Fresh Jobs at South African Medical Research Council

About the role:

• The purpose of this position is to, among other deliverables, ensure that the work done by the SAMRC is translated into simple and easy-to-understand content for the general public. This includes supporting the organisation with crafting key messaging for Corporate Marketing and Communication campaigns to profile the SAMRC's science, brand and provide comprehensive writing and editing services for multiple media including working with research units or divisions to coordinate projects, assessing input, content and developing communication styles for scientific and other communication materials.
• Given the strategic importance of Research Translation, this position is key in ensuring that the Corporate and Marketing Communications Division creates cross-unit collaboration to best package and communicate the SAMRC’s research and related activities to a diverse external audience.

Responsibilities:

• Comprehensive writing and editing services for large and/or complex projects, potentially involving multiple media.
• Support research units and divisions with the editing of technical and scientific content, and improve Quality Assurance process (i.e. plain language writing, research translation)
• Content generation for Corporate publications: annual report, newsletters, and other marketing material.
• Develop and project manage communication plans relating to conferences and other events offering a PR touchpoint
• Ensure effective communication across multiple channels (announcements, newsletters and social media outlets)
• Contribute to efforts to ingrain organisational values, vision and mission to ensure an informed workforce.
• Contribute content to internal communication tools and campaigns, including the intraweb.
• Participating at Science Public Awareness programmes such as National Science Week and other science festivals.
• Increase engagement within SAMRC and externally with the Schools Outreach activities
• Building and sustaining a positive reputation for the organization through the production of high quality and professional content
• Facilitate writing workshops to train scientists on how to write for the general public
• Providing guidelines that facilitate the production of various materials that can be published on various platforms

Broad functional areas:

• Creative writing and editing
• Media
• Project management
• Organisational navigation and communications coordination

Job Requirements

• Master’s qualification in Science Communication/ Journalism/ Public Relations or a relevant qualification  
• 4 years of writing experience

Advantageous:

• 7 years’ experience in the media

go to method of application »

Job Description

• The SAMRC's Burden of Disease Research Unit is seeking a Specialist Scientist to lead and provide epidemiological expertise for its cancer surveillance and research activities. The successful candidate will manage operations related to the Eastern Cape Cancer Registry (ECCR) and collaborate with national and international partners, including the National Cancer Registry, Eastern Cape Department of Health, IARC, and AFCRN. Key responsibilities include ensuring accurate data collection, analysis, and application of cancer data to support public health research, policy, and planning.

Responsibilities:

• Provide epidemiological expertise for cancer surveillance and research activities of the Eastern Cape Cancer Registry
• Generate reports, interpret data and provide analyses to ensure that accurate data is available for analysis and management decisions
• Writing scientific reports and papers
• Oversee operations of the ECCR concerning:
• Data collection and quality assurance of cancer patient data abstraction and handling
• Manage project plans and activities of fulltime and/or parttime registry staff including training, performance evaluation, and staff development
• Prepare cancer registry reports and summaries including annual incidence reports, survival and trends analyses for internal and external stakeholders including healthcare providers and policymakers
• Foster a positive work environment that promotes collaboration and support for cancer research
• Keep abreast of cancer registry regulations and guidelines to ensure compliance with data privacy and confidentiality standards
• Play key role in linking the ECCR with the National Cancer Registry and the Eastern Cape Department of Health and other relevant cancer surveillance and research stakeholders locally and internationally to ensure that available data can be utilized effectively for epidemiological research, policy and program planning
• Play a leading role in the development of cancer surveillance systems of population-based cancer registration and analysis of data generated by the ECCR
• Strengthen electronic systems for accessing NHLS and private laboratory data for epidemiological applications with specific reference to cancer surveillance and research
• Use of ICD-O in coding of cancer registry data including support of the WHOFIC CC in ICD coding of data
• Write grant proposals and secure funding for public health surveillance and research projects related to cancer epidemiology
• To train and capacitate junior colleagues, surveillance officers, research technologists, field data collectors and students on cancer epidemiology and surveillance
• Contribute to SAMRC and Unit management through participation in committees, reviews, organizational processes, and meetings.

Duration of the contract

• 5 years

Remuneration

• Remuneration commensurate with experience and qualifications

Job Requirements

• PhD in Public Health/Epidemiology or relevant equivalent
• At least 6 years’ experience working in a health research environment (post Master’s degree)
• Minimum 3 years of experience in cancer epidemiology research and programmes.
• Record of 10 lifetime publications (ISI journal articles, editorials or book chapters and technical reports) with at least 3 as first/senior author.
• PI of successful income generation/grant application of ≥ R300,000 (NB: funds raised as a co-I/PI on a sub-project are not
• counted, neither are non-research funds (conferences, course fees, etc.).
• Successfully supervised ≥3 post-graduate students to graduation.
• Records of translating professional, scientific or clinical expertise, new knowledge and research findings into public understanding, policy, and/or practice, in order to improve health.
• Experience in leading research project(s), including mentoring and managing a research team.
• Experience in budgeting, finance and risk management.
• Excellent interpersonal relations and communication skills.

Advantageous:

• Personal invitation to external/national committees.

