Manager Translational Research
Listing reference: sanbs_002878
Listing status: Online
Apply by: 30 July 2025
Position summary
Industry: Non-Profit & Voluntary Sector
Job category: Medical Research and Laboratory Sciences
Location: Roodepoort
Contract: Permanent
Business Unit: Constantia Kloof
Remuneration: R 1,167,990.00
EE position: No
Introduction
The Manager Translational Research is responsible for overseeing/managing the Translational Research Team to ensure SANBS-associated research are compliant with regulatory and ethical requirements. This position will focus on enhancing research capacity in support of SANBS strategic initiatives and provide advanced statistical and analytic expertise. Working towards establishing SANBS as a Centre of excellence, the Manager Translational Research must identify and pursue high-quality internal and external research collaborations and research initiatives and drive dissemination of research output in appropriate peer-reviewed publications and relevant scientific meetings.
Job description
KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS (KPAS)
KPA 1: Business Planning and Implementation Relating to Translational Research
KPI
1.1 Compile Translational Research Business Plan and collaborate with Senior Manager Translational Research and Cellular Therapy and relevant stakeholders to collate into a business plan for the Translational Research and Cellular Therapy department aligned with the SANBS Mission and Vision, with supporting budget and resource requirements which includes revenue generation.
1.2 Review, develop and implement Translational Research specific policies, procedures, strategies and standards related to research to accomplish the Vision and Mission of SANBS and the department, comply with legislative requirements and maintain quality standards of blood transfusion research practice throughout SANBS.
1.3 Develop the departmental budget. Monitor budget expenses for specified projects and ensure targets and deadlines are met.
1.4 Design and execute project management processes and methodologies to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget, adhere to high-quality standards, and benefit the investigative teams by ensuring smooth implementation of new research projects from conception through study activation.
1.5 Collaborate with internal and external investigators to help meet targets and milestones (ensure timely and accurate submission to SRC, HREC/IRB’s, funders and contract managers) and coordinate with the Senior Manager on site remediation, outreach, presentations, and website content management.
1.6 Develop appropriate reporting metrics, collect data and submit reports within the specified timeframe.
1.7 Collaborate with other Divisions in SANBS (such as the Operations, Marketing and ICT as required) to synergise integrated outcomes.
KPA 2: Customer and Stakeholder Relationship Building
KPI
2.1 Actively identify and manage strategic internal partnerships that build, support and expand the research and development programme aligned to the strategic objectives.
2.2 Build and sustain collaborative relationships with individuals in different divisions and serve as subject-matter expert in the field of biostatistical analysis for research teams, internal and external committees and other constituencies and collaborators.
2.3 Collaborate with internal and external investigators/collaborators to utilise SANBS’s data assets ensuring regulatory compliance and data sharing security.
2.4 Support research collaboration through data availability assessment, collection and preparation, analysis plans and result reporting; advise as to the appropriateness of statistical analysis strategies, reliability of measurements and identifiability of models, and interpretation and presentation of statistical results.
2.5 Author or co-author reports, abstracts and manuscripts for peer review on collaborations.
2.6 Review abstracts, manuscripts and scientific presentations to be submitted for peer review in scientific forums.
KPA 3: Analytics
KPI
3.1 Consults with investigators or collaborators on goals for research proposal or analytics requests.
3.2 Assess source data availability/eligibility, relevant to Research or Operational Analytics Request.
3.3 Profile the data to discover gaps and ascertain suitability, reliability, completeness and validity of data to address research analysis or propose alternative analysis plans.
3.4 Create analytic data sets suitable for analytics by cleansing, transforming, integrating and preparing for targeted analysis.
3.5 Perform analytics by using suitable software, methods and techniques. Interpret the results to create insights and communicate it effectively to internal and external stakeholders.
3.6 Compile, present and propose appropriate courses of action based on research outcomes for Exco deliberation and decision making.
3.7 Assists/co-authors in the preparation of reports, protocols, investigator brochures, scientific abstracts, peer-reviewed manuscripts, and responses to requests from regulatory agencies, local Institutional Review Board, and other health authorities.
3.8 Communicate research outcomes to relevant stakeholders and obtain buy-in to improve our value proposition.
KPA 4: Improving Process Integration in the Translational Research Area
KPI
4.1 Oversee the implementation of the SANBS research agenda and framework, which includes but is not limited to training and mentorship of SANBS staff members up to executive level.
