Administration Officer: Contracts and Budgets at The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)

Key Responsibility Areas will include the following:

• Managing the processing of local and international project contracts submitted to the Project Officer in the Contracts & Budgets Office and thereafter to the Legal Office for review and approval, then to the CEO for signing.
• Ensuring that project budgets adhere to the requirements of Contracts & Budgets and that spending is compliant with PMFA requirements.
• Monitoring expenditure on a monthly basis on all baseline and contract projects to ensure that spending does not exceed available funding and ensuring that funders are invoiced in a timely fashion.
• Preparing spreadsheets for Finances to ensure that contract staff salaries are drawn down from their respective projects on a monthly basis according to the time spent on each project.
• Reporting any deviations to the unit director in terms of problems related to the signing of contracts, overspending on projects, non-payment by funders, failure of projects directors to submit documentation regarding ethical compliance or other research integrity matters in a timely fashion.
• Provide administrative support to the Unit Director and take a lead role in preparing sections of the unit’s annual report, budget application, financial reports, quarterly Research Outputs, and the 5-yearly external unit review application
• Assist all staff in all MAST RU offices with the procurement system when ordering or purchasing supplies/equipment/consultancy services/sole suppliers and the tendering process for different projects.

Requirements

Core Requirements

• 3 years Tertiary Qualification, including a National Diploma or Degree, preferably in Business Administration, Project Management, Finance or a related field.
• 3 – 5 years of experience of Administrative and Financial Work In a science / research environment (e.g., Grants Management and Administrative, Financial Support to a research unit).
• Knowledge of research governance and compliance requirements.

Added Advantage

• Post-graduate certification or qualification in Project Management, Finance, or Business Administration.
• 5+ Years’ experience in Administration and/or Finance, preferably in a Science Environment (Grants Management and Administrative, Financial Support to a Research Unit).

Closing Date:

• 4 June 2026