Employment Opportunity: Principal Administrative Officer – Health Research Ethics (Stellenbosch University)

September 9, 2015

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 Team. 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.

Description of duties/key 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.

Minimum Requirements:

·         Master’s degree plus at least one year relevant experience in a research ethics environment;              or Bachelor’s or Honours degree plus at least 5 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:

·         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 organization of documents, minutes and              maintaining quick turnaround times;

·         project management experience.

Commencement of duties: 1 October 2015 or as soon as possible afterwards

Closing date: 18 September 2015

Enquiries regarding this post: Dr Nicola Barsdorf on 021 938 9075 or [email protected]

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