About the position
Background:
- Wits Health Consortium (Pty) Limited ("WHC") is a wholly-owned Company of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa) under its Faculty of Health Sciences
- WHC provides Faculty with a legal framework within which to operate the research and other activities necessary to support its academic objectives
- In addition, WHC offers a range of products and services to Academics
Division: Medical Entomology
Main purpose of the job:
- To support the SIT project through the management of the mosquito colonies in the mass rearing facility and associated satellite insectaries
Location:
Key performance areas:
- Maintain mosquito colonies according to standard operating procedures (SOPs)
- Monitor the correct temperature and relative humidity in the insectary according to standards operating procedures (SOPs)
- Identify problems that affect mosquito colony maintenance
- Report any challenges encountered in the mass rearing facility immediately to the production and Facility Manager
- Identify faulty equipment (larval rearing system, lightning system, HVAC system etc.)
- Ensure general tidiness/cleanliness in the mass rearing facility
- Ensure ants and other crawling, walking, flying or resting insects or spiders in the insectary are controlled
- Blood feed adult mosquitoes two times per week or as directed by immediate supervisor
- Prepare larval food according to SOP and ensure there is an adequate supply of larval food
- Prepare fresh sugar water tubes for adult mosquito cages twice a week or as directed by the immediate supervisor
- Disinfectant all equipment every 2 weeks and or as needed to prevent infection and contamination of colonies
- Assist with field work as and when requested
- Participate in SIT research project activities as and when required
Required minimum education and training:
Required minimum work experience:
- 1 years’ working experience
Desirable additional education, work experience and personal abilities:
- Experience in mosquito rearing of mosquitoes and general insectary upkeep an added advantage
- Good computer literacy and proficiency skills, computer software programs, including MS Word, Excel, and Redcap
- English and at least one additional local language fluency
- Possessing the ability to communicate in both written and spoken English is desirable
- Ability to work under pressure and able to work flexible hours (including working at night, public holidays and weekends) as and when needed
- Attention to detail, adaptable, intuitive and a willingness to learn is a must
- Strong leadership and decision-making skill
- Knowledge of the mosquito Sterile Insect Technique an advantage
TO APPLY:
- Only if you meet the minimum job requirements and experience as mentioned above, you may submit a detailed updated CV and a cover letter (maximum one page)
- Please Apply Online and complete your registration via our website to enable and protect you as a candidate, and to accept the new POPIA terms and conditions
- This will then create your permanent profile with which you can apply for all jobs as advertised by AJ PERSONNEL
- However, you may remove your profile from AJ PERSONNEL when you are no longer in the job market
- Please take note that the applicants who do not adhere to the above criteria will not be considered for the respective position
- Wits Health Consortium will only respond to shortlisted candidates
- Candidates who have not been contacted within two weeks of the closing date can consider their applications to be unsuccessful
- Closing date: 26 June 2026
- Note: No CV will be accepted after the closing date
Please note:
- WHC, in accordance with its Employment Equity goals and plan, will give preference to suitable applicants from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and subsequent amendments thereto
- AJ Personnel is only responsible for advertising and the response handling on behalf of their client Wits Health Consortium
- AJ Personnel does not have any salary or other information regarding the position
Desired Skills:
- Satellite Insectaries
- SOP
- Mosquito Colonies
- Research Project
- Insectary Technician
- Entomology
- Immediately
