[Air-L] Postdoc opportunity in the Centre for Information Technology and National Development in Africa to focus on Fair Work in the gig economy

Tue Aug 7 09:45:17 PDT 2018

[[Apologies for cross-posting]]

Dear colleagues,

The Fairwork Foundation <http://fair.work/> is about to launch a new phase
<https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/news/releases/fairwork-foundation-begins-new-project-on-the-digital-gig-economy-in-south-africa/>
of
its work in South Africa. As part of that new work, we are hiring a
full-time 29-month Postdoc to work directly with Professor Jean-Paul van
Belle
<http://www.commerce.uct.ac.za/informationsystems/StaffProfile/Jean-PaulVanBelle>(UCT)
along with Professor Richard Heeks
<https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/richard.heeks.html>
 (Manchester), Jamie Woodcock
<https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/people/dr-jamie-woodcock/> (Oxford), and myself (Mark
Graham <https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/people/mark-graham/>, Oxford). The full
job description is pasted below, and available at the following link <
http://fair.work/2018/08/03/were-hiring-postdoc-to-focus-on-fair-work-on-digital-work-platforms-in-south-africa/>.
Please feel free to share widely.
------------------------------------------
Mark Graham

Professor of Internet Geography
Oxford Internet Institute
University of Oxford

Turing Fellow
The Alan Turing Institute

Research Affiliate
School of Geography and the Environment
University of Oxford

markgraham.space | @geoplace <http://twitter.com/geoplace>

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP:
EVALUATING DIGITAL WORK PLATFORMS IN SOUTH AFRICA AGAINST DECENT WORK
STANDARDS

Closing Date: 31 August 2018

The Centre for Information Technology and National Development in Africa
(CITANDA) wishes to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (PDRF) in the
evaluation of digital work platforms (Uber, SweepSouth, Upwork, etc.) in
South Africa against decent work standards.

The PDRF will conduct research for a multi-disciplinary research project
supported by the UK Economic and Social Research Council as part of its
GCRF New Models of Sustainable Development programme. The research project
aims to (i) improve working conditions for digital platform-workers in low-
and middle-income countries; (ii) develop a certification scheme designed
to set minimum standards for decent work and actively certify platforms
through a newly-created “Fairwork Foundation”; and (iii) create a Code of
Practice for South African platforms.

The PDRF will be responsible for a discrete area of research that seeks to
understand key structural and individual-level concerns relating to
platform work in South Africa; the key issues and obstacles experienced by
South African platform workers; and the differentiation of such issues for
particularly disadvantaged or vulnerable sub-groups. This will involve both
desk and primary field research, most likely conducted in Cape Town and
Johannesburg.

The PDRF role is an exciting opportunity to undertake cutting-edge research
on a topic that is central to the future of work and to the harnessing of
digital technologies for socio-economic development.  Working within
CITANDA, you will be part of a well-resourced, culturally-diverse and
friendly research unit. More broadly, you will be working as part of a
collaborative and multi-disciplinary team of world-leading academics from
the University of Cape Town (Prof. JP van Belle), University of the Western
Cape (Prof. Darcy du Toit), University of Oxford (Prof. Sandy Fredman,
Prof. Mark Graham) and University of Manchester (Prof. Richard Heeks)
spanning internet studies, law, information systems and development studies.

*Academic/experience criteria:*

*Required*

•       A PhD, awarded within the previous five years, in a relevant field
which could include – but is not limited to – internet studies, information
systems, development studies, or work and employment.

•       Strong skills in the planning, implementation, software-based
analysis and write-up of primary field data.

•       Practical experience of qualitative fieldwork in a global South
context.

•       Demonstrated ability to undertake desk-based evidence reviews.

•       Demonstrated capacity to produce peer-reviewed research articles.

•       Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

•       Ability to work independently within a research team and to meet
deadlines.

*Desirable*

•       Knowledge and experience of field research in South Africa.

•       Knowledge of South African official languages other than English.

•       Specific expertise relating to digital platform work.

•       Prior experience of working on research projects.

*Conditions of award:*

•       Applicants must have completed their doctoral degrees within the
past 5 years and may not previously have held a full-time *permanent*
professional
or academic post.

•       No benefits or allowances are included in the Fellowship but the
fellowship stipend is tax free.

•       As part of their professional development, the successful candidate
may be required to participate in a limited capacity in other CITANDA
activities such as teaching and/or student supervision.

•       The successful applicant will be required to register as a
Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Cape Town immediately and *will
not be considered a UCT employee*.

•       The successful applicant will be required to comply with the
university’s approved policies, procedures and practices for the
postdoctoral sector.

*Value and tenure:*

•       The value of the fellowship is ZAR 260,000 pa and is tenable for up
to 29 months. A performance review will happen after the first year. Any
further extension would be dependent on performance, and sourcing of
additional funding for the post.

*Application requirements:*

Applicants should submit (i) an application letter that includes a short
description of their expertise and research interests, and how these relate
to the position, specifically addressing the required and desirable
criteria listed, (ii) a CV including a publication list, iii) a copy of
their PhD thesis and up to two published or submitted papers, (iv) copies
of academic transcripts and/or certificates, and (v) email addresses of at
least two referees directly involved in their PhD and/or previous
postdoctoral research.

Applications should be emailed *before noon on 31 August 2018 *to
*freda.parker at uct.ac.za
<freda.parker at uct.ac.za>** with cc to jean-paul.vanbelle at uct.ac.za
<jean-paul.vanbelle at uct.ac.za>*.

*Selection process:*

•       Only eligible and complete applications will be considered by the
selection committee.

•       Interviews are likely to take place in September 2018 and the
successful candidate is expected to start as soon as possible thereafter.

*Closing date:*

Applications received before *31 August* are guaranteed to be considered.
Applications received thereafter may be considered if the position has not
been filled.

*Contact details for submission of applications: Freda Parker at
**freda.parker at uct.ac.za
<freda.parker at uct.ac.za>*

*Contact details for enquiries about the fellowship topic:*
Jean-Paul.VanBelle at uct.ac.za

*Additional information on CITANDA and UCT can be found at: *
www.citanda.uct.ac.za   <http://www.acdi.uct.ac.za/>/ www.uct.ac.za

*The University of Cape Town reserves the right to disqualify ineligible,
incomplete and/or inappropriate applications. The University of Cape Town
also reserves the right to change the conditions of the award or to make no
award at all.*
<http://twitter.com/geoplace>