PROJECT MANAGER

PROJECT MANAGER

FIVE (5) YEARS FIXED- TERM CONTRACT 

EAST LONDON, EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE

The Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF) is a registered non-profit organisation focused on the pursuit of excellence in research, treatment, training and prevention of HIV and related infections in Southern Africa. 

We have fantastic job opportunities across our businesses for talented people wanting to realize their full potential. Could that be you? If so, we invite applications for a 5-year fixed term post as the Research Project Manager for the project entitled: Improving HIV testing, linkage, and retention in care for men through U=U messaging, based in East London, Eastern Cape Province.

The main purpose of this position is to lead the implementation, coordination, and monitoring of the research study protocol, oversee all implementation staff members, and to ensure the execution of all research activities and operations.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Behavioural, Social Sciences, Management or related
• Minimum of 7 years' experience managing the start-up, implementation and closure of complex research projects
• Minimum of 3 years' experience in staff management
• Computer skills - Microsoft Word, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visio, Excel, PowerPoint, REDCAP and Outlook Express
• Valid code 8 driver's license
• Must be fluent in both Xhosa and English
• Knowledge of research documentation standards
• Strong verbal and written communication
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Attention to detail
• Planning and Organizing skills
• Problem solving and detail orientated
• Team player, as wee as the ability to work independently

Advantageous:

• Master's Degree in Public Health, Behavioural or Social Sciences or related
• Interest to pursue a PhD through this project
• Strong knowledge of the South African National HIV Management Guidelines
• Certification in Project management
• Current certification in Good Clinical Practice and Human Subjects Protections
• Previous experience managing and implementing research programs/projects in the Eastern Cape Province
• Previous experience in implementing community-based research activities
• Knowledge of research methodology, especially quantitative and qualitative methods
• Knowledge of data quality control activities, systems, and processes (QA/QC)
• Technical Project Management knowledge and skills
• Knowledge of data analysis and interpretation 

Other Skills:

• Ability to build interpersonal relationships to manage and support study staff and project implementation
• Excellent stakeholder relationship management
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written) and strong public speaking skills
• Decision making & analytical skills
• Planning and organising skills
• Adaptive to change
• Ability to multi-task
• Existing academic publications/manuscripts

Responsibilities:

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the research project including participant recruitment and enrolment, line management of facility-based and field-based staff and project logistics
• Working closely with the project Primary Investigator, Operations Manager and Data Manager to ensure project governance and that implementation happens in line with the highest ethical and research standards and regulations
• Maintain a strong relationship with all relevant local, clinic and district stakeholders and provide these regularly with written and verbal updates on project progress to these stakeholders
• Provide comprehensive feedback on project progress, successes, and challenges to the Research Team Leadership and the (inter-)national project collaborators
• Identify opportunities to leverage the project to advance portfolio, spin-offs, and outputs of the research team
• Compose abstracts of project results for scientific conferences and to (support) drafting scientific manuscripts for publication
• Operationalising study protocols into practical Manual of Procedures (MoP)
• Development of Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) to be included in study (MoP)
• Assist with the development of electronic patient tracking and monitoring tools to guide study implementation and generating reports
• Development of study source documents in line with good clinical practices specifications
• Lead the development of job descriptions, screening, interviewing and appointing of project staff
• Training, mentoring and performance management of project staff
• Ensuring that ethical and regulatory requirements are fulfilled in line with GCP and IRB guidelines
• Ensuring complete and accurate data collection
• Oversee the management and quality control of all study documentation (case report forms (CRFs), research materials, investigator files, etc.)
• Contributing to managing the research site and maintaining relationships with site stakeholders
• Le