The Human Sciences Research Council invites suitably qualified applicants to apply for freelance Peer Reviewer opportunities at HSRC Press. These remote positions are suitable for candidates with a PhD or equivalent qualification, strong scholarly publishing records and research experience in social sciences and humanities fields.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Employer | Human Sciences Research Council |
| Division | HSRC Press |
| Business Area | Publishing |
| Closing Date | 14 August 2026 |
| Reference Number | HSR260731-1 |
| Post Title | Peer Reviewers |
| Number of Positions | 5 |
| Job Type | Freelancer |
| Workplace Type | Remote |
| Location | Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban |
| Provinces | Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal |
| Minimum Education Level | NQF 10, PhD Degree or equivalent |
| Application Method | Online application |
Peer Reviewers Ref No: HSR260731-1
Advert Reference: Press-Peer Reviews July 2026
Department: HSRC Press
Job Category: Publishing
Workplace Type: Remote
Positions Available: 5
About the Opportunity
HSRC Press is the publishing division of the Human Sciences Research Council. It publishes independently evaluated peer-reviewed scholarly and academic works under the HSRC Press and AISA Press imprints, as well as trade and academic nonfiction under the Best Red imprint.
The organisation is looking to appoint a panel of freelance peer reviewers to support publication outputs. The panel will provide high-quality peer review assessments for book manuscripts, including monographs and edited collections.
Peer reviewers will be required to assess proposals and complete manuscripts.
Requirements
Applicants must have recognised academic qualifications, including a PhD or equivalent qualification.
Applicants must have subject expertise in relevant social sciences and humanities fields.
Applicants must have an accredited scholarly publishing record, including journal articles, book chapters, authored monographs or experience as a volume editor of an edited collection.
An academic affiliation will be advantageous.
Applicants must have demonstrable research experience in relevant social sciences and humanities subfields, such as sociology, political science, anthropology, history, international relations or economics.
Applicants must indicate their area of specialisation.
Applicants must be able to evaluate methodological rigour and integrity across qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies.
Applicants must have at least five years’ research experience in a research environment.
Fluency in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills is required.
Applicants must be competent in software such as Microsoft Word, Adobe and online submission platforms.
Duties and Responsibilities
External peer reviewers will provide independent expert evaluations to ensure academic rigour, integrity, trustworthiness, originality and new contributions to the field.
The successful applicants will assess scholarly quality and integrity.
Duties include evaluating methodological soundness and relevance.
The reviewers will provide constructive feedback for improvement on proposals and complete manuscripts.
External peer reviewers will act as gatekeepers of scholarly excellence to ensure that books meet high academic standards.
The role also supports the refinement of manuscripts through constructive critique before publication.
Deliverables
The successful applicants will submit written reports summarising findings.
Generative AI may not be used to write the report.
Reports must include specific comments on strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement.
Reviewers must provide a clear recommendation on the manuscript’s suitability for publication.
Application Documents Required
Applicants must submit a cover letter of motivation detailing their suitability for the position.
Applicants must submit a detailed CV with contact details of three referees.
Applicants must include an ORCID identifier.
Proof of qualifications must be attached.
Two reference letters must be submitted.
Applicants must include a list of verifiable scholarly outputs, with a minimum of 10 outputs.
How to Apply
Applicants must register and submit their applications online through the HSRC recruitment portal.
To apply and access more details, visit the HSRC online application portal.
Applicants may also visit the HSRC official website for more information about the organisation and the post.
Application Instructions
Candidates may use mobile devices or any browser to register on the Neptune recruitment site and apply for available vacancies.
Candidates will be prompted to upload their CVs.
Attachments must be less than 1MB.
There is an on-screen option to resize attachments.
Enquiries
For enquiries regarding the application process, contact:
Aurelia Smith
Email: asmith@hsrc.ac.za
Ms Abongile Mkwelo
Email: amkwelo@hsrc.ac.za
For technical knowledge enquiries related to the position, contact:
Roshan Cader
Email: rcader@hsrc.ac.za
Applications and CVs must not be sent to the enquiry email addresses.
Important Notes for Applicants
The closing date is 14 August 2026.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications before the closing date.
Applicants who have not been contacted within eight weeks should assume that their application was unsuccessful.
Only applicants who are interviewed will be advised of the outcome of their applications.
The HSRC reserves the right not to make an appointment.
Applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.