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Company: National Research Foundation
Location: South Africa
Closing Date: 16 July 2026
Are you an organized administrative professional looking to advance your career within a world-class scientific organization? The National Research Foundation (NRF) and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) have an exciting opening for a permanent Administration Officer in Cape Town, Western Cape.
SARAO is driving South Africa’s strategic investments in radio astronomy, including the iconic Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project. If you have excellent office management skills, great attention to detail, and the ability to work independently, this could be your next big career move.
Job Overview
- Position: Administration Officer
- Employer: National Research Foundation (NRF) / SARAO
- Location: Cape Town, Western Cape
- Contract Type: Permanent
- Job Level: Skilled / Middle Management
- Closing Date: 16 July 2026
Key Responsibilities
As an Administration Officer at SARAO, you will provide vital administrative support to the Compute Infrastructure group and SARAO employees. Your day-to-day duties will include:
- Daily Administration: Handling filing, data entry, record-keeping, and maintaining both electronic and hard copy document management systems.
- Calendar & Meetings: Managing calendars, scheduling appointments, coordinating meetings, taking meticulous meeting minutes, and circulating them to participants.
- IT Helpdesk Liaison: Handling Business IT calls and IT Helpdesk emails, and allocating tickets to Engineers within the Compute Infrastructure team.
- Logistics & Procurement: Coordinating travel arrangements, accommodation, venue bookings, and catering for staff meetings and workshops.
- Office Maintenance: Collaborating with the IT department to ensure meeting room equipment (internet, projectors, printers) is fully functional before panel meetings.
- Financial Admin: Obtaining quotes, processing purchase orders, verifying invoices, and tracking office expenditure and audit documents for KPIs via Google Drive.
Job Requirements
To be considered for this permanent position, applicants must meet the following minimum criteria:
Qualifications & Experience
- A Diploma in Office Management or a relevant field.
- A minimum of 2 years’ relevant working experience in Office Administration, Inventory Management, and Diary Management.
- Practical exposure to PFMA Procurement regulations is required.
Knowledge & Technical Skills
- Strong practical knowledge of office management and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Excellent computer literacy and strong writing/editing skills for documentation.
Core Competencies
- Proven ability to multi-task, self-motivate, and manage time effectively.
- Exceptional communication skills (experience dealing with scientific environments is desirable).
- Absolute commitment to maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive information.
How to Apply for NRF SARAO Vacancies
If you meet the requirements and want to join the NRF SARAO team, follow the official application procedure below:
- Prepare Your Documents: You must submit a comprehensive CV accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating your suitability for the position.
- References: Provide the names and contact details of at least three referees.
- Submit Online: Log on to the NRF portal at https://ess.nrf.ac.za/Account/Recruitment to complete your application online.
