Administrative Officer: Permit Compliance and REC Support

Department Description/Departement Beskrywing

Division for Research Development

Administrative Officer: Permit Compliance and REC Support

(Post Level 10)

(Two-year fixed-term contract)

(Stellenbosch Campus)

Ref. ANO/070/0425

The Division for Research Development (DRD) supports all aspects of research at Stellenbosch University (SU), including compliance with internationally accepted ethical norms and standards.

The Office for Research Integrity and Ethics as a cluster in the DRD is responsible for ensuring that all research conducted within the University adheres to the highest ethical and integrity standards.

It plays a crucial role in fostering a research environment that is responsible, transparent, and compliant with regulatory and ethical guidelines.

Duties/Pligte

• Providing client-facing helpdesk support in terms of the permit applications and REC processes.
• Answering all queries (general) relating to submitted REC applications.
• Updating and maintaining help guides for the submission of permit applications.
• Providing technical guidance and training to applicants with the submission of their permit applications to the various regulatory agencies (SAHPRA, Department of Health, Department of Environmental Affairs, Department of Agriculture and CapeNature).
• Referring critical technical issues or content-related gaps on a permit submission to the Manager: Research Ethics and Permit Compliance.
• Updating and maintaining permit related information on the DRD website.
• Providing administrative and logistical support to researchers submitting permit applications.
• Pre-screening and reviewing applications and support documents for submission to the various regulatory agencies.
• Providing assistance with the updating of information on the Division for Research Development and Office for Research Integrity and Ethics databases to ensure that all research permit-related documents and forms are up to date.
• Keeping track of all issued permits, i.e. expiry dates, annual progress report submissions and permit audit inspections.
• Preparing all permit renewal documents for permits issued by the Department of Environmental Affairs (NEMBA: TOPS and BABS) in consultation with the Manager: Research Ethics and Permit Compliance.
• Recording and transcribing minutes of meetings with regulatory agencies and the Stellenbosch University Permit Compliance Office.
• Assisting the Manager: Research Ethics and Permit Compliance with logistical arrangements for workshops and symposia on all permit related information for research, teaching and testing activities.
• Keeping up to date with notable trends in research ethics governance and compliance.
• Staying up to date and building own knowledge on research ethics issues, relevant legislation and regulations, and international and national standards related to research ethics and compliance.

Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes

• BSc honours degree, plus three years¿ relevant experience.
• Experience in projects involving animals and/or biohazardous organisms.
• Experience in data management.
• Experience in providing logistical and administrative support.
• Experience in scientific communication and research management.
• Experience in managing emails via MS Outlook.
• MS Office applications skills such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and Teams.
• Experience with the research ethics application and review process, particularly within the South African higher education research environment.

Recommendation/Aanbeveling

• MSc.
• Knowledge of higher education administrative systems.
• Knowledge of the theoretical and practical aspects of research ethics (animal use and biosafety).
• Knowledge of relevant legislation.
• Experience in inspecting laboratories for biosafety hazards.

How To Apply/Hoe Om Aansoek Te Doen

Stellenbosch University is committed to employment equity (EE), and appointments will be made in line with the EE plan for the specific environment as well as the institutional EE Plan of the University.

Stellenbosch University reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Your application, comprising a comprehensive curriculum vitae (including the names and email addresses of at least three referees), must reach the University before or on the closing date of the advertised post.

APPLY ONLINE AT BY USING THE APPLY NOW LINK AT THE TOP RIGHT-HAND CORNER OF THE SPECIFIC VACANCY PAGE.

The University reserves the right to investigate qualifications and conduct background checks on all candidates.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires people in occupations that entail potential exposure to certain hazards (such as, but not limited to: noise, hazardous chemical substances and hazardous biological agents) to be subjected to medical screening, to determine their fitness to work in the said occupations.

Should no feedback be received from the University within four to six weeks of the closing date, kindly accept that your application did not succeed.

Enquiries/Navrae

Enquiries regarding this post: Mr. Winston A Beukes on 021 808 9003, or at

Enquiries regarding remuneration/benefits, as well as technical assistance with the electronic application process: Human Resources Client Services Centre on 021 808 2753 (Stellenbosch) / 021 938 9636 (Tygerberg).