch University

Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences

Centre for Statistical Consultation

Chief Statistician (Professional Support Services Job Level 6)

(Ref. EBW12/164/0521)

The aim of the Centre for Statistical Consultation (CSC) is to enhance the quality of research at Stellenbosch University. This is effected through rendering a statistical consultation service to researchers, staff and senior students.

This service entails providing assistance with the planning of experiments and surveys, advice regarding the compilation of questionnaires and related electronic data capturing, as well as the execution of relevant data analysis and subsequent interpretation of results. In addition, the consultation service entails conducting research on statistical subject problems that may arise from, inter alia, the consultation work, presenting statistical training courses, as well as consultation to institutions outside the University.

The CSC is also currently establishing a working relationship with the newly established School for Data Science and Computational Thinking at Stellenbosch University, and it is anticipated that the CSC could in future be involved in data science related projects.

Financially, the Centre falls under the jurisdiction of the Vice-Rector: Research, but is based in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science within the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences in order to facilitate efficient communication with fellow statisticians. Half of the Centre's budget is centrally financed, while the remainder is financed through consultation to various faculties, individual researchers, external clients and the presentation of courses.

The Centre's full-time staff comprises the Director and the Chief Statistician.

Duties:

• Rendering statistical consulting service to researchers;
• Statistical research;
• Participating in activities to augment the Centre's income, e.g. presentation of short courses.

Job Requirements:

• MSc in Statistics;
• At least four years' consultative experience;
• In-depth knowledge of a variety of techniques used in Statistics, as well as the underlying theory thereof;
• The ability to consult across a wide variety of academic disciplines;
• The ability to cooperate and communicate easily with postgraduate students/junior researchers, as well as senior researchers;
• Sound computer skills and knowledge of statistical software mainly used by researchers at Stellenbosch University, including SAS, Statistica, SPSS, R;
• The ability to work independently.

Recommendation:

• Consultative and research experience in Biometry, time series analysis;
• Knowledge of data science;
• Experience in programming with Python;
• Good programming ability;
• Doctorate in statistics.

Enquiries regarding job content: Martin Kidd on 021 808 2561, or at mkidd@sun.ac.za

Enquiries regarding remuneration/benefits as well as technical assistance with the electronic application process: Human Resources Client Service Centre

on 021 808 2753, or at SUN-E-HR@sun.ac.za

Commencement Date

01-Dec-2021

Closing Date

29-Oct-2021

The University is committed to employment equity (EE), and appointments will be made in line with the EE plan for the specific environment as well as Stellenbosch University's institutional EE Plan.

The University reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Your application, comprising a comprehensive curriculum vitae (including the names and e-mail addresses of at least three referees), must reach the University before or on the closing date of the advertised post.

APPLY ONLINE at http://www.sun.ac.za/english/careers

The University reserves the right to investigate qualifications and conduct background checks on all candidates.

Should no feedback be received from the University within four weeks of the closing date, kindly accept that your application did not succeed.