4.2 Plan and execute the management of the requisite resources, including people, funding, partners, facilities and infrastructure that enable the creation of a supportive environment for high-quality and relevant research training and development.
4.3 Oversee the development and delivery of research training modules by the Translational Research unit in collaboration with business units and/or external stakeholders through conceptualisation, design, inception, and development to handover to the relevant business function or external stakeholder.
4.4 Oversee the implementation and management of the required infrastructure to support the research program.
4.5 Oversee the management of post-graduate research programmes to ensure the induction orientation of Masters, Doctoral and post-Doctoral staff members.
KPA 5: Quality Assurance and Compliance to relevant Standards and Regulations
KPI
5.1 Ensure all Translational Research related policies, protocols and procedures comply with regulatory and ethical requirements and are reviewed as per Quality Review schedule.
5.2 Develop Translational Research related policies, protocols and procedures if a gap is identified.
5.3 Ensure all aspects of the research value chain comply with the relevant regulations, internal and external standards, guidelines and policies.
5.4 Provide support to /participate in the activities of the Blood Safety, Scientific Review and Human Research Ethics Committees.
5.5 Provide viral surveillance feedback at the Annual Blood Safety meeting.
5.6 Oversee the development and implementation of systems to ensure that all research requirements are complied with.
5.7 Effective participation in national and international initiatives relating to the setting of standards and policy development.
KPA 6: Aligned People Management
KPI
6.1 Recruit the appropriate team to run the unit in line with the employment equity targets of the SANBS.
6.2 Create development plans for staff.
6.3 Conduct performance management and monitor performance on an on-going basis through mentoring, coaching, and reviews.
6.4 Advise and mentor individual team members on performance improvement tactics following the performance management process.
6.5 Track and encourage individual development by identifying learning and development needs and encouraging attendance of relevant programmes.
6.6 Respond to grievances, conflict and disciplinary issues and take appropriate actions in accordance with SANBS policies to mitigate.
6.7 Effectively communicate any changes to strategy, values, SOPs, and policy to the team and clarify any misunderstandings.
6.8 Monitor and track staff time-keeping, absenteeism trends, overtime worked and leave to ensure adherence to HR policy for the cost-effective running of the department.
6.9 Promote team interrelations through regular team-building exercises.
Competencies
Cognitive
- Judgement and Decision Making
- Analytical Thinking and Attention to Detail
- Problem Solving
- Holistic / Big Picture Thinking
- Innovative thinking
Personal
- Excellence Orientation
- Ethical Behaviour
- Personal Development
- Assertiveness
- Resilience
- Stress Management
- Independent action / self-motivation
- Flexibility / Adaptability
Interpersonal
- Customer Service Orientation
- Communication and Story Telling
- Knowledge Sharing
- Teamwork
- Conflict Management
- Relationship Building
- Organisational Awareness
Prof. technical
- Business and Financial Acumen
- Process engineering / Systems Competence
Technical Skills/ Competencies:
- Statistical software, methods and techniques.
- Best Practice Thinking.
- Project management
- Research methodologies
- Ethics and compliance
Leadership
- Motivating people
- Participative leadership
- Practical execution management
Minimum requirements
Education
- Masters degree specialising in health analytics, biostatistics, information management or data sciences
- Managerial qualification will be advantageous
Experience and knowledge requirements
- A minimum of 3 years managerial experience overseeing staff
- Demonstrated experience in epidemiology and biostatistics using relational databases and large datasets of 5 years
- Demonstrated experience in data management, analytics and results interpretation
- Technical expertise in statistical software, methods and techniques to extract, transform, analyse and interpret research data
- Knowledge of decision sciences (statistics, mathematics, machine learning and data mining).
Other (knowledge and skills),
- Sound Business knowledge / subject matter expertise and soft skills such as scientific presentations, communicating analytics results and scientific manuscript writing.
- Innovative visualization of results.
Special Circumstances
- Overtime as and when required
- National / International travel as required, including overnight stays
- Driver’s license required
- Experience in data extraction and preparation
- Experience in biomedical statistical analysis
- Experience in statistical analysis software
- Position may be fulfilled by a person with physical disability, visual impairment excluded.
