Project Manager (Research) (TB01416) (Re-Advertisement)

Apply by: 17 November 2026

Research Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate and monitor multiple research projects from initiation to completion. Develop project plans, monitor milestones, manage risks, coordinate project meetings, and ensure timely achievement of project deliverables.
• Coordinate day-to-day research activities, maintain project documentation, prepare project reports, ensure compliance with institutional policies and funder requirements, and facilitate communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Assisting internal individuals/staff members with research related activities. This includes the communication, administration, and deliverables of all research-related activities.
• Prepare and contribute to scientific manuscripts, technical reports, annual reports, funder reports, ethics reports, conference abstracts and other research outputs. Assist with the dissemination of research findings.

Administrative Support

• Manage documentation related to research projects, grants, and research protocols.
• Maintain accurate filing systems, organise meetings and workshops, prepare agendas and minutes, coordinate travel arrangements, and perform other administrative duties related to research project management.
• Maintain organised records of academic publications, presentations, and project-related materials, including the capturing of research outputs on the InfoEd database.
• Prepare and monitor project budgets, process financial transactions, reconcile project expenditure, monitor available funds, prepare financial reports, and ensure compliance with NWU financial policies.
• Manage project finances using the Kuali Financial System, including requisitions, purchase orders, payments, financial reporting, and budget monitoring. Ensure accurate financial records are maintained.
• Administrative support of interns, master's students, doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows. 

Communication and Collaboration

• Facilitate communication among research team members, collaborators, and academic departments.
• Liaise with funders, collaborating institutions, healthcare facilities, university support services and other stakeholders to facilitate effective implementation of research projects.
• Contribute to the development of communication strategies to disseminate research findings.

Resource Management 

• Coordinate procurement of research equipment and consumables, obtain quotations, liaise with suppliers, monitor deliveries, and ensure procurement complies with university procedures.
• Coordinate the allocation and utilisation of resources for research projects, including personnel, equipment, and facilities.

Quality Assurance

• Implement and uphold academic and ethical standards in research practices.
• Coordinate ethics applications, amendments and renewals. Monitor compliance with research governance requirements, institutional policies and funder regulations.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for research projects and processes of the research entity, such as scientific review and postgraduate student processes.
• Monitor project progress against timelines, budgets and deliverables. Compile progress reports, identify implementation risks, recommend corrective actions and ensure continuous quality improvement.

Compliance

• Ensure that all activities and documents adhere to university policies, regulatory requirements, and ethical standards.

Leadership and Team Coordination

• Coordinate and supervise research support staff, interns and postgraduate students. Allocate responsibilities, monitor performance, facilitate communication, promote teamwork, and contribute to the achievement of research programme objectives.
• Coordinate and support interns, honours, Master's, doctoral and postdoctoral fellows. Monitor progress, provide project-related guidance, coordinate training activities, and facilitate research capacity development initiatives.

• A master’s degree in Nursing (NQF Level 9).
• Certificate in Project Management within the field of Nursing and Midwifery/Healthcare.
• Professional registration with the South African Nursing Counsil (SANC).
• A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in academic research project management within the field of Nursing and Midwifery/Healthcare, including the coordination of large, externally funded nursing research projects, preparation and submission of annual progress and financial reports to the National Research Foundation (NRF) and other external funders, and coordination of multidisciplinary research teams and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• A minimum of two (2) years demonstrated experience in the financial management of research projects with budgets exceeding R3 million, including budget development, financial administration, expenditure monitoring, forecasting, reconciliation, and financial reporting in accordance with institutional and funder requirements.
• A minimum of one (1) year practical experience using Kuali Financial System.
• A minimum of one (1) year experience coordinating and supervising interns, Masters and PhD students and Post-Doctoral fellows.

KEY FUNCTIONAL/ TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:

• Experience with academic databases and literature review processes.
• Familiarity with academic research software and data management tools, including REDCap, Covidence, EndNote and SPSS.
• Proficiency in Microsoft office and cloud-based storage system.
• Experience working or researching in the areas of nursing science.
• Experience with grant and proposal writing
• Experience in providing project management and administrative support to external funded projects
• Knowledge of academic publishing and research dissemination, including an understanding of transformative agreements between the university and publishing houses, journal accreditation, DHET subsidiary and the InfoEd database.
• Experience coordinating national or multi-site research projects in nursing and midwifery, including establishing and facilitating relationships between researchers and external stakeholders (e.g., hospitals), promoting knowledge translation and implementation of various research and community engagement projects.
• Knowledge on policies relating to student administration, finances and policies regarding the research environment.
• Knowledge of university financial policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of university procurement and supply chain processes.
• Experience of writing and publication of scientific publications as lead and co-author in high impact national and international accredited journals.
• Conduct systematic reviews (SR) for publication in accredited journals as part of the SR teams.

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and team coordination skills.
• Strong conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
• Strong decision-making and accountability skills.
• Ability to work independently while fostering collaboration within multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to delegate tasks and monitor progress effectively.