Director: Clinical Research Centre (CRC) at University of Cape Town

Requirements:

Eligible to be a SAHPRA approved principal investigator on clinical trials by virtue of the following:

• Is a South African permanent resident or citizen
• Has participated in at least 2 clinical trials to completion as sub-investigator
• Is registered with the HPCSA as clinician with up-to-date SA GCP training
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in the clinical research environment (that includes either industry or investigator initiated clinical trials)
• Experience with and sound knowledge of clinical trial protocol development and design
• Experience of clinical research team management
• Experience of Clinical Trial Research Financing
• Proven academic and research stature, with commensurate publication track record.

Advantageous:

• Prior experience as a Principal Investigator on clinical trials
• Experience working at a strategic level with senior management in a university and /or research facility.
• Business management qualification
• Knowledge and experience of university systems and practices
• Sound knowledge of the higher education/academic sector research environment

Short listed candidates who meet the requirements may be invited for interviews and probed for some of the following additional attributes:

• Sound knowledge of the South African clinical trial regulatory environment
• Evidence of solid teamwork and interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate well with clients, employees, and senior management and external stakeholders.
• Evidence of strong business planning, analytical and conceptual skills
• Exceptional team management skills, including the ability to effectively deploy resources and manage multiple projects of diverse scope
• Ability to develop new system approaches to solve problems and seize opportunities for sustaining business success
• Ability to exercise independent judgment
• Creative problem-solving ability
• Knowledge of principles and current trends in clinical trial ethics both nationally and internationally
• Knowledge of national and international health research funding environment

Responsibilities:

• Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, GCP and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), you will work with diverse clinical research teams and the Deputy Dean for Research to help ensure projects are delivered within budget and on time.

Key roles/responsibilities include in equal measures:

• Managing strategic clinical research-related initiatives, especially with a view to improved research governance, financing, risk mitigation and sustainability in clinical research across the Faculty
• Conducting, promoting and providing strategic advice on clinical research for FHS and UCT’s Research Office
• Promoting clinical research in Health Sciences to external stakeholders & developing partnerships
• Ensuring a sustainable competitive Clinical Research Facility.
• Soliciting, scoping and applying for Clinical research funding opportunities

Other responsibilities related to these key roles would include:

• Appropriate management of confidential information
• Line management of staff