The Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI)

Feb 17, 2016

The Institute’s broad mission is to carry out scientific investigations concerning communicable diseases of public health importance and to advise the Uganda Government on strategies for their control and prevention

The Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), based at Entebbe, is one of the constituent research institutions under the Uganda National Health Research Organization (UNHRO). The Institute's broad mission is to carry out scientific investigations concerning communicable diseases of public health importance and to advise the Uganda Government on strategies for their control and prevention. The Institute is a partner site within the Vector-based control of Transmission: Discovery Research (VCTR) program initiative, also known as the Target Malaria Project. The aim of this project is research on novel approaches towards reduction of the transmission of malaria by eradicating or incapacitating the population of the malaria spreading mosquito using engineered endonucleases. UVRI is carrying out entomological studies at select mainland and island sites and setting up specialized research infrastructure in preparation for future field trials. World-wide Target Malaria has project teams in Uganda, Burkina Faso, Mali, Europe and North America. The project is funded by the Foundation for National Health Institutes (FNIH) through a programme of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Under this Project the Institute intends to recruit a Project Manager and a Field Officer both to be based in Entebbe.

Job title: Project Manager (1 position)

Reports to: The Principal Investigator (PI).

Location: UVRI campus in Entebbe. Some travel to remote field sites and overseas will be required.

Working hours: This is a full-time position (40 hours per week minimum)

Summary of the post:

A senior position providing coordination and managerial support to project activities/

operations in liaison with the UVRI site PI to ensure team delivery within proposed

duration, budget, and scope. The role is a challenging one with wide-ranging and highlevel responsibilities and the post holder will be required to deliver on key milestones from the outset. It will require the individual to work with

multiple stakeholders that are both internal and external to UVRI, at a range of levels of seniority and within a wide range of specialist areas across institutions/organizations and different geographical locations.

Project Management

1. Responsible for managing successful delivery of specific milestones for team Target Malaria Uganda in liaison with activity coordinators/supervisors and PI.

2. Will communicate and coordinate with parties external to UVRI as the primary

management point of contact for the Uganda project team

3. Will independently develop, track and coordinate work packages and timelines

for activities, ensuring that the team meets specific project targets

4. Responsible for managing and ensuring project actions relating to team Uganda

are completed in line with the overall programme deliverables and milestones

5. Will regularly review progress, develop early warning systems highlighting

potential delays and developing solutions  to those delays or bottlenecks

6. Ensure data management, regulatory and communication compliance for team_

Uganda in line with the global research programme objectives

7. Plan logistics and strategically analyze project spending and financial reports

, reviewing data to ensure project team spend is in line with project plans,

timescales, and institutional/consortium 9. Identify and manage external consultants

and third party service providers required for the project.

10. Assist with the preparation of project status reports (both technical and financial)

for the Project Team, and Principal Investigator

11. Plan and execute regular team meetings.

12. Carry out the day to day management of the overall project operations, including

arranging meetings and tracking action items through to delivery

13. Coordinate procurement for the project as required

14. Take the lead on M&E and manage and maintain the Gantt chart for the project

15. Ensure compliance with donor requirements, agreements etc.

Other Duties

1. To observe and comply with relevant UVRI and Target Malaria consortium policies

and regulations, including key policies on Confidentiality, Conflict of Interest, Data

Protection, Financial Regulations, Health and Safety Policy, Information Systems

Security Policy and Intellectual Property Rights

2. Ensure teamwork, integrity, efficiency, and competence is embedded in the group

by helping to develop initiatives promoting those values

3. To review own training/development needs and attend training as necessary

4. To maintain safe workplace practice and procedures in accordance with the

requirements of UVRI Health and Safety policy

5. To maintain an up to date knowledge of relevant statutory Health and Safety

legislation and recommendations and attend safety training as required.

6. Any other duties as directed by the PI to the project

Qualifications

Essential:

• A minimum academic qualification of a Masters degree in life/health or social

sciences, ideally with an additional project management qualification i.e. PPM, APM,

PMI, Prince2

Knowledge/Experience

Essential:

At least 2 years experience in a relevant active research environment with a project

management focus

• Knowledge and experience of delivering scientific projects or comparable technical

projects within a project management framework using initiative and judgement

• Experience to personally maintaining MS

Project plans

• Knowledge and experience of managing budget spend in a flexible and accountable way

• Experience of working with multinational partners

• Experience of risk management

• Experience of planning and executing project team meetings

• Experience of engaging and working with consultants and third party service providers through tender