Closing Date:

31 December 2025

go to method of application »

Job Description

• The Project coordinator will be responsible for the Coordination and administration of key processes/systems/projects in the Research Directorate which includes the Extramural Research Division and Strategic Research Initiatives Division

Responsibilities:

• To assist with administration of scientific review of proposals that require ethics approval.
• Assist and deputize for the NRF DA
• Administration, coordination and management of research grants and scientific events in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders / partners.
• Provide administrative support for the management of RFA processes.
• Support the planning and execution of Unit reviews.
• Coordinating and arranging internal and external meetings.
• Assisting in the administration of grant management.
• Coordinate the sourcing and consolidation of annual reports from the research Units.
• Assisting in ensuring that action items arising from the Executive Management Committee, review processes, and Board meetings are tracked and addressed timeously.
• Assist in updating Data Management Systems from the VP Office.
• Lead and coordinate cross-cutting projects as assigned by the Vice President

Remuneration:

• R583 900.00 per annum (cost to company)

Job Requirements

• 3-year tertiary qualification in a science or management discipline or similar qualification or higher.
• At least 3 – 5 years relevant experience coordinating/managing projects.

Advantageous:

• Post-graduate certification
• 2 years’ experience in research environment

Closing date:

19 December 2025

go to method of application »

Job Description

• This includes providing management support, administration and coordination for day-to-day project activities, facilitating communication among project partners, tracking progress, and reporting to ensure compliance with Pandemic Fund Implementing Entities’ and other funders’ requirements, overseeing funded projects including managing the contract management process, reporting (internally and externally), financial and expenditure tracking, disbursements, queries and requests for project changes, monitoring of progress and recording of project outputs. This requires liaison with the Implementing Entities, and the project leads to ensure timely project implementation.
• The role will include management and coordination of project stakeholder partnerships, coordinate the project budgets, and report under the supervision of the program manager.
• The incumbent is also responsible for project administration including coordinating internal and external partner working group/steering committee meetings and workshops, support with agenda preparation, drafting minutes and actions, monitoring action items assigned, and information management.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the management of the portfolio of SAMRC Pandemic fund and other related projects to ensure project implementation and delivery in line with approved timelines, milestones and budgets
• Project Administration: Compliance, Monitoring and Reporting
• Stakeholder liaison: Serve as the focal point for communication between government departments, Implementing Entities and project & technical teams
• Responsible for the management of the portfolio of SAMRC Pandemic Fund and other related projects to ensure project implementation and delivery in line with approved timelines, milestones and budgets
• Project Administration: Compliance, Monitoring and Reporting
• Stakeholder liaison: Serve as the focal point for communication between government departments, Implementing Entities and project & technical teams

Duration of Contract:

• 3 years

Remuneration:

• R 782 500.00 per annum (cos to company)

Job Requirements

• 3- year relevant tertiary degree
• At least 3–5 years’ experience in project management including tracking and management of financial data, preferably in health or research environment (pandemic response, disease control, or health systems)

Advantageous:

• Project Management qualification
• Honours Degree or higher 
• Demonstrated experience working in a public fund/grant administration environment or similar, managing project portfolios
• Preferably demonstrated experience in working across academia, government departments, industry, and philanthropy
• A working knowledge of / background in health research and project management

Closing Date:

31 December 2025

go to method of application »

Job Description

• The Biostatistics Research Unit (BRU) of the SAMRC is an active research entity that collaborates with health and medical researchers from the SAMRC, universities, other research institutions and international agencies. Statisticians in the Biostatistics Research Unit provide statistical support on design, analysis and reporting, to collaborative national and international projects in the SAMRC research portfolio. These range from surveys, epidemiological studies to randomised controlled and clinical trials.  Statistical methodological development as well as the training and supervision of researchers and junior staff, is also done. The SAMRC BRU offers a challenging biostatistics career in health and clinical research within a dynamic environment. The Unit has a number of methodological research programs such as longitudinal data analysis, innovation in the design and analysis of clinical trials, and spatial data analysis.  The successful candidate will have an individual research portfolio and contribute to these programs.

Responsibilities:

• Research- Peer reviewed journal articles or book chapters, technical report.
• Working on and coordinating all statistical aspects of one or more projects as study statistician.
• Evidence of use of more complex data analysis techniques.
• Write-up study design, sample size and analysis plan of proposals.
• Oversee all aspects of the study such as design, data management, analysis and interpretation of results.
• Transform data into formats that are clean and suitable for analysis.
• Carry out independent computing in a timeous manner.
• Conduct complex statistical analysis.
• Attendance of advanced methodological training.
• Poster or oral presentations at local or international conferences or at external meetings where own research is presented by the statistician.
• Statistical support of Masters or PhD students.
• Assist in teaching a Biostatistics course.
• Develop course material
• Contribution to management of the Unit or SAMRC through meeting organisation or participation in committees, reviews and organisational processes
• Assistance with Unit reporting processes, organising academic days, journal clubs, etc

Duration of the contract:

• Permanent

Remuneration:

•  R 933 300 per annum (cost-to-company)

Job Requirements
Core Requirements:

• Hold a MSc in statistics, biostatistics, or biometry
• At least 5 years’ experience in a clinical and health research environment
• Evidence of strong academic background and peer-reviewed ISI publication record, with at least 7 ISI publications and at least 4 presentations at conferences or meetings
• Registered for a PhD, proposal written and accepted by the University
• At least 5 hours of teaching/training

Advantageous:

• Experience working with epidemiology and public health research groups and centers.

Closing Date:

2 January 2026