Associate Lecturer: Health Sciences Research at Nelson Mandela University

Core purpose: 

• Reporting into the Director: Health Sciences Research, the purpose of this job is to provide coordination of research activities aligned with the research strategy of the Faculty of Health Sciences
• provide effective and efficient administrative service on matters of Research and Postgraduate matters
• provide administrative support with the establishment of improved governance frameworks for research management within the Faculty
• Coordinate the operational research activities of research projects; e.g. oversee the recruitment and retention of study participants; data management for data entry and analysis 
• Manage research engagement plans with clinical stakeholders
• communicate effectively with local and international research stakeholders including donors, auditors and research team members
• Facilitate research workshops and/or learning and teaching of research methods
• Provide administrative and technical support for the Health Sciences Research Directorate.

Key performance areas:

Research Project Management

• Coordinate activities inherent in a research study:
• Scientific and academic writing necessary in undertaking literature search and review and protocol development
• Coordinate submission of protocols for funding applications and for research ethics review
• Monitor progress of research activities with monitoring of quality assurance research indicators
• Oversee research financial governance of research grants
• Plan and coordinate data collection including developing and implementing a data collection plan
• Serve as a supervisor to a team of research assistants/fieldworkers
• Manage research data for data entry and data analysis

Engagement and Networking:

• Support and facilitates the development of a multidisciplinary research team within the University and Clinical Platform
• Manage research engagement plans through networking with clinical stakeholders
• Coordinate regular communication with research partners (including Research and Professional Associates) and proactively source research engagement opportunities

Research Administrative Support

• Provide administrative support, develop reports and related research documents and participate in the faculty research committee’s
• Facilitate research management systems within the Faculty and liaise with the institutional research management office
• Facilitate research methods related to developmental workshops and lectures
• Provide professional and administrative support for the Health Sciences research directorate

Core competencies:

• Understanding of research and the post requirements
• The familiarity of post-graduate research processes within a higher education context
• Ability to work independently and within deadlines
• Proficiency in professional written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to generate financial and research reports
• Strong interpersonal and organisational and IT skills are essential
• Proficiency in a data processing software

Minimum requirements:

Education

• A minimum of a relevant four-year Bachelor’s Degree within a health sciences discipline.
• An additional advantage will be a health sciences research qualification OR a relevant four year Bachelor Degree in Health Sciences discipline plus an additional qualification in research methods or research project management

Experience and skills

• A minimum of three years’ experience in research coordination and support in a faculty/academic or research institution within a health-related field.
• Familiarity with Health Sciences research governance and processes of postgraduate research governance.

Advantage

• Research experience particularly in qualitative and quantitative research methods
• Experience in facilitating research methods learning and teaching activities
• Evidence of managing a research project or grant
• Research Ethics training e.g. Good clinical practice ethics certification
• Fluency in isiXhosa or local indigenous language of the Eastern Cape

Enquiries: Enquiries: Human Resources; tel. 041 504 3555 or via e-mail: [email protected]

Closing date for all applications: 06 March 2020