VACANCY NOTICE
City, Country : Kumasi, Ghana
Type: Full TIme
Project: ARNTD COR-NTD
Position
The management of the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine (KCCR) together with the African Research Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ARNTD) hosted by the Global Health and Infectious Diseases (GHID) Research Group at KCCR seeks a Project Manager.
The Project Manager shall primarily aid the Principal Investigator to implement work under the ARNTD COR-NTD Program according to funder’s regulations. The post-holder shall operate under the auspices of KCCR, but the scope of work shall include activities and engagements with other partners such as the Task Force for Global Health, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Project Manager is expected to have excellent organisational and communication skills. The Project Manager should be willing to work efficiently as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Who we are
The African Research Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ARNTD) is a community of researchers, policy makers and implementers based in African institutions or overseas. The Network envisions an African continent free of NTDs, enabling its populations thrive in a healthy environment by supporting evidencebased control and elimination of NTDs from Africa by empowering current and future generations of African researchers. The ARNTD Secretariat is hosted by the Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research Group (GHID), at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR), at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana.
The Task Force for Global Health is an international, nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of people most in need, primarily in developing countries. Through its programs, the TFGH address the health needs of populations around the world by working in partnership with ministries of health and hundreds of organizations, including major pharmaceutical companies that donate essential medicines to control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases and increase access to medicines and vaccines for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, influenza, and cholera. The Task Force is affiliated with Emory University, and is headquartered in Decatur in Atlanta, Georgia, USA and has regional offices in Guatemala and Ethiopia. The Coalition for Operational Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases (COR-NTD) is the Secretariat of the NTD Support Centre of the TFGH and supports the development of a robust operational research agenda that is focused on meeting the critical challenges facing NTD programs.
Overview of the Program
The ARNTD COR-NTD Programme is a 5-year cooperative agreement funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Coalition for Operational Research on NTDs (COR-NTD) based at the Task Force for Global Health. This program was developed to provide support towards research activities needed to improve existing disease mapping, develop monitoring and evaluation strategies, evaluate and introduce improved diagnostics, inform best practices and policy change through OR studies, provide capacity-building initiatives for local scientists and program staff, and employ innovative solutions to improve and sustain NTD health services for affected populations.
By focusing on efficiency and effectiveness through strong partnerships, will support national governments, local research institutions, and local NGOs to foster and convene a network of local and international research investigators; define and undertake relevant coordinated research initiatives as prioritized by USAID and USAID NTD Program; improve the timeliness and quality of OR initiatives and work collaboratively with the NTD donor community to ensure that research support is equitable and appropriate to meet project needs. The overall goal of these activities is to contribute towards achieving the goals
enshrined in the WHO 2030 NTD Roadmap.
Main Responsibilities/Activities
The Project Manager shall oversee the project activities to ensure compliance with all Funder’s regulations and policies and provide administrative and financial support to a portfolio of in-country and multi-country projects and work closely with the principal investigator (PI), Scientific Officers, the Project Finance Officer, partner institutions, KCCR finance and administrative departments. The Project Manager shall put in place a structure that optimizes the efficiency of the technical, communication and
administrative process for the program team and ensure adherence to them.
Communication
– Facilitate the relationship and correspondence between the PI, the Program partners and the
Funders.
– Foster robust internal and external communication with partner institutions including facilitating
conference calls/meetings, ensuring meeting minutes are created, providing status reports,
managing action item lists and issues lists.
– Supervise the project communication outputs on various media platforms including website and
social media
Planning of Resources
– Plan with the PIs and other team members on the sourcing and use of resources to achieve the
goals and objectives of the projects within allotted timelines and budgets.
– Facilitate the authoring of project implementation manuals and other training tools as may be
necessary
– Support the PIs in the creation and submission of annual USAID workplan.
Technical Supervision
– Support the PI in developing and implementing broad procedures for management of the project.
– Support the PI in defining project responsibilities and supervising their execution.
– Manage and improve file folder structure, key documents and other project management
information tools.
– Document processes and SOPs for other users, and liaising with TFGH on knowledge
management systems and needs.
Monitoring Progress and Risks Management
– Monitor the preparation and progress of each milestone and deliverables of the projects. Ensure
that progresses are in time with the deadlines assigned to enable the projects to run smoothly.
– Resolves challenges promptly, pro-actively and collaboratively.
– Update project documents, status and timeline in real time in the project information management
system.
– Manage administrative aspects of the projects in line with the funder’s requirements.
– Perform day-to-day management of project team and address any team issues promptly in
consultation with the PI(s).
– Conduct regular meetings with the local team, and also with partner institutions to discuss project
status and issues in a transparent manner.
– Facilitate refresher training, capacity enhancement of teams and retooling for effective project
implementation in compliance with funder rules and regulations.
– Stay up to date on USAID rules and regulations.
Project Reporting and Documentation
– Organize, support, provide follow-up and report pertinent issues to PI.
– Coordinate the receipt and review of reports from sub-awardees and other program partners
towards developing overall programmatic reports
– Review project documents and research reports to be submitted by PIs.
– Represent PIs in a meeting if necessary.
– Prepare annual technical reports.
QUALIFICATIONS/PERSON SPECIFICATIONS
Minimum Requirements:
– Advanced (postgraduate) degrees in either Project Management, Public Health, Economics, or other
related disciplines
– Experience in managing research projects and teams
– Minimum 3 years of professional experience, in a role that demonstrates an ability to work
independently and effectively in an immersive, fast-paced environment, manage complex projects,
conduct quantitative (e.g., forecasting) and qualitative analyses and work across multiple teams
– Demonstrated proficiency in project management and coordination evidenced from previous roles
– Experience in conducting monitoring and evaluation, and reporting on programmatic activities
– Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
– High computer literacy including knowledge of Microsoft software products, Office suites, program
planning and management software etc
Essential Attributes
– Dynamic person with demonstrated capacity for teamwork and team leadership
– Critical thinking, cutting-edge analytical and presentation skills and attention to details
– Administrative and accounting skills
– Ability to prioritize workload, assume responsibility for work, and follow through to completion
– Ability and willingness to work under pressure as a part of a global team
Desired Attributes
– Knowledge or experience in NTDs, public health systems strengthening and improving access to
health care interventions
– Familiar with health research activities including Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
– Ability to communicate in French
The contract will be for 12-months (renewable), with the first 3 months as probation. There is no internationalor domestic relocation package associated with this vacancy.
Expected start date: August 2024
MODE OF APPLICATION
Interested persons should send their applications addressed to The Head of Administration, KCCR, KNUST, Kumasi including their CV, a motivation letter, copies of certificates and two reference letters and email them to: info@kccr.de and copy secretariat@arntd.org
Closing Date: July 26, 2024,17:00 GMT. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. For further information on the position, please email secretariat@arntd.org