Research Ethics Coordinator

Department Description

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Research Development and Support Division

Health Research Ethics Office (HREO)

Research Ethics Coordinator (Job Level 8)

(Tygerberg Campus)

Ref. TGB11/035/0225

We are seeking to appoint a full-time Health Research Ethics Coordinator (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.

The incumbent will need to be knowledgeable about research processes and the role of institutional research ethics committees in ethics review. The incumbent 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.

Duties

• Managing ethics application processes.
• Performing the 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 the 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 Stellenbosch University's 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 Stellenbosch University in national and local forums when requested to do so.

Job Requirements

• A master's degree in science or health related discipline, plus at least one year's relevant experience in an ethics environment, OR a bachelor's or honours degree plus at least five years' relevant experience in an ethics environment.
• Knowledge and practical application of the National Health Research Ethics Council's (NHREC) guidelines.
• Demonstrated understanding of research ethics and its application to qualitative and quantitative research approaches.
• Advanced experience with Infonetica's ERM system or another online ethics review management system.
• A high level of computer literacy (word processing, spreadsheets and email) and previous administrative experience.
• Excellent writing skills, and the ability to work accurately and with attention to detail.
• The ability to work under pressure, use own initiative and meet deadlines.
• The ability to work both independently/unsupervised and as part of a small, dedicated team in a broader organisational setting.

Recommendation

• A postgraduate degree/diploma in ethics.
• Proven 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 and minutes, and maintaining quick turnaround times.
• Project management experience.

How To Apply

Stellenbosch University is committed to employment equity (EE), and appointments will be made in line with the EE plan for the specific environment as well as the EE Plan of the University.

Stellenbosch University reserves the right not to make an appointment.

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

APPLY ONLINE AT BY USING THE APPLY NOW LINK AT THE TOP RIGHT-HAND CORNER OF THE SPECIFIC VACANCY PAGE.

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

The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires people in occupations that entail potential exposure to certain hazards (such as, but not limited to: noise, hazardous chemical substances and hazardous biological agents) to be subjected to medical screening, to determine their fitness to work in the said occupations.

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

Enquiries

Enquiries regarding this post: Charmaine Khumalo on 021 938 9075, or at

Enquiries regarding remuneration/benefits, as well as technical assistance with the electronic application process: Human Resources Client Services Centre on 021 808 2753 (Stellenbosch) / 021 938 9636 (Tygerberg).

Currency: ZAR
Commencement Date: 01-May-2025
Closing Date: 14-Mar-2025