Company: Abbott Laboratories (Abbott South Africa)
Industry: Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Diagnostics & Medical Devices
Department: Quality Assurance (QA) / Pharmacovigilance (PV)
Location: Roodepoort, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Position Type: 1-Year Full-Time Graduate Internship
Start Date: 1 September 2026
Posted Date: 07 August 2026
Closing Date: Open / Rolling Applications
About Abbott Laboratories & The Internship
Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare leader operating in over 160 countries, dedicated to advancing life-changing technologies in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals, and branded generic pharmaceuticals.
The QA/PV Internship Programme is a 12-month structured graduate experience located at Abbott’s Roodepoort campus in Gauteng. Designed for recent pharmacy and life sciences graduates, this program provides hands-on exposure across both Commercial Quality Assurance (QA) and Pharmacovigilance (PV) / Patient Safety functions within Abbott’s Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics divisions.
Key Responsibilities & Daily Workstreams
In this dual QA/PV role, your daily deliverables will cover four core healthcare quality areas:
1. Pharmacovigilance (PV) & Patient Safety
- Adverse Event Management: Assist in receiving, logging, processing, and routing Adverse Event (AE) reports and medical inquiries in accordance with local regulatory guidelines.
- Case Tracking: Maintain drug safety case files and tracking logs to support global and local safety reporting schedules.
2. Commercial Quality Assurance (QA)
- Quality Management Systems (QMS): Assist in maintaining Quality Management Systems across pharmaceutical and medical device product lines.
- Compliance Verification: Monitor product batch releases, temperature logs, and quality documentation to ensure compliance with South African regulatory standards (SAPHRA).
3. Product Quality & Inspections
- Non-Conformance Tracking: Support investigations into product quality complaints, non-conformances, and corrective actions (CAPA).
- Audit Readiness: Help organize audit trails, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and quality records.
4. Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Inter-Departmental Liaison: Work alongside regulatory affairs, supply chain, and commercial teams to ensure product safety and quality consistency.
Candidate Profile & Requirements
To qualify for this 1-year healthcare internship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Academic Qualifications: Completed qualification in ONE of the following fields:
- Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm)
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Life Sciences (e.g., Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Physiology, Pharmacology, Genetics, or related biological science).
- Work Experience & Employment Status:
- Must be currently unemployed.
- Ideally have no formal prior work experience (designed for fresh graduates).
- Availability: Must be available to commence the internship on 1 September 2026.
- Key Soft & Technical Skills:
- Exceptional attention to detail and high organizational standards.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint).
- Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.
- Solid analytical thinking and willingness to learn in a highly regulated environment.
- Video Interview Notice: Applicants may be required to complete a video assessment on short notice during the screening phase.
- Location: Based in or able to commute daily to Roodepoort, Gauteng.
What Abbott Laboratories Offers
- Multinational Exposure: Direct workplace experience inside a premier global healthcare enterprise.
- Dual Skill Building: Hands-on training in both Quality Assurance (QA) and Pharmacovigilance (PV)—two of the most sought-after skill sets in pharma.
- Expert Mentorship: Direct guidance from senior QA managers, PV officers, and healthcare compliance specialists.
- Career Foundation: Builds a strong foundation for future careers in pharmaceutical compliance, SAPHRA regulatory affairs, clinical research, or medical devices.
Career Advice for Applicants
- Highlight PV & QA Coursework: Feature any university modules, lab work, or research projects involving pharmacology, toxicology, microbiology, or quality control on your resume.
- Be Prepared for Video Assessments: Practice recording clear, concise responses regarding your passion for patient safety, attention to detail, and motivation to join Abbott.
- Format Credentials Clearly: Ensure your degree title, major subjects, graduation year, and SAPHRA/Pharmacy Council status (if applicable) are prominently listed on page 1 of your CV.
Sample Technical & Interview Preparation Questions
Pharmacovigilance & Patient Safety
- Question (Pharmacovigilance): “What is an Adverse Event (AE), and why is immediate, accurate reporting so critical in a pharmaceutical company?”
- Question (Quality Systems): “How do you maintain high attention to detail when auditing line item records or reviewing batch documentation for compliance errors?”
Workplace & Behavioral
- Question (Prioritization): “How would you prioritize your daily tasks if an urgent Adverse Event report arrives while you are updating a Quality Assurance compliance log?”
How to Apply
Submit your application directly through the official Abbott Careers portal:
- Role: QA/PV Internship Programme (1 Year)
- Location: Roodepoort, Gauteng
- Start Date: 1 September 2026