SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (SAMRC)

PROJECT COORDINATOR

Cape Town

Job Reference Number: R963A

Department: Research Capacity Development

Business Unit:

Industry: Office Support

Job Type: Contract

Positions Available: 1

Salary: Market Related

The SAMRC’s RCD division is seeking to appoint a Project Coordinator to take responsibility for managing a portfolio of awards in the RCD grant and career award programmes.

Job Description

The SAMRC’s RCD division is seeking to appoint a Project Coordinator to take responsibility for managing a portfolio of awards in the RCD grant and career award programmes funded by the SAMRC. The incumbent will also provide administrative support to the Programme Manager for all RCD grants and career award programmes.

The incumbent will report to the Programme Manager and will be responsible for the following strategic and core areas:

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of research capacity development grants and career development awards, ensuring effective pre- and post-award administration.
• Liaise with beneficiaries, host institutions, and key stakeholders to support programme implementation and compliance.
• Monitor progress award, review technical and financial reports, and provide recommendations to management.
• Coordinate grant disbursements, review meetings, and programme documentation.
• Facilitate the administration of funding opportunities, including Requests for Applications (RFAs), peer review processes, and award approvals.
• Support the preparation of funding agreements, award communications, and management reports.
• Collect, analyse, and report on programme outputs, achievements, and performance indicators.
• Coordinate stakeholder meetings, workshops, and events, including logistics, meeting documentation, and action tracking.
• Contribute to the development of reports, presentations, website content, and other stakeholder communication materials.
• Ensure accurate record-keeping and compliance with organisational policies, funding requirements, and governance processes.

Contract Duration

• 1 year

Location

• Cape Town

Remuneration

• A salary in the region of R537 033.00 per annum, cost-to-company, will be negotiated in consideration of experience and qualifications.

Job Requirements

Core Requirements:

• 3-year relevant tertiary qualification in a science discipline or similar qualification or higher
• At least 1 to 2 years of experience coordinating/ managing projects and grants (i.e. proven project management skills)

Advantageous

• BSc Honours degree or equivalent in a biomedical science or related discipline
• Demonstrated experience working in a public funding and/or research environment or similar, managing or coordinating projects, grants, fellowships or scholarships.
• A good understanding of the public research environment and capacity development

Closing Date

• 12 October 2026

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SENIOR RESEARCH TECHNOLOGIST

Pretoria

Job Reference Number: R985A

Department: Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform

Business Unit:

Industry: Research

Job Type: Permanent

Positions Available: 1

Salary: Market Related

The South African Medical Research Council seeks to appoint a Senior Research Technologist

Job Description

The Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform (BRIP), SAMRC, seeks to appoint a Senior Research Technologist to provide advanced technical and laboratory support to the Centre for Advanced Training and Innovative Research (CATIR) in Pretoria.

The successful candidate will support the coordination and operation of specialised research and training laboratories. The incumbent will contribute to research activities, laboratory capacity development and the delivery of specialised technical training while ensuring compliance with Good Laboratory Practice, biosafety requirements, quality management systems and SAMRC policies.

The position will play an important role in supporting the development and expansion of CATIR training programmes, including technical training and capacity development initiatives. The incumbent will work with scientists, postgraduate students, interns, academic institutions, industry partners and other strategic stakeholders.

Responsibilities will include:

• Provide advanced technical and research support in molecular biology, mammalian cell culture and related biomedical disciplines,
• Coordinate and support CATIR laboratory operations and capacity development, including the establishment and optimisation of specialised research laboratories, laboratory workflows, SOPs, equipment management, procurement, inventory and operational readiness.
• Coordinate and maintain laboratory quality and compliance systems, ensuring adherence to Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), biosafety requirements and SAMRC policies
• Plan, coordinate and deliver specialised laboratory training and skills development, including theoretical and practical training in molecular biology, mammalian cell culture, genomics, protein and gene expression.
• Contribute to scientific reporting, knowledge dissemination and programme development.

Duration: Permanent

Remuneration: R 401 036.00 per annum (CTC)

Job Requirements

Core Requirements:

• BSc degree in Microbiology, Biochemistry or a related field.
• A minimum of three years’ practical laboratory experience in mammalian cell culture, PCR, Western blotting and ELISA.
• Understanding of biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
• At least two years’ experience in teaching, training or facilitating laboratory-based short courses within a molecular biology or molecular techniques laboratory.
• Demonstrated experience in curriculum development, particularly for practical or skills-based training programmes.
• Experience in SCM procedures or JDE software.
• At least one year’s experience in a related industry environment, such as biotechnology, pharmaceutical or diagnostics.
• Proven experience in CAR-T, gene therapy, cell therapy or advanced cell-based technologies.
• Proven skills in data and statistical analysis.
• Strong organisational, communication and interpersonal skills.

Advantageous:

• Honours degree in a relevant field.
• Experience in laboratory management
• Driver’s license

Closing Date: 9 October 2026

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