• Experience of writing reports and presenting results of work to senior colleagues

• Experience of working with MS SharePoint or other Intranet platform for project

document sharing

Desirable:

• Experience of working with international grant funders &/or Senior Management

within a commercial, NGO or academic environment

• Experience or awareness of international regulatory frameworks

• Experience of working in a PMO environment

Skills and Abilities

Essential:

• Ability to deliver project work plans and revise as appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements

• Ability to work collaboratively and productively with colleagues and multiple stakeholders within complex management matrices in different geographical locations

• Ability to balance risk and pragmatism when developing solutions whilst always working with the highest level of professionalism, both individually and as part of a team

• Ability, skills, and confidence to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a variety of audiences

• High level of written and spoken English

• Ability, skills, and experience to deal effectively with conflicting priorities, and

meet tight deadlines

• Ability to motivate individuals at various levels in a project

• Ability to promote equality and diversity within a group

• Ability to work independently on his/her own initiative, whilst maintaining a high

level of confidentiality and discretion at all times

• Ability to understand and translate complex information clearly

• Sound and accurate IT skills (word processing, email, calendars, databases, spreadsheets, audio recordings)

Desirable:

• Ability to speak French

• Ability and willingness to travel as needed -to other African partner sites and to meet with the Project Management team in the UK

Personal Attributes

Essential:

• Organised and detail oriented

• Have an adaptable and fl exible attitude to working - a willingness to discover what is needed for success in project activities and to pursue solutions

• Personable

• Responsive and sensitive to different cultural methods of work

• Discretion and diplomacy while working under pressure

Salary: This position attracts a competitive salary.

Job title: Field Officer (1 position)

Reports to: Entomology Coordinator.

Summary of the post

UVRI will be carrying out planned expansion of field sites and testing of new techniques alongside the current sampling regime in preparation for future field trials. This calls for bringing on board additional skilled manpower. Under this Project, UVRI intends to recruit an experienced Field Officer.

Location: UVRI campus in Entebbe. Some travel to remote field sites including islands will be required.

Working hours: This is a full-time position (40 hours per week minimum)

Responsibilities

1. Supervision of team collecting malaria vectors and related information at fi eld sites.

2. Ensuring of proper identification and collection of mosquitoes in field sites.

3. Ensuring of compliance with Target Malaria SOPs used for field activities

4. Ensuring of good data collection, quality assurance, recording and reporting practices

5. Devising innovative methods to promote the efficient collection of data as needed.

6. Participating in testing of new methods and devices as needed.

7. Ensuring that measures are in place to protect the safety and comfort of the field

team members.

8. Liaising with the PI, Entomology coordinator, Project Management, the Field Working Group and relevant institutional stakeholders

9. Working with Stakeholder Engagement (SE) project colleagues to ensure the smooth operation of field activities

10. Maintain good working relations with communities at the study sites

Qualifications

Essential:

• A minimum academic qualification of a University/ College certificate in biological/

medical sciences from a recognized institution

Knowledge / Experience

Essential:

Evidence of previous role as field lead, and at least 2 years in a relevant recognized active multi-cultural research environment with knowledge and experience of:

• Adult mosquito collection by various methods (traps, aspiration, sprays, human

landing catches (HLC), Mark-release recaptures (MRR), swarming etc)

• Larval sampling

• GPS mapping of sampled sites

• Morphological identification of mosquitoes ( adult-stage and immature)

• Labelling, basic sample processing, testing and, preservation before lab presentation

• Field data collection and entry, including weather data from weather station

• Malaria parasite screening by microscopy and RDT

• First Aid

• Innovativeness

Skills and Abilities

Essential:

• Basic use of word processing and data handling computer packages (e.g. Microsoft Office: Word, Power point, Excel, Outlook etc)

Personal Attributes

Essential:

• Organised, detail oriented, and ability to meet deadlines

• Have an adaptable and flexible attitude to working - a willingness to discover what is needed for success and to pursue solutions

• Personable

• Integrity

• Responsive and sensitive to different cultural methods of work

• Ability to work under minimal supervision

• Ability to swim would be added advantage

Salary: This position attracts a competitive salary.

How to Apply:

Applications together with copies of academic certificates, transcripts, a CV, including names of at least two work-related referees indicating their contacts with e-mail and telephone numbers should be forwarded to the address below not later than 5pm on 7th March 2016

The Director,

Uganda Virus Research Institute

P. O. Box 49 Entebbe.

Or hand delivered to his office on Plot 51-59 Nakiwogo Road, Entebbe Municipality.

 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});