Hire the Best Research Specialists
in South Africa

More than 3,000 reviews on G2
Rating is 4.5 out of 5.
4.5/5
of Upwork by G2 peer reviewers
Kirsty C.

Cape Town, South Africa

$30/hr
5.0
8 jobs

I am an established mixed methods researcher with a PhD in Public Health and an MPH (Master of Public Health) in Epidemiology, and have 12+ years of experience in clinical and public health research. I have considerable experience across all stages of the research lifecycle, from planning studies and writing protocols to analysis and dissemination of results, and have published 70 peer-reviewed publications (16 first-authored) to date. I have ample experience supporting postgraduate students, having supervised 8 MPH students through graduation and assisting PhD students with proofreading and formatting their dissertations prior to submission. I also have strong data management and analysis skills, having worked as a data analyst for both academic and non-profit clients. I am passionate about leveraging data and research to improve lives, and approach my work with a focus on methodological rigor, ethical principles, and collaboration.

  • Research Methods
  • Academic Editing
  • Proofreading
  • Research Protocols
  • Quantitative Analysis
  • Qualitative Research
  • Epidemiology
  • Stata
  • Scientific Literature Review
  • Public Health
  • NVivo
  • Microsoft Word
  • References & Citations
  • Research Papers
  • Academic Proofreading
  • Biostatistics
Reitumetse K.

Cape Town, South Africa

$65/hr
5.0
9 jobs

Before you commit budget to a product launch, an R&D programme, or an engineering brief you haven't validated, someone needs to tell you honestly whether the science and the regulatory pathway actually support it. That is what I do. I am a bioprocess engineer and innovation strategist. I use lean, design-thinking methodology to de-risk science-based product concepts before you commit to the full build: validating the mechanism of action, stress-testing feasibility through structured stage-gates, and mapping the regulatory pathway that applies. I work with founders and programme owners in functional food and beverage, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, herbal products, and early-stage bioproducts. I also conduct cross-jurisdictional regulatory research and translate complex scientific evidence into actionable insights. You get a defensible Go/No-Go grounded in first principles, not a hedged summary. Recent work includes: an 80-hour feasibility study that produced a stage-gated Go/No-Go and advanced a product to its next phase; cross-referencing EU and South African regulatory frameworks to produce parliamentary and stakeholder advocacy briefs; structured evidence reviews of botanical and bioactive ingredients; and rigorous claim substantiation work under FDA and FTC frameworks. If you have a process concept, a product question, or an evidence gap where being wrong is expensive, message me to schedule a consultation.

  • Research & Strategy
  • Technical Project Management
  • Design Thinking
  • Innovation Strategy
  • Research & Development
  • Product Development Process
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Food & Supplements
  • Herbal Medicine
  • Project Management
  • Food & Beverage
  • Health Science
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Due Diligence
  • Feasibility Study
  • Literature Review
  • Strategic Planning
  • Risk Assessment
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Cosmetics
Nkosinathi M.

Pretoria, South Africa

$15/hr
5.0
28 jobs

Operations Manager | Project Manager | HR & Recruitment Coordinator helping businesses streamline operations, coordinate projects, recruit top talent, and build efficient systems that improve productivity and drive business growth. I specialize in managing people, processes, and projects—ensuring daily operations run smoothly, teams stay aligned, and business objectives are delivered on time and to a high standard. 🚀 What I Can Help You With: ✔ Operations Management & Business Support ✔ Project Planning, Coordination & Execution ✔ Recruitment, Talent Sourcing & Candidate Screening ✔ Employee Onboarding & HR Administration ✔ Process Improvement & Workflow Optimization ✔ SOP Development & Business Documentation ✔ Team Coordination & Performance Tracking ✔ KPI Monitoring & Operational Reporting ✔ Administrative & Executive Support ✔ Data Analysis, Reporting & Business Insights 📊 I Have Successfully Delivered: • Coordinated large-scale recruitment campaigns for AI data collection projects. • Managed contributor onboarding, communication, and performance tracking for remote teams. • Coordinated international projects by monitoring KPIs, resolving operational issues, and ensuring deadlines were achieved. • Delivered market research, business analysis, and operational reports to support strategic decision-making. Clients consistently describe me as reliable, organized, analytical, and proactive, with a strong ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high-quality standards. My background in Economics, combined with experience in operations, recruitment, project coordination, and business analysis, enables me to improve workflows, optimize team performance, and support business growth through structured and data-driven decision-making. If you're looking for a dependable professional who can coordinate projects, manage operations, recruit talent, and keep your business running efficiently—I’d be glad to help.

  • Operations Management Software
  • Project Management
  • Project Analysis
  • Staff Recruitment & Management
  • TalentGuard Performance Management
  • Human Resources
  • Office Administration
  • Team Management
  • Data Analysis
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Business Operations
  • Market Research
  • Report Writing
  • South African English Accent
Musa Princess N.

