Research Scientist - Bioprocessing at Technology Innovation Agency

Job Advert Summary    

• To provide scientific leadership, mentorship and support to multi-disciplinary teams in the laboratory environment at the Platform.

Qualifications

• MSc Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry or Microbiology 
• Preferred: PhD degree 

Work Exprerience

• 4 years’ experience in the relevant scientific field.  
• Be registered with the relevant professional legislated regulatory body. i.e. HPCSA, SACNASP    

Duties and Responsibilities    
Finance

• Give input to the formulation of the operational budget and monitor and track applicable spending.
• Provide leadership with expenditure undertaken by the diagnostic section
• Manage and monitor financial obligations that projects have to TIA (e.g. service fees, generation of service quotes, invoices etc)
• Solicit additional funding through submission funding proposals

Stakeholder Relations Plans

• Assume custodianship for linking the Platform and diagnostic section with relevant accreditation authority.
• Manage effective internal and/or external Stakeholder relationships:
• Deliver required service to the stakeholder on brief, time and with quality
• Respond timeous to queries of the stakeholder
• Maintain professional engagements and continuously exceed expectations

Internal Processes

• Lead a multidisciplinary team in diagnostic section, to deliver on approved assignment and assays.
• Provide project management and leadership on assigned projects including project costing
• Provide critical input into the operational plan of the Platform with regards to the area of expertise, i.e. diagnostic sections.
• Lead process of certifying the Diagnostic section in according to the relevant requirement i.e. SANAS. DoH etc
• Develop research protocols and SOP for the laboratory with assistance from other Platform scientists
• Ensure timeous and accurate reporting as per requirements to clients, funders, and other stakeholders. Prepare technical reports, summaries and protocols of the reports
• Compile internal and external proposals with input from the Platform technical team & complete external project review forms
• Ensure adherence to all legal compliance and business processes
• Conduct a technical feasibility study and project definition meeting
• Define a consolidated project plan with deliverables as identified in the project definition meeting
• Source approved equipment and consumables and manage stock levels
• Manage the lab equipment and oversee the general housekeeping of the laboratory.
• Manage SLA's and service received from providers.
• Develop new products and processes at the Platform: Design experiments, analyses results and compile SOP's and test methods in line with client needs and statutory requirements.
• Trouble shoot experimental problems and find solutions
• Draft and publish scientific and technical papers

Governance and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with Legislation, e.g. PFMA and National Treasury Guidelines;
• Ensure compliance to all relevant accounting Standards, Policies and Frameworks; and
• Ensure Compliance with TIA Standard Operating Procedures
• Be registered with the relevant professional legislated regulatory body. i.e. HPCSA, SACNASP