Job opportunities at the MRC

Co-Director (Drug Discovery)

Strategic Health Innovation Partnership
Head Office, Parow
2-year contract

The Strategic Health Innovation Partnership (SHIP) at the SA Medical Research Council (MRC) requires a suitably qualified and experienced scientist as Co-Director to manage and grow this initiative.

The primary goal of SHIP is the development and innovation of new drugs, vaccines, diagnostics and medical devices from discovery to proof of concept. The disease focus areas are currently HIV, TB, malaria, and cancer.  SHIP is an agile entity that attracts funding, establishes consortia of expertise within various research and development organisations, constructs the necessary contractual obligations and actively manages multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional product development partnerships.

This is a full time, 2 year contract position based at the MRC headquarters in Parow,
Cape Town.

The minimum requirements for this position are:

• PhD in the life-sciences.
• Greater than 5 years of international pharma-industry experience in health product development with emphasis on drug discovery and development.
• A proven track record of managing drug discovery project portfolios with evidence of successful outcomes.
• Proven track record of attracting national and international funding for product development initiatives.
• Experience in managing multidisciplinary teams on international projects.

The incumbent must be a self-motivated individual, able to work independently and willing to work flexible hours to ensure project portfolio goals are achieved. It will also be required of the incumbent to travel nationally and internationally.

For this two-year contract position, the MRC offers a total cost-to-company remuneration package will be negotiated in accordance with qualifications and experience.

Closing date: 20 December 2012

PLEASE QUOTE THE REFERENCE NUMBER R534 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF YOUR E-MAIL, CV AND ALL OTHER COMMUNICATIONS.

The MRC retains the right not to make an appointment and subscribes to the principles of Employment Equity.