Manager: Research Ethics (Social, Behavioural and Education Research)/Bestuurder: Navorsingsetiek (Sosiale, Gedrags- en Opvoedkundige Navorsing) needed at Stellenbosch University

Duties
Policy and guideline development and management

• Developing, revising, and implementing SU research ethics policies and guidelines for Social, Behavioural, and Education Research, aligning with national and international research ethics standards.
• Drafting, revising and implementing the REC: SBE Terms of Reference and Standard Operating Procedures and other guidelines related to the REC: SBE process.

Research Ethics Committee (REC) and sub-committee management

• Overseeing the day-to-day operations of the REC: SBE and its sub-committees.
• Managing online application and review processes for research ethics submissions.
• Recruiting, training, and supporting REC members.
• Providing support and expert advice to REC: SBE sub-committees.
• Preparing management reports on REC: SBE applications.

Researcher support and consultation

• Providing expert advice to researchers and REC members on ethics principles, regulations, and REC procedures.
• Offering guidance on complying with institutional and national ethics requirements.
• Developing and maintaining templates, resources, and help guides for researchers.

External engagement and representation

• Representing the REC: SBE on regional, national, and international platforms.
• Liaising with other RECs, Research Management functions, and support divisions.
• Managing annual reporting and engagement with the National Health Research Ethics Council and the Senate Research Ethics Committee.

Awareness and training

• Raising awareness about responsible research with human participants.
• Coordinating training events and workshops for researchers, REC members and its sub-committees.

Risk management and Quality Assurance

• Coordinating active monitoring of high-risk research.
• Coordinating investigations into possible instances of non-compliance.
• Coordinating process audits of Departmental and Faculty Ethics Screening Committees.
• Acting as contact person for queries on participant rights and queries on research approved by the REC: SBE.

Staff management

• Managing and developing staff members within the immediate reporting line.

Job Requirements   

• A postgraduate qualification in the Social Sciences or a related field (minimum level NQF level 8), with at least seven years’ experience in the coordination/management of a Human   Research Ethics Committee in a Higher Education/Research environment,
• OR a postgraduate qualification (minimum of NQF level 9) in the Social Sciences or a related field, with at least five years’ experience in the coordination/management of a Human 
• Research Ethics Committee in a Higher Education/Research environment.
• Expert-level knowledge and practical application of the National Health Research Ethics Council’s (NHREC) Guidelines, including compiling annual reports for the NHREC.
• Demonstrated understanding of research ethics and its application to qualitative and quantitative research approaches.
• Advanced experience with Infonetica’s ERM system or another online ethics review management system.
• A strong work ethic with a demonstrated ability to work with minimal supervision and independently prioritise a very high-volume workload.
• Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills with a proven ability to deliver difficult messages and take decisive actions with diplomacy and tact.
• Advanced computer literacy with experience in online ethics review management.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• The ability to maintain confidentiality.