Sanele Qondani
Aquaculture, Zoology
Gansbaai
Summary
A meticulous and proactive Research Administration professional with over 5 years of experience in end-to-end research project management and stakeholder liaison within a scientific R&D environment. Holds an MSc (NQF 9) and possesses proven skills in data management, monitoring & evaluation (M&E), and compliance. Seeking the Liaison Officer role to apply my knowledge of the research lifecycle and strong administrative skills to support the NRF’s Next Generation Researchers section in achieving its strategic goals.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
R&D Technician (Supervisory Role)
I&J Aquaculture (Pty) Ltd
03.2024 - Current
- Provided leadership and deployed a team of 6, conducting performance reviews and corrective actions to meet project objectives.
- Managed quality assurance and compliance for all R&D operations, coordinating internal/external audits and resolving compliance queries.
- Compiled and analysed experimental performance data, creating detailed reports with actionable recommendations for management.
- Served as key liaison for regulatory bodies (e.g., DFFE), ensuring all activities met national standards.
Research and Development Officer
HIK Abalone Farm (Pty) Ltd
04.2019 - 02.2024
- Managed the end-to-end lifecycle of multiple research projects, from initiation and planning to final reporting, ensuring strategic alignment.
- Grant & Financial Administration: Co-supervised and managed budgets for postgraduate (Honours/Masters) students. Created POs, procured consumables, and maintained strict financial control to prevent overspending, providing direct input to budget processes.
- Stakeholder Liaison: Acted as primary liaison for external researchers and academics, advising on farm protocols and coordinating all communication and activities between researchers and management.
- Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting: Extracted and analysed data from the ABSTOCK database, performed quality control, and prepared comprehensive outcomes reports to demonstrate project impact to senior management.
Internship
HIK Abalone Farm (Pty) Ltd
10.2016 - 02.2017
Education
Master of Science - Zoology
Walter Sisulu University
01.2020
Master of Science - Zoology
Walter Sisulu University
01.2020
Honours Bachelor of Science - Zoology
Walter Sisulu University
01.2016
Bachelor of Science - Biological Sciences
Walter Sisulu University
01.2014
National Senior Certificate - undefined
D.Z Dumezweni S.S.S.
01.2009
Skills
Stakeholder Liaison & Communication: Researcher Support, Institutional Liaison, Reviewer Coordination, Customer-Centric Query Resolution, Workshop & Meeting Support
Project & Data Management: Performance Monitoring (KPIs), Data Extraction & Compilation, Database Management (ABSTOCK), Quality Assurance, Report Drafting
Timeline
R&D Technician (Supervisory Role)
I&J Aquaculture (Pty) Ltd
03.2024 - Current
Research and Development Officer
HIK Abalone Farm (Pty) Ltd
04.2019 - 02.2024
Internship
HIK Abalone Farm (Pty) Ltd
10.2016 - 02.2017
Master of Science - Zoology
Walter Sisulu University
Honours Bachelor of Science - Zoology
Walter Sisulu University
Bachelor of Science - Biological Sciences
Walter Sisulu University
National Senior Certificate - undefined
D.Z Dumezweni S.S.S.
Master of Science - Zoology
Walter Sisulu University