Research Grants Officer at Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

Introduction    

The Africa Health Research Institute is looking for a self-motivated, intellectual Research Grants Officer who is pursuing a research/grants management career path and will provide support to the Research Grants Manager in the administration of national and international research grant awards. She/he will be responsible for the smooth handling of the research and financial administration portfolio within the Grants & Contacts Office. The portfolio revolves around both the pre-award and post-award phases.

This position includes the administration of a number of research grants; participate in multi-disciplinary teams preparing and compiling research grant proposals; preparing financial and progress reports for research investigators, collaborators and external funders; reviewing cooperative agreements and policies, compliance and institutional reporting obligations. In addition, the Research Grants Officer will be responsible for maintaining grants databases, financial reconciliations, agreements database, creating boiler templates and general support duties. The position requires high level analytical skills, be deadline driven, attention to detailed orientated and multi-tasking skills. AHRI’s operates at two sites i.e. Somkhele and Durban.

Specification    

• Research Grant Administration - General research grants administration, support duties and smooth appropriation of awards in the pre-award and post-award processes. Actively involved in research grants application development including leading budget development and other research administrative application pieces. Working closely with the senior research grants officer in compliance with institutional and funders requirements. Provides scientific input in progress reports.
• Postaward grants management - Preparing and interpreting financial reports, invoices, budgets, forecasting and progress reporting. Payroll change requests. Involve in the implementation of the institute cost recovery module. Maintaining financial databases such as grants spreadsheets, and SAP Grants Module. Reviewing and reconciling assigned grants financial transactions and reports.
• Grants & contracts management – Contract management for the implementation of the award including compliance and legal administration - Review and interpret grant award agreements to ensure reporting obligations are met. Establish, review and monitor grants and financial compliance, application requirements, policies and reporting obligations (in PM the context of Institutional, Funding organisation regulations, South African Law, US, UK and European Law)
• Coordination Activities - Participate in multi-disciplinary teams preparing and compiling research grant proposals. Maintenance accurate and updated databases, checklist, templates etc. Troubleshooting assistance.

Requirements    

Minimum Qualifications

• BSc in any science discipline or related qualification
• Qualification in Project management preferable

Minimum Experience

• Previous experience working in the field of TB, HIV and/or NCDs
• 5 years’ work experience with at least 2 years’ experience in a similar role
• Experience in working with international and national multidisciplinary grant applications
• Experience of managing large collaborative research grants (>R5m) and knowledge of a variety of sponsors including research councils, government, charitable, industrial funding (desirable, not essential)

Advantageous

• Finance qualification/experience
• Worked in a research environment

Duration: 18 Months

Closing Date: 7th, April 2022