Internship at University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria

DURATION

The internship programme is offered for a period of 24 months. Successful applicants will be required to sign a contract for the duration of the internship.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The successful candidates will actively participate in the following:

Training modules provided by relevant experts on:

• The multilateral trade system for forestry and agriculture;
• Interpretation and application of relevant international standards for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) measures;
• Policy and operational aspects of SPS regulatory services e.g. pest risk analysis, surveillance, pest reporting etc.;
• Development and management of Early Warning Systems for emerging pests and diseases of quarantine concern to South Africa;
• Traceability;
• SPS communication and awareness.

Projects to gain experience in:

• Preparation of technical reports or opinions requested in the format prescribed by the relevant SPS authorities;
• Conduct pest and disease risk analysis (pest and disease listing, categorization, risk assessment and risk management);
• National surveillance systems and activities of pest monitoring and detection;
• Evaluation and best practices in phytosanitary risk management applied to the specific SA sectors for export market access and maintenance;
• Development of technical dossiers in response to requests for technical information/ research from SPS authorities or relevant to the National Biosecurity Hub projects;
• Stakeholder engagement and awareness;
• Attend workshops, meetings and ad-hoc tasks where necessary.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• To be eligible, internship applicants MUST meet the following minimum requirements:
• Be a South African citizen or South African Permanent Resident (with a valid South African Identity Document).
• Should be currently unemployed

Should have completed their study at the time of submitting the application and hold a qualification in any of the following:

• PhD (Agronomy, Microbiology, Plant Pathology, Entomology and Soil Science);
• OR
• MSc (Agronomy, Microbiology, Plant Pathology, Entomology and Soil Science);
• OR
• BSc Honours (Agronomy, Microbiology, Plant Pathology, Entomology and Soil Science).

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES):

• Appropriate language and communication skills;
• Good interpersonal skills;
• Computer skills in MS Office package and email;
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team;
• Efficient planning, organising and prioritising skills;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Ethical insight and reliability;
• Professionalism;
• Flexibility and adaptability.