The National Bioproducts Institute (NBI) invites suitably qualified applicants to apply for 20 Youth Employment Service (Y.E.S) programme positions in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The opportunity is aimed at unemployed South African citizens aged between 18 and 34 who have Grade 12 and meet the required subject marks. Successful candidates will join a 12-month fixed-term programme that offers practical experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The closing date for applications is 27 October 2026.
Are you a young South African who wants to gain experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry? The NBI Youth Employment Service programme could be an opportunity to consider if you meet the academic requirements and have not participated in a previous Y.E.S programme.
The programme will give selected candidates practical exposure to manufacturing processes inside a pharmaceutical production facility. Participants will learn about production equipment, quality checks, workplace safety and the records used to monitor manufacturing activities.
However, applicants should understand that this opportunity involves working in a regulated manufacturing environment. Candidates must be prepared to follow strict safety procedures and work rotating shifts, which may include nights, weekends and public holidays.
Read on for the requirements, duties, required documents and application instructions.
Here are the main details of the advertised opportunity:
Applicants should use reference number NBI261014-1 when locating the vacancy on the official recruitment portal.
The National Bioproducts Institute is involved in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, including therapeutic proteins derived from human plasma and diagnostic products.
Its manufacturing operations require careful handling of materials, controlled working conditions and strict quality checks. The Y.E.S programme offers successful applicants an opportunity to gain practical workplace experience in this type of environment.
During the 12-month programme, participants may work in production units such as Pooling, Fractionation or Refining. These areas form part of the processes used to manufacture and prepare pharmaceutical products.
Participants will learn how production equipment is prepared and cleaned, how samples are collected for quality checks and how manufacturing activities are recorded.
This experience may be useful for young people interested in biotechnology, pharmaceutical manufacturing, laboratory work, quality control or industrial operations.
It is important to note that this is a fixed-term opportunity. The supplied advertisement does not guarantee permanent employment after the 12-month period.
The programme focuses on practical manufacturing activities and following workplace procedures. Successful candidates will be expected to learn from experienced employees and follow the instructions provided for their assigned tasks.
Participants will gain exposure to the equipment and processes used in pharmaceutical production.
Their duties may include preparing equipment, operating machinery according to approved procedures and cleaning equipment after use.
Employees in this environment must follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). These are written instructions that explain how specific tasks should be completed safely and correctly.
Following these procedures helps maintain consistency during production.
Quality checks are important in pharmaceutical manufacturing because products must meet strict standards before they can be released.
Participants may assist with collecting samples for quality testing and maintaining clean working areas.
They will also gain exposure to the procedures used to prevent contamination in controlled manufacturing environments.
Quality assurance focuses on the systems and processes used to maintain standards, while quality control involves checking products or samples to see whether they meet the required specifications.
Accurate recordkeeping is another important part of pharmaceutical production.
Participants may help complete batch manufacturing records, logbooks and other required documents.
These records help the company track what happened during production, which equipment was used and whether the required procedures were followed.
Candidates must pay attention to detail because incorrect or incomplete records can create problems during quality checks and audits.
The programme may also provide exposure to monitoring manufacturing equipment and identifying operational problems.
Participants may assist with basic operational checks and report problems to the appropriate employees.
Any maintenance work must be performed according to the instructions, training and responsibilities assigned to the participant.
Candidates should be willing to learn, follow safety procedures and report equipment problems rather than attempting tasks they are not authorised to perform.
Applicants must meet the eligibility conditions listed in the supplied advertisement.
The requirements include the following:
The academic requirements are especially important. Applicants should check their Matric results to ensure that they meet the required marks in all four subjects.
Candidates who have already participated in a Y.E.S programme are not eligible according to the supplied vacancy information.
The advertisement also identifies certain qualifications and experience that may be beneficial.
These include:
These are listed as added advantages rather than the main minimum requirements. Applicants should still meet the stated age, citizenship, employment and academic conditions.
Before starting the online application, prepare the documents requested in the vacancy information.
The supplied advertisement lists the following:
Check the certification requirements carefully. The supplied information indicates that copies should be certified within the stated three-to-six-month period. Confirm the exact requirement in the official vacancy notice before submitting your documents.
Make sure that your scans or photographs are clear and that all information can be read. Missing or unclear documents could affect the processing of an application.
NBI operates a manufacturing facility that runs around the clock. For this reason, the supplied advertisement states that participants should be prepared to work rotating shifts.
The listed schedule is approximately 40 to 45 hours per week, with shifts of either eight or 12 hours.
Depending on the roster, participants may be required to work:
Applicants should consider these working arrangements before applying. A rotating-shift position may require flexibility because working days and times can change according to the production schedule.
The exact roster and working arrangements should be confirmed through the official recruitment process.
The supplied information estimates the monthly stipend at R4,500 to R7,500.
However, this range is an estimate based on the information provided, not a confirmed amount published in the vacancy details reproduced here. Applicants should verify the actual stipend with NBI through its official recruitment channel.
A stipend is a payment made to a participant during a programme. It should not automatically be treated as a confirmed permanent salary or as a guarantee of employment after the programme ends.
Candidates should also check the contract conditions, including the payment arrangements and any applicable deductions, before accepting an offer.
Interested applicants can submit their applications online through the official NBI recruitment portal.
Follow these steps:
Apply online here:
Apply for NBI Youth Employment Service x 20 Positions 2026
Use the official recruitment portal to confirm the full requirements and application instructions. Do not wait until the closing date to start preparing your documents.
The closing date for the NBI Youth Employment Service programme is 27 October 2026.
Candidates should submit their applications before the deadline and ensure that all required information is included.
Before applying, check your Matric results, confirm that you meet the age and employment requirements, and make sure that you have not previously participated in a Y.E.S initiative.
No. According to the supplied advertisement, candidates who have previously participated in a Youth Employment Service initiative are not eligible.
The supplied requirements state that applicants must not be enrolled in full-time studies. Candidates should check the official listing for clarification if their study arrangements are different.
Applicants must be prepared to work rotating shifts because the facility operates around the clock. Night shifts, weekends and public holidays may form part of the work schedule.
No confirmed stipend amount is provided in the supplied vacancy information. The R4,500 to R7,500 range is an estimate, so applicants should confirm the actual amount with NBI.
The programme is described as a 12-month fixed-term contract. The supplied information does not guarantee permanent employment after the programme ends.
The NBI Youth Employment Service programme may interest unemployed young South Africans who want to gain experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing and related technical fields.
Participants can gain exposure to production equipment, quality control, manufacturing documentation and workplace safety procedures. These are useful areas of learning for candidates interested in building a career in biotechnology, laboratory operations or pharmaceutical production.
The programme also offers structured workplace experience over 12 months, allowing participants to learn how a regulated manufacturing environment operates.
If you meet the requirements, prepare your documents and review the official listing carefully before applying.
Remember: NBI is advertising 20 positions, and the closing date is 27 October 2026. Submit your application through the official recruitment portal and ensure that all the information you provide is accurate.
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