Job Description

SENIOR BIOSTATISTICIAN 

ONE (1) YEAR FIXED-TERM CONTRACT

DTHF HEADQUARTERS, CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE

The Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF) is a registered non-profit organisation focused on the pursuit of excellence in research, treatment, training and prevention of HIV and related infections in Southern Africa. 

We have fantastic job opportunities across our businesses for talented people wanting to realize their full potential. Could that be you? If so, we invite you to explore the possibility of joining us to play your part in Desmond Tutu Health Foundations’ exciting future.

The main purpose of this position is to provide bio-statistical support to our HIV vaccine and data science programmes. The incumbent will support HIV vaccine trial protocol development and will be responsible for statistical and data science oversight, including preparation of a statistical analysis plan. As a second component, this person will join an experienced data systems team and will contribute to programmatic data analyses on the rollout of HIV prevention methods in South Africa.

The term of this position may be extended based on available funding.

Job Requirements

• Masters in Biostatistics or Statistics
• 3 - 5 years biostatistical experience post-degree
• 3 - 5 years of experience in managing large datasets and calibrating data using statistical modelling techniques.
• At least 2 years experience analyzing data from clinical trial studies.
• MUST have expertise with statistical software packages, such as STATA, SAS, R-studio or Python.
• Experienced in implementing independent data analysis projects and running them to completion.
• Experienced working in an environment that involves the application of public health principles.
• Must have proven record in dissemination of research study results where contribution was as study biostatistician (i.e., peer reviewed manuscripts and conference abstracts).
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Comfortable managing relationships with high-level stakeholders and senior leadership
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and deliver high quality work
• Very organized, self-motivated and effective in delivering on set objectives for the project
• Effective team building and teamwork skills
• Detail-orientation with the ability to identify and implement creative solutions.
• Must be willing to live in Cape Town and work predominately office-based

Advantageous:

• PhD in Biostatistics, Statistics or other related field or currently engaged in PhD programme
• Experience with HIV vaccine and prevention trials
• Biostatistician on a Wellcome Trust, Gates Foundation, NIH, EDCTP or SAMRC funded study
• Experience with novel methods of analysing programmatic data, like emulated target trial designs
• Experience with PowerBI reporting
• Experience leading teams of junior analysts and statisticians.
• Knowledge of POPI Act and its impact on data collection, management and sharing.
• Technical Project Management knowledge and skills
• Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certification

Responsibilities:

• Provide expertise in study design, evaluation of study protocols, management of large datasets, questionnaires, survey methods and statistical analysis.
• Engage with study leads/ senior researchers during grant development to ensure appropriate study design and statistical methodologies
• Engage with study leads/ senior researchers during project implementation process to develop data plans for study implementation.
• Provide consultation and support to site data managers during the database development process to ensure that databases are tailored to meet study requirements and statistical analysis needs.
• Monitor and routinely review datasets collected to ensure consistency and completeness, and appropriateness of database.
• Undertake data transformation, merging, and reshaping to prepare clean, analysis-ready datasets for clinical trials and biostatistical modeling.
• Conduct biostatistical/analytical modelling as required.
• Support analyses and presentation of data required for Data Safety and Monitoring Board reviews
• Develop additional Data Science Skills required to undertake analyses.
• Build appropriate research collaborations within & outside DTHF

Values fit:  Passion Innovation Progress Integrity Respect Excellence

Submit a detailed cover letter, updated CV with certified copy of highest qualification and details of three (3) current contactable referees by 27 October 2026. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

If you have not heard from us within four weeks after the closing date, please consider your application as unsuccessful.

We are committed to equity in our employment practices. It is our intention to appoint individuals with the aim of meeting our equity objectives. We reserve the right not to appoint if no suitable candidates are identified.

I understand and accept that by applying for this position, I authorized DTHF to process my personal information in accordance with its internal operational requirements.

I further understand that the personal information I disclose to DTHF will be processed in accordance with the requirements set out in the Protection of Personal Information Act and may include the transferring thereof to third parties for the purposes of verification.

This job may be removed before it expires.

Desmond Tutu Health Foundation is a child-friendly organisation committed to the protection of children.

For more information about the organization please visit our website.