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**:
The Medical Scientist plans, organises and oversees all testing and resulting for studies and projects conducted at the lab. The Medical Scientist serves as the liaison between the Laboratory and Sponsors, Science Office, collaborators, and funding bodies, to warrant that work is conducted according to the need of each individual project, is in line with the laboratory’s capabilities and as guided by the Head of Laboratory. The Medical Scientist will be responsible for managing the transition from GenoType to FluoroType Assays to allow TASK Laboratory to continue to operate.

The Medical Scientist (BBA) will be required to establish MBL assays within reasonable time as a TASK Laboratory Specialist Technique (TLST), which will be managed by the Medical Scientist (BBA) as a unique specialist service. The Medical Scientist (BBA) will be required to identify and pursue funding opportunities for further capacity development to establish and maintain service provision sustainability and will be required to explore commercialisation of this specific service sector.

**Key Performance Areas (KPAs) & Responsibilities include, but not limited to**:

- Liaising, planning, organising and implementing all bacterial load quantification and related 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 MBLAs and other nucleic acid quantification/characterization processes 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 MBLA projects and takin corrective action when required
- Ensuring that good quality, timely results, and data is consistently produced
- Providing microbiological expertise, reviewing, and approving laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs) relating to MBLAs and related assays
- 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 bacterial load quantification
- Ensuring that the quality management system of the lab is applied to all nucleic acid quantification and characterization projects and continuously monitor adherence to this policy. Monitoring trends, identifying significant project risks and address potential problems before they occur

**Ideal Requirements**
- MSc or PhD in Microbiology, Genetics or Biochemistry or a similar sciences qualification, with three to five years post-graduate work experience depending on qualifications and relevant experience
- Extensive experience in the set-up, optimization, and implementation of qPCR assays essential, with 16S RNA quantification and analyses being most 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 timeline
- 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 MBLAs and other nucleic acid quantification/characterization to offer as tests by TASK Laboratory
- Leads by example in line with TASK’s culture
- Must be willing to undergo training in sputum processing

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

Contract Type: fixed te