FirstRand Bank Limited

Research Enablement Specialist

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa (city only)

Full-time

First seen by offpeak October 22, 2026

See your drive time Apply on FirstRand Bank Limited's site

Job Description

The Research Enablement Specialist provides high‑quality editorial, production, and content‑management support to the Research function. This role is ideally suited to an individual with exceptional English language editing and proofreading skills, strong attention to detail, and a keen interest in economics, financial markets, and research. The role strengthens the clarity, accuracy, and usability of research outputs by ensuring they meet established editorial standards, comply with regulatory requirements, and are delivered efficiently across channels. The incumbent partners closely with analysts and stakeholders to enhance content quality, streamline workflows, and maintain the organisation’s research knowledge base.

Key Responsibilities:

Editorial Quality and Content Assurance

Edit, proofread, and quality‑assure research publications, presentations, and client-facing materials to ensure clarity, coherence, and factual accuracy
Act as a quality checkpoint for high‑impact or time-sensitive outputs, ensuring all content meets agreed research and editorial standards before release
Uphold and apply editorial style guidelines consistently across asset classes, product types, and distribution platforms

Research Content Development Support

Partner with research analysts and senior stakeholders to improve narrative flow, challenge assumptions where needed, and close content or logic gaps
Strengthen the structure, readability, and overall effectiveness of research insights to enhance client value and usability

Knowledge and Content Management

Maintain and organise the research content repository, ensuring efficient archiving, retrieval, and version control of research outputs
Support the preservation of institutional knowledge through structured documentation practices

Research Production and Workflow Management

Support the coordination of publishing schedules, production timelines, and dependencies to ensure predictable and timely delivery
Monitor workflow progress, flag risks, and facilitate communication between contributors to reduce bottlenecks

Tools, Templates, and Enablement Platforms

Maintain and continuously refine research templates, publishing tools, and authoring platforms to ensure usability, accuracy, and alignment with business needs

Identify opportunities to enhance production efficiency through improved tools and processes

Governance, Risk, and Compliance

Ensure all research outputs comply with regulatory requirements, internal policies, and approved financial-services disclaimers
Apply appropriate review protocols to protect the organisation’s brand, reputation, and legal standing

Continuous Improvement and Issue Analysis

Track recurring quality issues, workflow challenges, and turnaround-time delays to identify root causes
Recommend and support the implementation of enhancements that improve the research production lifecycle and stakeholder experience

Stakeholder Support and Engagement

Assist in the preparation and distribution of research outputs for publications, webinars, and client engagements
Provide responsive support to analysts, leadership, and client-facing teams on content development and publishing queries

Collaboration and Team Contribution

Work closely with the Team Leader of Research Enablement to uphold standards and deliver strategic enablement initiatives
Share knowledge, provide informal guidance to colleagues, and support a culture of continuous improvement within the enablement team

Qualifications

A completed undergraduate degree in Economics, Publishing or related disciplines (e.g. PPE, Language Practice, Information Science)

Experience and Skills

Bachelor’s degree in English, Publishing, Language Practice, Economics, or related field.
3+ years’ experience in editorial, research production, or content management roles.
Experience in financial services or research environments advantageous.

Skills and CompetenciesTechnical Skills

Strong editorial, proofreading, and writing ability
Content quality management
Knowledge of economics, financial and investment research terminology (advantageous)
Workflow and production coordination
Content management systems and publishing tools
MS Office and document‑design proficiency

Competencies

Attention to detail and analytical thinking
Ability to challenge assumptions constructively
Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills
Time management and prioritisation under pressure
Continuous improvement mindset
Professional discretion and compliance orientation

#Post

#RMB

#LI-ZM1

Important Closing Date Note

Take note that applications will not be accepted on the below date and onwards, kindly submit applications ahead of the closing date indicated below.

26/10/26

All appointments will be made in line with FirstRand Group’s Employment Equity plan. The Bank supports the recruitment and advancement of individuals with disabilities. In order for us to fulfill this purpose, candidates can disclose their disability information on a voluntary basis. The Bank will keep this information confidential unless we are required by law to disclose this information to other parties.