Johannesburg South, South Africa

$6/hr
5.0
3 jobs

Customer Support Specialist helping businesses deliver responsive service while keeping operations organized and accurate. 5.0★ Upwork Enterprise client (Western Union) for cross-border payments research and data entry. Services: Customer support — email, live chat, helpdesk tickets, client communication Administrative support — inbox management, scheduling, document prep Data entry — CRM updates, spreadsheets, database management Market & web research — competitor analysis, product research, data collection Excel & Google Sheets — data cleaning, reports, dashboards I'm responsive, detail-oriented, and deliver accurate work on deadline. Available for one-off projects or ongoing support, remote with clients worldwide. Let's talk about what your business needs — I'll reply fast.

  • Administrative Support
  • Customer Service
  • Virtual Assistance
  • Online Research
  • Data Entry
  • Email Communication
  • Customer Support
  • Market Research
  • Lead Generation
  • CRM Software
  • Gemini for Google Workspace
  • Microsoft Excel
Annika V.

Durban, South Africa

$25/hr
5.0
4 jobs

Hi! I’m a Virtual Assistant with a creative edge and a sharp eye for detail. I have hands-on experience supporting a growing online fashion brand, where I handled everything from social media management and content creation to customer orders and email marketing. I understand how to juggle multiple tasks, stay organised, and meet deadlines, these are skills I developed while studying full-time and working part-time. I’m now working in a corporate role during the day, and I’m available for part-time or evening projects where I can bring value to busy entrepreneurs and small businesses. Here’s what I can help you with: • Admin support (email, calendar, file management) • Social media scheduling and basic content creation • Canva designs and email newsletters • Creative writing • Research and data entry • Customer support and order management I’m reliable, fast to learn, and passionate about helping others stay organised and focused on what matters most. If you’re looking for someone who is easy to work with and gets things done - let’s connect!

  • Academic Research
  • Data Entry
  • Virtual Assistance
  • Company Research
  • Market Research
  • People Management
  • Writing
  • Organizer
  • Critical Thinking Skills
Samantha N.

Johannesburg, South Africa

$15/hr
5.0
3 jobs

• Director & Co-founder of a Leading Private School • 15 Years of Educational Leadership & Learner Development Experience • Senior Social Media Content Creator & Creative Communications Specialist • Highly Skilled in School Administration, Operations & Organisational Management • Qualified in Emotional Regulation in Autistic Children, Foundation Phase Learning & Home Education I am a passionate educational leader, creative strategist and organisational professional with extensive experience in private education, administration and digital communication. I am highly experienced in school operations, administration, branding, communication and digital content creation, with a strong focus on professionalism, efficiency and meaningful community engagement. My areas of expertise include: • Social Media Content Creation & Management • Digital Marketing & Online Brand Presence • Promotional & Marketing Material Design • Professional Poster & Flyer Design • Newsletter & School Communication Design • Administrative Support & Organisational Management • Educational Administration & School Operations • Branding & Visual Content Creation • Digital Advertising • Content Writing & Creative Communications • Learner Support & Educational Guidance • Professional Document Formatting & Presentation Design

  • Academic Research
  • Educational
  • Data Entry
  • Market Research
  • Project Management
  • Teaching
  • English Tutoring
  • Family & Education
  • Lesson Plan
  • Course Creation
  • Poster Design
  • Presentation Design
  • Management Skills
  • Graphic Design
  • Canva
  • Office Administration

How it works

Post a job for freePost a job

Tell us what you need. Create your own job post or generate one with AI then filter talent matches.

Hire top talent fast

Consult, interview, and hire quickly, so you can meet the freelancers you're excited about.

Collaborate easily

Use Upwork to chat or video call, share files, and track project progress right from the app.

Payment simplified

Manage payments in one place with flexible billing options. Only pay for approved work, hourly or by milestone.

Don't just take our word for it

How do I hire a Research Specialist in South Africa on Upwork?

You can hire a Research Specialist in South Africa on Upwork in four simple steps:

  • Create a job post tailored to your Research Specialist project scope. We'll walk you through the process step by step.
  • Browse top Research Specialist talent on Upwork and invite them to your project.
  • Once the proposals start flowing in, create a shortlist of top Research Specialist profiles and interview.
  • Hire the right Research Specialist for your project from Upwork, the world's largest work marketplace.

At Upwork, we believe talent staffing should be easy.

How much does it cost to hire a Research Specialist?

Rates charged by Research Specialists on Upwork can vary with a number of factors including experience, location, and market conditions. See hourly rates for in-demand skills on Upwork.

Why hire a Research Specialist in South Africa on Upwork?

As the world's work marketplace, we connect highly-skilled freelance Research Specialists and businesses and help them build trusted, long-term relationships so they can achieve more together. Let us help you build the dream Research Specialist team you need to succeed.

Can I hire a Research Specialist in South Africa within 24 hours on Upwork?

Depending on availability and the quality of your job post, it's entirely possible to sign up for Upwork and receive Research Specialist proposals within 24 hours of posting a job description.