Programme Manager (AREF) at Medical Research Council Unit - The Gambia (Internal Recruitment)

Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia - The MRC Unit at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is one of two research units established in sub- Saharan Africa by the Medical Research Council UK and is the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM’s single largest investment in medical research in a low and middle income country. MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM represents a unique concentration of scientific expertise and high quality research platforms in the West African region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Programme Manager (AREF)

Location: Fajara, Gambia

Role Purpose

• You will provide operational support to ensure the delivery of the AREF Researcher Development Academy Programmes.

Why the role is important to us

• Our mission is to improve human health and save lives in Africa by growing a cohort of African researchers working in Africa, who lead and partner excellent, collaborative health research that benefits patients, populations, policy makers and practitioners throughout the region and globally.
• AREF provides stepping-stones to young postdoctoral African scientists and clinicians to fulfil their ambition to lead research in Africa and to work with scientists from around the world to address global health issues.
• We provide outstanding postdoctoral researchers with great opportunities to strengthen technical and transferable skills, extend their professional relationships, and develop high-quality and competitive research ideas and proposals to become tomorrow’s leaders.
• You will play a key role in the delivery of these opportunities by supporting the Researcher Development Team and the wider Operations and Governance team in the delivery of programmes across Africa both face-to-face and via virtual platforms.

What you will do

• You will support the Researcher Development Team with a variety of operational tasks to ensure the successful delivery of Academy and Awards calls, including, but not limited to:

Programme Management:

• You will have specific responsibility for the management of the Excell Malaria Programme which includes:
  • Manage the selection of and processes of the Selection Panel and the Steering Group
  • Management of application, review and selection processes
  • Award management including pre- and post-awarding processes such as negotiations, acceptance and contracting, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and closing of projects.
  • Financial management: budget negotiations, pre- interim, and post award reporting, financial monitoring, invoicing and payments,  
• You will coordinate the suite of leadership programmes that AREF delivers throughout the year which includes the flagship Towards Leadership Programme and other bespoke programmes ensuring
  • Smooth execution of training plans and addressing any issues that arise
  • Coordinating logistics for training programmes effectively
  • Ensuring all training programmes comply with relevant regulations and standards
  • Risk assessments for face-to-face out of country programmes
  • Collate and oversee implementation of institutional workplans and budgets.

Travel Management:

• You will be responsible for the management of travel for programmes and other work-related events. This will involve:
  • Booking AREF’s staff and associates travel and accommodation requirements.
  • Booking venues and refreshments (where necessary and as directed).
  • Booking attendees’ travel and accommodation (where necessary and as directed).
  • Booking any additional services needed by the Researcher Development Team as directed.
  • Supporting other staff to book and arrange travel logistics and advising on best practices and best routes for travel needs.
  • Ensuring all travel arrangements are done in accordance with AREF policies on travel ensuring the prudent use of AREF resources

Stakeholder Management:

• Manage the College of Experts recruitment and the relationship between AREF and this body.
• Manage the Mentorship programme’s organisation as directed. Including but not limited to:
  • Liaising with Mentors and Mentees.
  • Organising introductory meetings.
  • Setting up agreements between Mentors and Mentees.
  • Manage, where required, the relationship between a donor and a leadership programme ensuring consistent communication and updates to and from donors and AREF.

Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Work with the AREF Monitoring & Evaluation Manager (and Communications Manager where relevant) to:
  • Systematically monitor the operational effectiveness and efficiency of leadership programmes to consistently improve and innovate their management.
  • Create (or adapt) and manage planning tool(s) that provide AREF staff with an overview of Leadership programmes, key actions, milestones and dates, current progress and risks to delivery.
  • Support the monitoring and evaluation of programmes by, for example, collecting, collating and analysing survey data, including outputs, outcomes and other performance data that feed into AREF’s M&E Framework and Theory of Change
  • Keep timely and accurate records of leadership programme participant data on relevant databases.
  • Contribute to programme reports, case studies and articles with relevant programmatic content, data and insights
  • Conduct relevant data synthesis for the preparation of periodic summary reports to be presented to the team.
• In addition, you will also:
  • Undertake various projects as required.
  • Carry out any other reasonable duties.
  • Identify opportunities to continually improve the charity.
  • Possible travel throughout Africa and Europe, as necessary for projects.

Who you will work with:

• You will report to the Researcher Development Manager and work closely with other senior managers.

Requirements
You will be:

• Educated to Master’s level in business management, project management, public health, or other relevant field.

You will have experience of:

• Project management, with experience in events training management
• Training coordination Finance/budget management
• Working with suppliers and contractors
• Travel management
• Working with diverse researchers and groups

You will be able to:                                                                                                      

• Communicate clearly and concisely in writing and verbally with colleagues, donors, and other stakeholders including the ability to write reports, briefings, and minutes.
• Manage a geographically dispersed college of skilled and professional researchers.
• Build effective working relationships.
• Plan and manage multiple projects and processes, delivering consistently to specified high standards and necessary deadlines.
• Manage diverse stakeholders to align and achieve agreed objectives.
• Work collaboratively and creatively being able to negotiate and compromise in pursuit of shared goals.
• Demonstrate strong customer services skills
• Work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Find solutions to problems by reviewing best practice elsewhere.
• Demonstrate high proficiency in using common business tools, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, document management systems, databases, and communications platforms (Zoom or equivalents).
• Respond timely, proactively and flexibly to work priorities and requests.
• work collaboratively under supervision and in a team and be self-motivated and confident to work alone.
• Develop and use survey and other evaluative methods to produce high quality reliable management information, e.g., of needs, progress, efficacy and effectiveness.

You may also have experience of:  

• Working in a charity.
• Biomedical or health-oriented research in low-income settings.
• 3-5 years' experience in project management and/or project management qualification.
• Good communication skills (written and oral).
• Organisational and time management

Additional Information:

• The post-holder will be based in The Gambia at the Medical Research Council Unit the Gambia, at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara.
• The appointment is for 2 years initially and is subject to a probationary period of 6 months.  

Salary
The salary will be paid in Grade 3a band of MRCG at LSHTM’s pay scale.

Application Closing Date
4th February, 2026.