South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Project Coordinator Vacancy 2026

Opportunity Overview

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) invites applications for a Project Coordinator position based in Cape Town. This role falls within the Research Capacity Development (RCD) division and is offered as a 1-year contract.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing a portfolio of awards within SAMRC's RCD grant and career award programmes. This includes providing essential administrative support to the Programme Manager for all related grants and career award initiatives. The annual salary for this position is approximately R537,033.00, cost-to-company, and will be negotiated based on experience and qualifications.

Minimum Requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• A 3-year relevant tertiary qualification in a science discipline or a similar or higher qualification.
• At least 1 to 2 years of demonstrated experience in coordinating or managing projects and grants, indicating proven project management skills.
• A BSc Honours degree or equivalent in a biomedical science or a related discipline.
• Proven experience working in a public funding and/or research environment, or a similar setting, where you have managed or coordinated projects, grants, fellowships, or scholarships.
• A sound understanding of the public research environment and capacity development.

Key Responsibilities

The Project Coordinator will be responsible for the following core duties:

• Manage a portfolio of research capacity development grants and career development awards, ensuring effective pre- and post-award administration.
• Liaise with beneficiaries, host institutions, and key stakeholders to support programme implementation and compliance.
• Monitor progress of awards, review technical and financial reports, and provide recommendations to management.
• Coordinate grant disbursements, review meetings, and programme documentation.
• Facilitate the administration of funding opportunities, including Requests for Applications (RFAs), peer review processes, and award approvals.
• Support the preparation of funding agreements, award communications, and management reports.
• Collect, analyse, and report on programme outputs, achievements, and performance indicators.
• Coordinate stakeholder meetings, workshops, and events, including logistics, meeting documentation, and action tracking.
• Contribute to the development of reports, presentations, website content, and other stakeholder communication materials.
• Ensure accurate record-keeping and compliance with organisational policies, funding requirements, and governance processes.

How to Apply

To apply for this opportunity, please follow these steps:

• Visit the official SAMRC careers portal: https://samrcjobs.mcidirecthire.com/Vacancy/Application?parameters=q4%2F37VDQTFWXnK7wNIeCPbQkXdi9Dd0GNRLGGvC5Mtc%2BHMqXwxMSdEfz8tBzFcFapW110jR%2BZ1fS5o6wjdnT6nuA3vSeYIL5hp70%2FHBDFdHHIzKzpKyTUAhbrjHoKoAR8tdH6cTymxnzyCSMZkLudGe%2BIdZq%2BDQzBXCUtYeUGLNb7XbXj%2ByEx%2B%2B9ORbGsVK9qRMHvIAvcw070m2L0%2FMnI1tDv%2FqFiDfnsOPAz%2FPSWg%3D
• Complete the application process as instructed on the portal.

The closing date for applications is 1 September 2026.