Description

• Develop, monitor and evaluate the national monitoring network for American Foulbrood (AFB) disease of honey bees.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of honey bee pests and diseases in South Africa.
• Oversee the experimental layout, data collection and analysis of pollination trials with honey bees in a range of horticultural and orchard crops in South Africa.
• Evaluate the pollination services provided by honey bees on various crops.
• Activity source new research opportunities and write proposals for funding.
• Publish research results in reputable scientific journals.
• Produce popular articles to create awareness regarding honey bee pests and diseases, pollination biology.
• Produce quarterly reports, annual reports and client reports.
• Provide mentoring supervision of research assistant staff and postgraduate students.
• Initiate, conduct, coordinate and manage research projects in compliance with set standards, client needs and specifications within budget and on time.
• Successful initiation/proposal and completion of research programmes/ projects contained in the business plan of the institute in line with the overall Corporate Program and Strategy of the ARC.
• Contribute to the image of the ARC through high quality research findings/ products in compliance with expected scientific standards.

Requirements

• PhD degree with Entomology/Ecology (or similar) as the major or MSc with 5 years of relevant experience.
• Proven research record of accomplishment in Entomology / environmental science.
• Experience of field research in entomology / environmental science / honey bee research will be an advantage.
• Beekeeping skills and experience will be an advantage.
• Experience in facilitation in training events.
• Computer literacy.
• Proven record of publication of scientific papers, report writing, and compiling scientific and popular presentations as well as networking and co-ordination of projects at national level.
• Code B/EB driver’s license required.
• Willingness to do fieldwork and to travel on fieldwork trips is a requirement. This post may require the incumbent to do field work in remote areas. Field trips may require occasional absence from home for 3 to 8 days at a time.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION: 17 NOVEMBER 2025