Position Title: Director: Clinical Research Centre (CRC)

Requisition ID: 863

Department: Faculty of Health Sciences

City: Cape Town

DIRECTOR: CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTRE

(5-year renewable contract)

CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTRE

FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

The University of Cape Town Faculty of Health Sciences invites applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the vacant Director of the Clinical Research Centre (CRC) position. Based at Groote Schuur and Red Cross Hospitals, the Centre’s state-of-the-art research facilities, research support infrastructure and experienced team of highly qualified staff, have solidified its global reputation for the successful conduct of international standard, phase I-IV studies across a broad spectrum of disease areas. The Centre’s new Director will have the unique opportunity to work with the faculty’s highly productive Principal and Emerging Investigators to build on the Centre’s decade long record of excellence and expand its horizons. Terms for the successful candidate will include a renewable fixed-term 5-year contract post for 100% FTE for the first 2 years and 75% FTE from year 3 onwards (as the director will be expected to raise 25%FTE from studies on which they are PI).

The main purpose of this position is: to provide strategic leadership to the CRC to achieve its vision as a centre of excellence, that supports the Faculty of Health Sciences advance science and improve health in Africa, through excellent clinical research services, facilities and capacity to train emerging faculty investigators. The director should provide vision and strategy to improve current systems and/or implement new systems to enable long term financial sustainability, and to grow the research and training platform of the CRC and expand the reach and reputation of the CRC. The Director should develop, implement and deliver on this bold vision and strategy that realizes the potential for the CRC to be a recognized leader in clinical trials conduct and capacity development on the African continent.

The Director should be a strategic thinker experienced in leadership and management of clinical research units, a team leader to work with the CRC team and its clients and promote the CRC as a core research facility. The director should be knowledgeable about the conduct of the spectrum of clinical trials. Clients of the Centre include industry (pharmaceutical and devices) and clinical academics in the Faculty of Health Sciences, with government or regulatory bodies as potential partners. The director needs to understand the landscape of clinical research and grow a sustainable, competitive, and innovative enterprise. The director will lead, manage, and grow an efficient and dynamic team. The director will be based at the CRC and will establish and maintain a management committee that includes investigators doing research within the CRC. The director will bring studies into the CRC as PI that contribute to the running costs of the CRC.

Requirements:

Eligible to be a SAHPRA approved principal investigator on clinical trials by virtue of the following:
- Is a South African permanent resident or citizen
- Has participated in at least 2 clinical trials to completion as sub-investigator
- Is registered with the HPCSA as clinician with up-to-date SA GCP training
A minimum of 5 years’ experience in the clinical research environment (that includes either industry or investigator initiated clinical trials)
Experience with and sound knowledge of clinical trial protocol development and design
Experience of clinical research team management
Experience of Clinical Trial Research Financing
Proven academic and research stature, with commensurate publication track record.

Advantageous:

Prior experience as a Principal Investigator on clinical trials
Experience working at a strategic level with senior management in a university and /or research facility.
Business management qualification
Knowledge and experience of university systems and practices
Sound knowledge of the higher education/academic sector research environment

Short listed candidates who meet the requirements may be invited for interviews and probed for some of the following additional attributes:

Sound knowledge of the South African clinical trial regulatory environment
Evidence of solid teamwork and interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate well with clients, employees, and senior management and external stakeholders.
Evidence of strong business planning, analytical and conceptual skills
Exceptional team management skills, including the ability to effectively deploy resources and manage multiple projects of diverse scope
Ability to develop new system approaches to solve problems and seize opportunities for sustaining business success
Ability to exercise independent judgment
Creative problem-solving ability
Knowledge of principles and current trends in clinical trial ethics both nationally and internationally
Knowledge of national and international health research funding environment

Responsibilities:

Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, GCP and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), you will work with diverse clinical research teams and the Deputy Dean for Research to help ensure projects are delivered within budget and on time.

Key roles/responsibilities include in equal measures:

Managing strategic clinical research-related initiatives, especially with a view to improved research governance, financing, risk mitigation and sustainability in clinical research across the Faculty
Conducting, promoting and providing strategic advice on clinical research for FHS and UCT’s Research Office
Promoting clinical research in Health Sciences to external stakeholders & developing partnerships
Ensuring a sustainable competitive Clinical Research Facility.
Soliciting, scoping and applying for Clinical research funding opportunities

Other responsibilities related to these key roles would include:

Appropriate management of confidential information
Line management of staff

The annual cost of employment for 2025, including benefits, is as follows:

At Senior Lecturer level: Between R795 970 and R1 147 460

At Associate Professor Level: Between R941 135 and R1 378 741

At Professor Level: Between R1 091 660 and R1 694 867

For detailed information on this post, please view the job description on the following link: (view)

The level of appointment will be made at Professor, Associate Professor or Senior Lecturer level in alignment with the candidate’s current position, level of experience as well as the Faculty’s expectations for performance at each academic rank.

To apply, click the "apply" button to create a candidate profile and to submit your application.

Please complete/attach the following to your profile before submitting your application:

Curriculum Vitae (CV) including list of publications
Motivational letter that speaks to the requirements of the position and
Three referee names which must include their title and name, position details, relationship to you, their e-mail address and telephone number.
ID/Passport
Highest qualification

An application which does not comply with the above requirements will be regarded as incomplete.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to undergo competency and pre-placement-medical assessments. References may be requested by UCT at any stage of the selection process.

Any enquiries around the application process to be addressed to Ms Tracy Moore at tracy.moore@uct.ac.za or 021 650 5405. (please do not send cv’s)

Closing date: 29 January 2025

Website: www.crc.uct.ac.za

Reference number: ID863

UCT is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at https://uct.ac.za/media/9482.

UCT reserves the right not to appoint.