Laboratory Assistant / Administrator

St John's D.S.G.; Pietermaritzburg; On-site; ZAR 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

St John’s D.S.G. invites applications for a Laboratory Assistant / Administrator to support the Academic team by ensuring smooth laboratory operations.

You will look after equipment and chemicals, set up for practicals, and manage stock, quotes, orders, invoicing and quality control. You will also assist the Consumer Studies team in kitchen practicals and provide general admin support, including scanning, shredding, printing and ensuring high printing quality for the academic team.

Qualifications

• Completed Grade 12.
• Minimum 2 years of laboratory experience and stock management.
• Minimum 2 years of administration experience.
• Relevant tertiary qualification (advantageous).
• Laboratory skills: prepare solutions, weigh chemicals, perform titrations.
• Strong computer literacy with MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Support Academic team to ensure smooth lab operations.
• Organise and catalogue equipment and chemicals.
• Assist with stock taking, quotations, placing orders, stock receipting.
• Maintain quality of goods and invoicing.
• Support Consumer Studies team for practicals in the kitchen.
• Provide general admin support (scanning, shredding, printing, stapling, printing quality).

Skills

MS Office proficiency

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Grade 12

Relevant tertiary qualification (administration)

Tools

Laboratory equipment management

Stock management

Job description

The Laboratory Assistant / Administrator is accountable to support the Academic team by ensuring the smooth running of the St John’s D.S.G. laboratories. He/she is responsible for providing a high level of service by ensuring that the laboratory equipment and resources are well looked after and are set up correctly for practicals / experiments, etc. as and when required. He/she will ensure organisation and cataloging of equipment and chemicals on an ongoing basis. He/she is also accountable to assist with stock take, obtaining quotations from suppliers, placing orders for stock, stock receipting / issuing, invoicing, and maintaining the quality of goods purchased for the laboratories. The Laboratory Assistant is also responsible for assisting the Consumer Studies team for all their practicals in the kitchen. The person in this role will also provide support to the team with general administration, scanning, shredding, printing, stapling and ensuring excellent printing quality for the academic team.

TO QUALIFY TO JOIN OUR SCHOOL AS A LABORATORY ASSISTANT / ADMINISTRATOR YOU WOULD:

• Have successfully completed Grade 12.
• Have min. 2 years of experience working in a laboratory and managing equipment and stock.
• Have min. 2 years of Administration experience.
• Have a relevant tertiary qualification, e.g. administration, etc. (advantageous).
• Have laboratory skills, e.g. being able to make up a solution of a given concentration; use a mass balance to weigh out chemicals; set up a titration, etc.
• Be fully computer literate and proficient using MS Office applications, e.g. Word, Excel, etc.
• Be engaging, honest, genuine, and kind.
• Have excellent teamwork, communication and collaboration skills.
• Have strong values that align to the Christian ethos of the school.
• Have a clear criminal clearance certificate.

OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE THAT YOU WOULD:

• Be highly organised.
• Have a strong attention to detail and work with a high level of accuracy.
• Be deadline-driven and self-led to manage your work outcomes effectively.
• Work with a customer service approach to support the academic team.

THE BENEFITS FOR YOU ARE THAT:

• You will work as a Laboratory Assistant / Administrator in a school with a positive, happy and supportive culture.
• You will have many opportunities to continue developing your skills.

Closing Date: 3pm on 21 October 2026

Position Available: 1st January 2027

St John’s D.S.G. reserves the right not to proceed with the filling of this post. An application will not in itself entitle the applicant to an interview or an appointment. Applicants who do not meet the requirements of the advertised post or who do not submit the application form and requested evidence, will automatically be disqualified from consideration. Applicants who have not been contacted after 6 weeks should take it that their application has not been successful.

St John’s D.S.G. is an equal opportunity employer. The School’s Employment Equity plan and targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. St John’s D.S.G. supports the recruitment of people with disabilities.

St John’s D.S.G., in line with POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act) will attempt to ensure the confidentiality of all applicants for this role. All reasonable measures will be in place to protect personal information but will be used in the recruitment, selection, and reporting process. By submitting your application for this position, you are recognising and accepting this disclaimer.