Stellenbosch University
Medicine and Health Sciences
Research Development and Support Division
Principal Administrative Officer: Health Research Ethics (Ref. TGB00/144/0417)
Apply online at www.sun.ac.za/english/careers

We are seeking to appoint a full-time health research ethics administrator (Stellenbosch University Health Research Ethics Committee) to join our Health Research Ethics Office. This position requires an experienced person to coordinate, maintain and continually improve the compliance processes and administrative systems for pre- and post-approval monitoring of health research ethics applications, and to provide administrative support to the Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC), its chairperson and the head: Health Research Ethics Office.

You will need to be knowledgeable about research processes and the role of institutional research ethics committees in ethics review. You will need to be, or rapidly become, familiar with local and international research ethics guidelines and the importance of complying with these.

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual with excellent organisational skills, who will play a vital role in supporting the University’s commitment to the highest ethical standards of health research involving human participants. This is an interesting and varied post and the incumbent will be required to liaise with people from a wide variety of backgrounds within and external to the university.

Responsibilities:

• Managing ethics application processes
• Performing administrative review of all ethics applications
• Providing secretarial support to the Health Research Ethics Committee
• Managing and reporting on information with regard to ethics applications
• Supporting researchers with regard to ethics applications
• Communicating with research community about research ethics and processes
• Training researchers in the basic principles of ethical research and application processes
• Providing input into the development of SU policies and guidelines
• Providing input into the design and implementation of ethics application and review processes in consultation with the head: Health Research Ethics
• Representing SU in national and local forums when requested to do so

Requirements:

• A master’s degree plus at least one year’s relevant experience in a research ethics environment or a bachelor’s or honours degree plus at least five years of relevant experience in a research ethics environment
• Formal training in applied research ethics and/or ethics review administration
• A high level of computer literacy (word processing, spreadsheets, and email) and previous administrative experience
• Excellent writing skills, be able to work accurately and with attention to detail
• Ability to work under pressure, use your own initiative and meet deadlines
• Ability to work both independently/unsupervised and as part of a small dedicated team in a broader organisational setting;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• A flexible and professional approach to work and a willingness to learn new skills

Recommendations:

• A postgraduate degree/diploma in ethics
• Evidence of experience, knowledge and understanding of the implementation of an ethics review system
• Previous experience and knowledge of research administration/management in the South African higher education research environment
• Extensive, relevant and recent administrative experience within a computerised environment
• Evidence of experience in maintaining high levels of organisation of documents, minutes and maintaining quick turnaround times
• Project management experience

Commencement of duties: 1 September 2017 or as soon as possible afterwards

Closing date: 31 May 2017

Enquiries regarding this post: Dr Nicola Barsdorf on 021 938 9075 or

az.ca.nus@frodsrabn

Enquiries regarding remuneration/benefits as well as technical assistance with the electronic application process: Human Resources Division, Tygerberg Campus on 021 938 9636

Please note that the level of appointment and remuneration will be negotiated in line with experience.

The university will consider all applications in terms of its Employment Equity plan, which acknowledges the need to diversify the demographic composition of the staff corps, especially with regard to the appointment of suitable candidates from the designated groups.

The university reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Your application, comprising a comprehensive curriculum vitae (including the names and email address of at least three referees), must reach the university before or on the closing date of the advertised post.

Apply online at www.sun.ac.za/english/careers

Candidates may be subjected to appropriate psychometric testing and other selection instruments.

The university reserves the right to investigate qualifications and conduct background checks on all candidates.

Should no feedback be received from the University within four weeks of the closing date, kindly accept that your application did not succeed.

Posted on 15 May 09:24