Administration Officer: Contracts and Budgets

South African Medical Research Council

2026/05/27 Cape Town

Job Reference Number: R939A

Department: Mental Health, Alcohol, Substance Use and Tobacco Research Unit

Industry: Office Support

Job Type: Permanent

Positions Available: 1

Market Related

The Mental Health, Alcohol, Substance Use and Tobacco Research Unit (MAST RU) is looking for an Administration Officer: Contracts and Budgets to manage all administrative aspects of contractual grants, legal, financial tasks and research compliance activities within the unit.

• Managing the processing of local and international project contracts submitted to the Project Officer in the Contracts & Budgets Office and thereafter to the Legal Office for review and approval, then to the CEO for signing.
• Ensuring that project budgets adhere to the requirements of Contracts & Budgets and that spending is compliant with PMFA requirements.
• Monitoring expenditure on a monthly basis on all baseline and contract projects to ensure that spending does not exceed available funding and ensuring that funders are invoiced in a timely fashion.
• Preparing spreadsheets for Finances to ensure that contract staff salaries are drawn down from their respective projects on a monthly basis according to the time spent on each project.
• Reporting any deviations to the unit director in terms of problems related to the signing of contracts, overspending on projects, non-payment by funders, failure of projects directors to submit documentation regarding ethical compliance or other research integrity matters in a timely fashion.
• Provide administrative support to the Unit Director and take a lead role in preparing sections of the unit's annual report, budget application, financial reports, quarterly Research Outputs, and the 5-yearly external unit review application.
• Assist all staff in all MAST RU offices with the procurement system when ordering or purchasing supplies/equipment/consultancy services/sole suppliers and the tendering process for different projects.

• A salary in the region of R 624,773 cost to company will be negotiated in accordance with qualifications and experience.

• 3 years tertiary qualification, including a National Diploma or Degree, preferably in Business Administration, Project Management, Finance or a related field.
• 3 - 5 years of experience of Administrative and Financial Work in a science / research environment (e.g., Grants Management and Administrative, Financial Support to a research unit).
• Knowledge of research governance and compliance requirements.

• Post-graduate certification or qualification in Project Management, Finance, or Business Administration.
• 5+ Years' experience in Administration and/or Finance, preferably in a Science Environment (Grants Management and Administrative, Financial Support to a Research Unit).

• 4 June 2026