Wits Health Consortium Internship 2026: Health Research Administration Opportunity in Johannesburg
A 12-month internship opportunity is available with Wits Health Consortium in Johannesburg for applicants with Grade 12, with no previous work experience required.
The role supports the Wits RHI Shandukani Research project and gives interns practical exposure to health research administration, participant coordination, finance reconciliation, procurement, meeting support, records management and day-to-day operational services.
Applications close on 10 November 2026.
Who can apply?
Applicants need:
- Grade 12 / Matric
A tertiary qualification would be advantageous.
No previous work experience is required.
What will you do during the internship?
The intern will support the administration and operational activities of the Shandukani Research project.
You can expect to assist with:
- Research administration
- Participant records
- Meeting coordination
- Procurement records
- Reimbursements
- Finance reconciliation
- IT and facilities queries
- Stationery distribution
- Event support
- Document management
- General office administration
The role provides broad exposure to the operational systems that support a research environment.
How will you support research participants?
Participant administration is an important part of the role.
You may need to:
- Welcome participants
- Identify participant needs
- Direct participants to the correct projects
- Check co-enrolment status
- Capture participant information
- Verify identity documents
- Copy and file identity documents
- Update locator information
- Process participant reimbursements
Because this work involves personal information, confidentiality and accuracy are especially important.
Will you work with financial records?
Yes. The internship includes practical exposure to basic financial administration.
You may assist with:
- Reconciling financial records with Wits Health Consortium Finance
- Reconciling participant reimbursements
- Comparing reimbursements with milestone visits
- Requesting supplier quotations
- Costing participant refreshments
- Supporting purchasing activities
This gives interns useful exposure to financial controls within a health research environment.
What procurement work is involved?
You may support procurement processes by:
- Recording procurement orders
- Requesting supplier quotes
- Maintaining supporting records
- Costing purchases
- Assisting with stationery orders
- Supporting refreshment purchasing
Attention to detail is important because purchasing and financial records need to remain accurate.
Will you help coordinate meetings and training?
Yes. You may help coordinate:
- Team meetings
- Training sessions
- Events
You may also assist with:
- Taking minutes
- Projecting meeting content
- Sharing information with staff
- Following up on administrative actions
Strong organisational and communication skills will be useful.
What facilities and IT support will you provide?
The role includes logging operational issues that affect the workplace.
This may involve:
- Logging IT queries
- Logging maintenance issues
- Reporting air-conditioning problems
- Reporting ventilation issues
- Reporting asset-related problems
- Following up on facilities challenges
The intern will not necessarily repair these systems, but will help make sure issues are recorded and directed to the correct support teams.
What records will you maintain?
You may work with records relating to:
- Procurement
- Participant information
- Identity documents
- Reimbursements
- Finance
- Meetings
- Facilities
- IT queries
- Stationery
Good filing and record keeping are important because the project relies on accurate administrative information.
What skills are important?
Useful skills include:
- Organisation
- Administration
- Microsoft Office
- Confidentiality
- Professionalism
- Initiative
- Decision-making
- Assertiveness
- Confidence
- Adaptability
- Self-management
- Teamwork
You should also be able to work independently while contributing to a multidisciplinary team.
Will you need to handle confidential information?
Yes. The role includes participant records, identity documents and financial information.
You must therefore be able to:
- Maintain confidentiality
- Exercise discretion
- Handle information professionally
- Keep records accurate and secure
What type of environment will you work in?
The internship supports Wits RHI Shandukani Research in Johannesburg.
You may work with research staff, administrative teams, finance staff, participants, suppliers and facilities or IT support teams.
This makes the internship relevant to applicants interested in healthcare administration, research operations and project support.
What are the internship details?
Organisation: Wits Health Consortium
Project: Wits RHI Shandukani Research
Reference: UM 40-2026Position: Intern
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Contract duration: 12 months
Minimum qualification: Grade 12 / Matric
Experience required: None
Closing date: 10 November 2026
What documents do you need?
Applicants need:
- A detailed CV
- A cover letter of no more than one page clearly stating the vacancy being applied for
How do you apply?
Applications must be submitted by email to:
The email subject line must read:
UM 40-2026: Intern
Before applying, make sure your CV highlights your computer literacy, organisational ability, Microsoft Office knowledge, communication skills and any academic or volunteer experience involving administration, finance, events or record keeping.
