Microbiologist/medical Scientist

**About the Company**:
TASK is a South African headquartered, multinational clinical research institute that conducts clinical trials to determine the treatment effects of novel medicinal products or devices in healthcare and offers services in conducting complex clinical trials in a wide variety of therapeutic areas.

TASK Laboratory comprises Bio-Safety Level 2 and 3 (BSL-2/3) laboratories, which performs testing for drug susceptible and drug resistant TB, using established diagnostic methods and new research platforms.

**Overall Purpose of the Position**:
**Key Performance Areas (KPAs) & Responsibilities include, but not limited to**:

- Liaising, planning, organising, and implementing all resistance testing according to the trial plan for each individual study conducted at TASK Laboratory and as per the guidance of the Head of Laboratory
- Training and developing staff to ensure they have the required skills to achieve performance objectives
- Overseeing asset management and procurement of goods specifically to MicAR to ensure the most effective utilization of resources, overseeing stock levels and their optimization and reducing costs where applicable
- Generating project specific validation, participant results and management reports as required to monitor work and performance status of MicAR projects and take corrective action when required
- Ensuring that good quality, timely results, and data is consistently produced
- Providing microbiological expertise, reviewing, and approving all laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs) relating to drug resistance testing and MICs
- Assisting in grant writing and acquiring funding and projects for scientific initiatives
- Enabling the laboratory to adhere to business standards, practices, procedures, and protocol requirements specifically for MicAR
- Ensuring that the quality management system of the lab is applied to all MicAR projects and continuously monitor adherence to this policy. Monitoring trends, identifying significant project risks and addressing potential problems before they occur

**Ideal Requirements**
- MSc or PhD in Microbiology or Biochemistry or a similar sciences qualification, with at least three to five years post-graduate work experience depending on qualifications and relevant experience
- Extensive experience in the set-up, optimization, and implementation of 96-well based assays essentials, with 96-well based MIC assays being advantageous
- Experience and skills in project management, from conceptualization to final result reporting
- Excellent working knowledge of BSL2/3 laboratories
- Knowledge of good clinical laboratory practice (GCLP) and Good Documentation Practice (GDP) guidelines and regulations
- Advantageous: Experience working in a clinical trial setting

**Key Personal Inherent Characteristics**
- Excellent planning and organising skills, with the ability to work systematically and sequentially
- Personal effectiveness and the ability to work in a pressurised environment, with strict adherence to timelines
- Must be very adaptable and flexible
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to train, monitor and mentor staff
- Competent in identifying obstacles or problems and implementing an appropriate action plan
- Ability and willingness to adapt working hours in response to the business needs which may change from time to time in response to operational requirements
- Entrepreneurial spirit with a willingness to drive expansion of MicAR tests offered by TASK Laboratory
- Leads by example in line with TASK’s culture.
- Must be willing to undergo routine training in sputum processing
- Willingness to pursue either a Ph.D. or Industry Post-Doc

**Details**:
Area: Parow, Cape Town

Contract Type: fixed term (approximately 5 years linked to funding)

Applications Close:08 June 2023
- TASK reserves the right to withdraw this advertisement and not fill the above-mentioned vacancy at any stage during the recruitment process._
- Meeting our employment equity goals will be acknowledged during the recruitment process._

**Job Types**: Full-time, Contract
Contract length: 60 months

Application Deadline: 2023/06/08