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Researcher: Food Safety Policy Dialogue

Wits Business School | Food Safety Leadership Initiative (FSLI)

Wits Business School, through the Food Safety Leadership Initiative (FSLI), invites applications from a highly motivated master’s graduate, PhD candidate or Postdoctoral researcher to support a high-impact national policy dialogue on food safety in South Africa.

This is an exciting, short-term opportunity to work at the intersection of academia, policy, industry and civil society and to contribute directly to an urgent national conversation on food safety governance.

South Africa’s food safety system is complex and fragmented, with multiple departments and agencies holding overlapping mandates. On 3 June 2026, the FSLI Policy Dialogue will convene more than 300 stakeholders, including senior government representatives, FMCG leaders, regulators and civil society voices, to move beyond discussion toward practical, system-level policy insight.

The selected candidate will support the dialogue through:

Pre-dialogue research
Mapping South Africa’s food safety regulatory landscape, identifying gaps and overlaps, and preparing a concise 5–7 page briefing note.

Summit engagement
Serving as rapporteur during the 3 June dialogue, capturing key insights, tensions, areas of consensus and emerging policy directions. This is a rare opportunity to be in the room with Directors-General, industry leaders and civil society actors shaping the food safety agenda.

Post-dialogue reporting
Producing a structured policy dialogue report with key themes, stakeholder perspectives, system gaps, actionable recommendations and areas for further research or convening.

The ideal candidate will have a background in public policy/public health/health economics/ food systems/ law or a related field, with strong analytical and writing skills and a clear interest in policy impact.

Timeline: Immediate start to 30 June 2026
Closing date for applications: 19 June 2026
Remuneration: R250 per day

To apply, please submit a CV and one-page motivation outlining your interest and relevant experience.

This is applied research with consequences and a chance to help shape South Africa’s food safety policy conversation.

Please send your application or any queries to: ravi.pillay@wits.ac.za