CHIETA Administration Support Intern Vacancy for Unemployed Graduates
The Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) has opened its Administration Support Internship at its Western Cape Regional Office, and for graduates wanting a genuinely long, stable stretch of paid workplace experience rather than a short-term placement, this 24-month programme is well worth serious consideration.
- Closing Date: 14 September 2026 at 16:30
- Location: Western Cape Regional Office, South Africa
- Salary/Stipend: R7,000 per month for the full 24-month duration
Job Overview
Reference number AWC2026/002, this internship sits within CHIETA’s Grants, Projects & Regions business unit, with only one position available for this specific intake. The programme is designed to give graduates genuine, practical workplace exposure in an administrative environment, while also building professional skills that extend well beyond basic office tasks. A 24-month duration is notably longer than many other graduate internships on the market, giving successful applicants real time to build depth and confidence in the role rather than just scratching the surface.
Job Description
The Administration Support Intern will provide day-to-day administrative support within CHIETA’s regional operations, working closely with staff across the Grants, Projects & Regions unit. Expect a genuinely varied administrative workload, since SETA regional offices coordinate closely with employers, training providers, and internal departments, meaning the intern is likely to be exposed to a real cross-section of how skills development funding and projects are actually managed on the ground.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide general administrative support to the Grants, Projects & Regions business unit
- Assist with document control, filing, and information storage processes
- Support the coordination of regional office administrative functions
- Assist with correspondence and communication tasks as required
- Support internal reporting and data-handling processes tied to grants and projects administration
- Help maintain accurate, up-to-date records relevant to regional operations
- Take on additional ad hoc administrative tasks as reasonably required by the team
Requirements and Qualifications
To be eligible for this internship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Reside in the Western Cape Province
- No prior work experience required
- Genuine willingness to plan, prioritise work, meet deadlines, and work independently
- Strong administrative aptitude, even if built through academic or informal experience
Applicants should be ready to submit the following documents alongside their application: an updated CV, certified copies of qualifications, a certified copy of their ID document, and academic transcripts. Applications missing any of these are unlikely to be considered, so it’s worth gathering everything before submitting.
Skills and Competencies
CHIETA has been fairly specific about the personal qualities it looks for in interns across its various regional offices. Traits that genuinely matter here include:
- Strong planning and organisational skills
- Good verbal and written communication ability
- Sound problem-solving skills
- Professionalism, confidentiality, ethics, and integrity
- Genuine teamwork and collaborative instincts
- Careful attention to detail
- Diversity awareness
- Innovative, forward-thinking approach to tasks
Why This Internship Is Worth Considering
For Western Cape graduates who’ve struggled to find that first real foothold in the job market, a 24-month, stipend-paid internship solves a genuinely practical problem. Unlike shorter 6 or 12-month placements, two full years of workplace exposure gives an intern real time to build confidence, take on more responsibility over time, and walk away with a genuinely substantial period of verifiable experience on their CV. Administrative and project-support skills built within a SETA environment also carry weight beyond CHIETA itself, since grants administration, stakeholder coordination, and document control are transferable across almost any sector, whether a career continues in skills development or moves into broader corporate administration.
About CHIETA
The Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) is a statutory body established under the Skills Development Act 97 of 1998, forming part of South Africa’s broader network of Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs). CHIETA’s core purpose is to facilitate skills development within the chemical industries sector, ensuring that skills needs across the industry are properly identified and addressed through a range of structured initiatives.
CHIETA’s mandate spans the chemicals, polymers, plastics, pharmaceuticals, and related green technology sub-sectors, working closely with employers, training providers, and government stakeholders to build a skilled, competitive workforce across these fast-evolving industries. Beyond funding formal training programmes, CHIETA runs a consistent pipeline of internships, learnerships, and bursaries aimed at giving young South Africans genuine, practical pathways into employment, with current opportunities spanning administrative, ICT, skills advisory, grants, and project management functions across its various regional offices.
As a responsible party under South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI Act) of 2013, CHIETA takes information security seriously throughout its recruitment processes, and applicants should note that CHIETA never requests payment at any stage of its application, testing, or assessment processes. For Western Cape graduates looking to build a substantial, structured foundation in administration and skills development, CHIETA’s Administration Support Internship offers a genuinely credible route into the world of work.
How to Apply
Before applying, make sure your CV is updated and accurately reflects any administrative experience or coursework relevant to the role. Gather certified copies of your qualifications, your ID document, and your academic transcripts, since incomplete applications will not be considered. Submit your complete application package before the 14 September 2026 deadline at 16:30, and note that late applications will not be accepted under any circumstances. If you haven’t heard back within a reasonable period after the closing date, you should consider your application unsuccessful, as CHIETA limits correspondence to shortlisted candidates only. Successful applicants will also be subject to background checks and required assessments.
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