Job Description

Senior Program Manager

Duration: 3 years

The Strategic Research Initiatives Unit of the SAMRC seeks to appoint a Senior Program Manager who will report to the Deputy Director, Administration and will be responsible and accountable for the overall management and implementation of the BRILLIANT consortium program. The incumbent will work alongside the BRILLIANT consortium Deputy Director, Administration on financial planning and resource allocation and with the Program Director on strategic partnerships and external engagements. The post holder will also assist with and form an integral part of the SAMRC's transformation agenda.

The BRILLIANT Consortium's programme of research will focus on utilising the existing capacity, scientific talent, ingenuity and investments made in community engagement to advance the HIV vaccine field in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) through supporting activities in the following five interrelated areas:

o Partner with civil society advocates, affected communities including those affected by and people living with HIV/AIDS, policymakers, and communicators to advance sub-Saharan African-led HIV vaccine science

o Design and implement early-stage clinical trials of HIV vaccine immunogens,

o Conduct laboratory analyses on samples from trials and epidemiological studies,

o Test innovative preclinical HIV vaccine concepts, advancing the most promising candidates toward clinical trials,

o Strengthen systems of collaborations for HIV vaccine research in SSA and increase opportunities to advance the careers of promising sub-Saharan African scientists.

Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with USAID and SAMRC policies, SOPs and guidelines.

• Develop/optimize and implement standard operating procedures, guidelines, policies, and templates, where required.

• Contribute to overall BRILLIANT consortium strategy development and implementation.

• Financial planning and resource allocation together with the BRILLIANT consortium Deputy Director, Administration

• Manage program budgets and work with Project Manager: Grants on sub-award management.

• Oversight and coordination of all program activities, deliverables and reporting

• Program monitoring and reporting to internal and external management, funders and stakeholders

• Oversee information and document management for the program.

• Manage periodic reviews of program activities.

• Broad stakeholder engagement with other relevant stakeholders in the HIV vaccine field and dissemination, including:
• preparing and disseminating program materials
• representing the BRILLIANT consortium at national and international meetings
• facilitation of new strategic partnerships and collaborations
• participate/serve on national forums and committees relevant to HIV vaccine research.

• To advance transformation by mentoring and building capacity in accordance with the SAMRC's Employment Equity Plan

• To contribute to the transformation objectives of the Unit.

Core Requirements:

• Master's degree or higher in a science discipline

• 8 - 10 years or more of relevant experience in program and project management in the health research arena

Advantageous:

• Experience in a public funding and/or research environment, i.e., demonstrated experience managing grant or research programs.

• Experience in contracts management and program budgets

• Demonstrated experience in working across academia, government departments, and industry.

• Experience in program monitoring and evaluation

Terms & Conditions: The SAMRC retains the right not to make an appointment. In accordance with the SAMRC's Employment Equity Plan, preference will be given to suitably qualified candidates from the designated groups. For this reason, we require race, gender and disability status to be specified. Disabled persons are encouraged to apply. By submitting your application, SAMRC concludes that you are a competent person to consent and that you are giving consent to the SAMRC to process and further process all personal information contained in the application in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, Act No 4 of 2013 (as amended). The SAMRC does its best to provide the most accurate information; however, if there is anything wrong and unclear applicants are encouraged to contact the HR Recruitment Office at 021-938 0648 before the closing date.

A salary in the region of R 1 332 256 per annum, cost-to-company, will be negotiated in consideration of experience and qualifications.

Closing Date: 10 January 2024

PLEASE QUOTE THE REFERENCE NUMBER (R 687A) IN ALL COMMUNICATIONS. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT YOUR SUBMISSION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED SHOULD YOUR APPLICATION NOT BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE REQUIRED INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION.

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