PROJECT OFFICER ,Medical Research Council (mrc)

EDCTP SECRETARIAT, CAPE TOWN

PROJECT OFFICER
(1-year contract position)

The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) is a not-for-profit organisation with a European office in The Hague, The Netherlands and an African office in Cape Town, South Africa. EDCTP is a partnership between European and African countries to accelerate the development of new clinical interventions such as drugs, vaccines, microbicides and diagnostics against poverty-related diseases in Africa (HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis). The organisation supports clinical trials, capacity strengthening and networking in Africa and Europe. Visit www.edctp.org for more information.

We are looking for a Project Officer to join the Calls and Grants team to provide project management, monitoring and evaluation support in the implementation of the capacity building and network activities of the Co-ordination and Support Actions (CSA) grant, funded under FP7 of the European Commission.

This career opportunity is ideal for an experienced person with good skills in project management and scientific background preferably with international experience. The appointee will be employed by EDCTP through its hosting institution in South Africa, the Medical Research Council (MRC).

The Project Officer is responsible for:

• Co-ordination of the refinement and implementation of monitoring and evaluation tools for the ongoing EDCTP funded regional Networks of Excellence activities
• Day-to-day administration, follow-up of projects through their life cycles, project reporting and synthesis of technical or scientific reports to generate appropriate information packages for different stakeholders
• Participation in the internal evaluation of ethics and regulatory activities in Africa that are part of EDCTP Programme
• Maintaining updated projects documentation in a centralised EDCTP database
• Overseeing the finalisation of grant agreements in liaison with grantees, EDCTP Legal and Finance Departments
• Serving as EDCTP focal person in all matters to do with applicants, grantees and peer reviewers for EDCTP Calls and Projects allocated to this office bearer
• Monitoring of grants using systems such as Project Database, Document Management Systems, Microsoft Office and project management tools including compliance and audit procedures
• Providing support to the EDCTP constituencies and advisory boards
• Contributing towards EDCTP publications such as technical reports, peer reviewed publications and newsletters
• The Project Officer will primarily work with the Calls and Grants team and report to the Director of South-South Co-operation and Head of Africa Office.

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

• A Master’s university degree or equivalent in life, medical or pharmaceutical science
• At least 3 years’ project or research management work experience
• Knowledge of, and/or experience of monitoring and evaluation procedures, and peer review processes
• Excellent project management skills and experience in writing scientific and business memos and reports
• Knowledge of, and practical experience in MS Windows and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc); familiarity with database systems, especially Microsoft Access
• Excellent organisation skills and attention to detail
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Ability to prioritise and maintain a good balance between speed and accuracy for all deliverables
• Flexibility and ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines
• Demonstrable knowledge on the developments in the relevant scientific fields (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria) will be advantageous.

Employment conditions:

• The employee will be stationed at the EDCTP Secretariat in Cape Town, South Africa
• Applicants must have a valid working permit for South Africa complying with the Medical Research Council of South Africa employment requirements
• Award and remuneration conditions will be in line with EDCTP employment terms
• EDCTP has a multicultural work environment and uses English as the official office language.

EDCTP offers a highly competitive salary package commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Closing date: 24 February 2012.

Forward your application, comprising a full CV, a covering letter of motivation and contact details of three referees, to Mrs Janet Ndimande, Human Capital Management Division, MRC, PO Box 19070, Tygerberg 7505 or fax 086 742-8365 or via e-mail to recruitment@mrc.ac.za

Please quote the reference number: “R460” in all communications.

Certified copies of your ID and highest formal qualifications must be submitted with this application. Should your application not contain the required information and documents, it will unfortunately not be considered.

Should no feedback be received within 30 days of the closing date, kindly consider your application as unsuccessful. The MRC retains the right not to make an appointment. In accordance with the MRC’s Employment Equity Plan, preference will be given to suitably qualified candidates from the designated groups. For this reason we require Race, Gender and Disability status to be specified. Disabled persons are encouraged to apply.

THE MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (MRC) STRIVES TO IMPROVE THE NATION’S HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH PROMOTING AND CONDUCTING RELEVANT AND RESPONSIVE HEALTH RESEARCH.