Job Description

The Health Systems Research Unit (HSRU), based at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), leads research to inform and support decision-making in health and social policy to strengthen health systems to achieve universal health coverage (UHC). Through health systems strengthening, we aim to improve health throughout the life-course. An appropriately qualified and experienced Programme Manager is required to join our team on a full-time basis to implement the strategic priorities and operation of the Evidence to Decision (E2D) initiative, coordinated by HSRU. The E2D project is a one-year National Department of Health-funded initiative. It aims to support and build capacity for evidence-informed decision-making for UHC in South Africa, through timely evidence synthesis and translation, promoting efficient, effective and equitable health services and systems. Additionally, the project will focus on developing the infrastructure to provide these services.
Responsibilities:
Programme management
This includes:

• Overseeing a group of related projects/ strategic partnerships as the SAMRC lead, to ensure alignment with HSRU and broader SAMRC goals and strategies.
• Ensuring the program delivers long-term benefits and achieves overarching objectives in addition to E2D project deliverables.
• Managing of programme budget with allocation of resources across projects within the E2D initiative to maximize efficiency and impact.
• Liaising with relevant high-level stakeholders to secure resources (funding and skills), manage progress against milestones, and ensure alignment across projects.
• Monitoring interdependencies among projects addressing programme-level risks and issues and providing recommendations to management for approval.
• Leading change initiatives that stem from programme outcomes and providing recommendations to management for approval.
• Establishing programme governance through the development and/or implementation of policies, frameworks, SOPs, and controls to ensure projects within the programme adhere to standards and guidelines.
• Managing periodic reviews of the programme with general programme monitoring and evaluation; and developing and coordinating internal and external reports, including reports to management and funders.
• Coordinate advocacy and communication of the programme

Project management
This includes:

• Managing a portfolio of projects within the E2D initiative as part of a strategic partnership to ensure the conduct and delivery of the projects within its defined scope and deliver high-quality outputs in line with approved timelines, milestones and budgets.
• Liaising with E2D project team to coordinate collaboration, keeping project-specific stakeholders informed and involved, focusing on immediate project impacts.
• Scheduling, attending and documentation of regular project meetings.
• Overseeing sub-contracts and budget schedules, facilitating the timely disbursement of funds.
• Timely reporting on project progress and status.
• Project monitoring and support including drafting or reviewing technical and financial reports, identifying and resolving risks and issues regarding project activities, timelines and budget that directly affect the project and making recommendations to management.
• Facilitating scientific oversight of projects by supporting research teams where required.
• Overseeing and supporting database development in collaboration with SAMRC IT
• Supporting programme administrative coordination including recruitment.

Collaborate & interact with project partners and strategic stakeholders
This includes:

• Participating in the national and regional research agenda
• Relationship building with key internal and external stakeholders

Duration of the contract
1 year (60% FTE)
Remuneration
R54 345.66 per month (cost-tocompany)

• Masters in public health, Clinical epidemiology, Health Systems Research or related health field.
• 3 - 5 years or more of relevant experience in the specialised area of programme management
• Internal and external stakeholder engagement.
• project planning and implementation and monitoring, budget monitoring,
• Report writing, meeting convening and management

Advantageous:

• PhD in health-related field
• Programme management qualification.
• Experience with health sector- specifically health policy and programmes
• Experience in a public funding and/or research environment, i.e., demonstrated experience managing research or development programmes / capacity development programmes
• Demonstrated experience in working across academia, government departments, and industry
• Experience with contract management, financial management and human resources

Closing Date:
11 August 2025