Medical Officer

Main purpose of the job:

• To provide medical leadership in support of clinical research activities, including providing clinical insight and direction for all aspects of clinical research (including, for example, screening and enrolment of study participants, oversight of data, and clinical research operations

Location:

• VIDA - Mafikeng Provincial Hospital – Northwest Province

Key performance areas:

Clinical Research Direction

• Strategic review and management of observational studies i.e. devising systems and processes to ensure effective and efficient study conduct in liaison with program and organization management
• Perform study-related procedures, blood draws, and nasopharyngeal aspirates/swabs on infants, young children, and adults, including other procedures as required

Project Management

• Plan, implement and complete the clinical research activities in accordance with Good Clinical Practice and Standard Operating Procedures
• Oversight of the Klebs II study in Mafikeng, ensuring the project is scoped, planned, budgeted, and executed according to protocol guidelines and relevant policies and procedures, with effective resource management and collaboration
• Collaborate with investigator/s and design projects in line with protocol requirements
• Project planning including timelines, budgets where applicable, deliverables, dependencies, and resource planning
• Manage teams and resources required including cross-functional inputs and teams/staff to effectively drive objectives and efficiency
• Implement, document, and track project deliverables and milestones including all administrative requirements
• Coordinate and conduct project-related training and skills assessments as well as provide site support in the case of multiple sites
• Organize and attend or lead meetings, presentations, and calls as required
• Drive all regular internal and external report preparation and delivery
• Collaborate and liaise effectively with colleagues and other departments towards effective and efficient project planning and delivery
• Identify areas for improvement in process flow and project management and collaborate with research leads/senior management to initiate and drive process improvements
• Take initiative and show ownership

Research & Academic development

• Support the development of long-term health sciences research including strategic planning and driving action plans with indicators
• Pursue own research interests consistent with the overall research agenda of the organization and in conjunction with the research leadership team
• Advise on the implementation of large multi-site research and dynamically contribute to new, relevant research questions
• Design, write, and submit or contribute to new proposals
• Oversee adequate and accurate filing of all study-related files
• Prepare for study closure and archiving
• Conduct some data analyses and prepare tables as required
• In conjunction with Study Managers and respective P.I. create and implement a sound Patient Retention Strategy (if required)
• Develop and implement required checklists e.g Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria and randomization Controls (where required)
• Ensure that donor compliance is met including procurement, timesheets, and all sponsor/donor reports
• Provide ad hoc support to department or functional team leads to ensure that project targets and goals are met
• Arrange site visits in conjunction with donors
• Compile and ensure review and submission of accurate, factual reports to the various stakeholders in line with relevant requirements
• Liaise with government departments and attend stakeholder meetings as required
• Operational finance records and stock management of the project
• Liaise with the maintenance and operations team to ensure the functionality of unit equipment and facilities
• Generate reports including but not limited to: Participant recruitment and retention rates; tracking follow-up reports; progress reports on compliance; data management oversight reports; study deliverables reports, and any reports required by investigators

Customer Service and Stakeholder Relations

• Build and maintain authentic, professional relationships and communicate effectively and efficiently with all internal and external stakeholders (suppliers, collaborators, researchers, donors, etc.)
• Train staff effectively; foster a practice of knowledge exchange and peer learning
• Manage internal and external stakeholder expectations and communicate appropriately with initiative and solutions
• Maintain a high standard of successful internal and external stakeholder relations (eg. negotiations, building productive relationships)
• Escalate issues appropriately, ensuring adequate discretion and risk management, and demonstrate integrated problem-solving
• Effectively manage work processes, the team, and relationships to maintain high levels of productivity

Staff Management

• Lead cross-functional teams to promote productivity within projects
• Work with management to empower and develop teams or individuals as skills needs or deficiencies are identified
• Foster an environment that promotes talent recognition, development as well as agency and individual leadership; promote harmony, teamwork, and sharing of information
• Mentor, coach, and facilitate personal and professional staff development wherever possible
• Ensure teams comply with policies, unit standards, and administrative and internal communications requirements; promote company policies, strategies, and values
• Manage staff effectively including accountability, performance, conduct, efficient working, processes, and corrective action as required
• Demonstrative effective delegation and decision-making

Effective self-management and performance ownership

• Take ownership and accountability for tasks & activities and demonstrate effective self-management
• Actively and consistently maintain high standards of professionalism in all aspects of personal presentation and delivery
• Apply knowledge of the organizational systems, structures, policies, and procedures to achieve results
• Follow through to ensure that productivity standards are consistently and accurately maintained and provide appropriate resolution for challenges
• Support and drive the organization’s core values
• Maintain a positive attitude and respond openly to feedback; manage your own disruptive emotions and stress
• Take ownership of driving your own career development

Required minimum education and training:

• MBChB/MBBCh Degree
• Ability to effectively report and conduct basic data and quality analyses using Microsoft Office programs

Required minimum work experience:

• At least 3 years of neonatal and/or pediatric clinical experience
• Must have reporting and presentation skills as well as some staff management experience

Desirable additional education, work experience, and personal abilities:

• Experience with research and project management and experience in a grant-funded research environment will be an advantage
• Post-graduate studies in Public Health or epidemiology or relevant desirable
• Understanding of research environment, regulatory and ethics, and Good Clinical Practice
• Grants management administration experience
• Project management skills and usage of relevant tools
• Quality assurance experience
• Ability to liaise with external stakeholders at all levels including community healthcare workers, government, funders, community partners, academic collaborators, and internal partners
• Strong networking and relationship-building ability
• Able to draft and review Standard Operating Procedures
• Advanced computer literacy including basic data presentation and quality
• Conflict management and problem-solving ability
• Attention to detail is critical

TO APPLY:

• Only if you do meet the minimum job requirements and experience as mentioned above, you may submit a detailed updated CV.
• Please Apply Online.
• Please take note that the applicants who do not adhere to the above criteria will not be considered for the respective position.
• The closing date for all applications: 10 May 2024.
• Note AJ Personnel is fully POPI compliant.
• Note WHC, in accordance with their Employment Equity goals and plan, will give preference to suitable applicants from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and subsequent amendments thereto.

Please note:

• AJ PERSONNEL is only responsible for the advertising of the advertisement on behalf of their client Wits Health Consortium.
• Wits Health Consortium will only respond to shortlisted candidates.
• Candidates who have not been contacted within two weeks of the closing date can consider their applications to be unsuccessful.
• AJ Personnel does not have any salary or other information regarding the position.