Head of Clinical Research

Pillango Placements; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 840,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization seeks a Clinical Research Leader to drive social change and manage a research site. The role involves comprehensive responsibilities from securing funding to mentoring staff, requiring extensive experience and qualifications in clinical research. Candidates must be committed to community engagement and travel frequently between Pretoria and East London.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in clinical management.
• Minimum of 30 peer-reviewed publications.
• Proven track record in funding acquisition and resource-constrained settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to the Research Department.
• Lead clinical trials and secure new research grants.
• Mentor staff and supervise students during internships.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Grant Writing

Data Analysis

Communication

Education

MBChB

M.Med in Internal Medicine or PhD in Infectious Diseases or Public Health

MPH or MS in Epidemiology

Tools

SPSS

STATA

SAS

Job description

Are you an experienced professional in the field of Clinical Research who is deeply passionate about contributing to the South African community and committed to making a meaningful impact and taking on a leadership role?

Become part of an organisation dedicated to driving social change and take responsibility for a research site in East London, conducting clinical trials and various projects focused on community engagement, skill development, and alignment with health priorities.

Please note that the position requires extensive travel between Pretoria and East London, and the successful candidate should be comfortable with this.

POSITION INFO :

Purpose of the Position :

The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership to the Research Department, focusing on developing and sustaining its clinical research capacity. This includes securing new research grants, ensuring clinical rigor in research projects, leading staff development, and building partnerships with national and international institutions.

Main Responsibilities :

• Strategic Leadership (10%) : Develop strategic and operational plans for long-term departmental sustainability, represent the department at meetings, and enhance its visibility by engaging with stakeholders.
• Build Research Capacity (30%) : Lead clinical trials, identify new research opportunities, write research protocols, and disseminate findings through publications and presentations.
• Generate Financial Resources (45%) : Secure new grant funding, identify new funding opportunities, and cultivate financial sources for long-term sustainability.
• Ensure Clinical Rigor (10%) : Provide guidance during grant writing, ensure clinical standards in projects, and support staff in managing clinical components.
• Staff Development (5%) : Mentor staff, provide training, and supervise students during internships.

Essential Qualifications :

• MBChB with clinical expertise in resource-constrained settings, M.Med in Internal Medicine or PhD in Infectious Diseases or Public Health, and an MPH or MS in epidemiology.

Additional Requirements :

• Minimum of 30 peer-reviewed publications, proven track record in funding acquisition, expertise in study design and analysis, project management, and experience in resource-constrained settings.
• Expertise in one or more of strategic activity areas (potentially demonstrated by 2 or more first authored publications), and significant experience in a second (potentially demonstrated by at least 3 or more co-authored publications)
• Must have track record of funding acquisition and implementation of research projects.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and conducting epidemiologic studies, including observational and experimental study designs and analysis.
• 10+ years progressive experience in clinical management, research output and program implementation.
• Significant experience with statistical software (SPSS, STATA, or SAS).
• Experience working in resource constrained settings.
• Demonstrated project management skills
• Demonstrated teaching / training experience including supervision of students and clinical staff.
• Ability to champion research ideas and get new ideas funded and executed.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with technical experts from diverse discipines.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and relationship building skils.
• Project management and budgeting experience.
• Ability to communicate basic statistical concepts to other scientists and non-scientists.
• Full fluency in written and oral English.
• Able to travel extensively between Pretoria and East London.

The salary will be according to OSD scales, and will depend on qualifications and experience.