UK-PHRST Project Manager at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Job Title: UK-PHRST Project Manager

Department: Infectious Disease Epidemiology (IDE)

Faculty: Epidemiology and Population Health (EPH)

Location: Keppel Street, London

FTE: 1.0

Grade: Grade 6 PSP

Reports to: LSHTM UK-PHRST Programme Manager

Accountable to: Deputy Director for Research

Responsible for: Project Coordinator Grade 5 PSP

Job Summary: The postholder will lead on the day-to-day project management activities for a substantial number of research projects as part of a complex and large international multi-disciplinary programme including; epidemiologists, microbiologists, infection prevention and control experts, social scientists, mental health experts, and implementation scientists.

Other responsibilities will include the project management of capacity development projects, monitoring & reporting, financial management, external and internal communications and reporting and HR management.

The post-holder must develop a good understanding of the funder terms and conditions for the project(s) providing sound advice and ensuring compliance to these and the school policies and procedures, including the Financial Regulations.

The post-holder must be able to both work as part of a team but take independent initiative. The post is based in London with hybrid working arrangements. Whereby, there are expected to be on-site eight days per month. The postholder may be expected to undertake national and international travel as per the requirements of the project.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is renowned for its research, postgraduate studies and continuing education in public and global health. Our missionis to improve health and health equity in the UK and worldwide; working in partnership to achieve excellence in public and global health research, education and translation of knowledge into policy and practice.

We embrace and value the diversity of our staff and student population and seek to promote equity, diversity and inclusion as essential elements in contribution to improving health worldwide. We believe that when people feel respected and included, they can be more creative, successful, and happier at work. While we have more work to do, we are committed to building an inclusive workplace, a community that everyone feels a part of, which is safe, respectful, supportive and enables all to reach their full potential.

History

Founded in 1899 at the London Docks, LSHTM is now based in Bloomsbury, where it has two main sites at Keppel Street and Tavistock Place, and additional sites in The Gambia and Uganda. Today, our staff, students and alumni work in government, academia, international agencies and health services across the world.Learn more about the history of LSHTM.

Research

Research income has grown to more than £180 million per year from national and international funding sources including UK government and research councils, the European Union, the Wellcome Trust, Gates Foundation and other philanthropic sources.

Our diverse research talents, skills and experience underpin our position as a leader in public and global health. These range from the molecular to the global, the theoretical to the applied, the analytical to the political. Our staff are conducting research in more than 100 countries.

Staff community

We have 3,300 staff based all around the world with core hubs in London and at the MRC Units in The Gambia and Uganda, which joined LSHTM in February 2018. Our outstanding, diverse and committed staff make an impact where it is most needed – deploying research in real time in response to crises, developing innovative programmes for major health threats, or training the next generations of public and global health leaders and researchers

Partnerships

Working in partnership is central to achieving our mission. Ourstrategic collaborationsin the UK and across high-, middle- and low-income countries deliver health and socioeconomic benefits across the world, especially in the most disadvantaged communities.

LSHTM is also a member of the M8 Alliance of Academic Health Centers, Universities and National Academies, the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region, and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health.

Education

We deliver research-led educational programmes to future health leaders, managers and researchers across the world. We have more than 1,200 face-to-face Master’s and Doctoral students, 3,000 studying by distance learning, and 1,000 each year on short courses and continuous professional development. Our free online courses are studied by more than 270,000 participants globally.

Excellence in research and education

We perform strongly in various global university league tables. In the Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2020 we placed 3rd inpublic health(1st in the UK). In the2020 CWTS Leiden RankingLSHTM is ranked the UK’s top university for the proportion of academic research with women listed as authors, and third in Europe for publishing open access research.

In the US News Best Global Universities Ranking 2021, we ranked3rd in the world for public, environmental & occupational health,4th in the world for infectious diseases,11th in the world for social sciences & public health, and12th best University in the UK overall. Weranked 27thfor medicinein the 2019 QS World University Rankings.

In 2017, the inaugural Center for World University Rankings by Subject placed LSHTMfirst in the world for tropical medicineresearch,second for parasitologyand seventh forinfectious diseases,public, environment and occupational health, andsocial sciences and biomedical.

LSHTM was namedUniversity of the Year 2016by Times Higher Education and awarded aQueen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Educationin 2017 in recognition of our response to the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa. LSHTM does not appear in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings as universities are excluded if they do not teach undergraduates.

We seek to foster and sustain a creative and supportive working environment based upon an ethos of respect and rigorous scientific enquiry. We embrace and value the diversity of our staff and student population and seek to promote equality as an essential element in contribution to improving health worldwide.

LSHTM is one of around 20 specialist institutions that receive institution specific funding from theOffice for Students(OfS). This funding recognises the additional costs that LSHTM incurs because of its unique range of teaching, specialist facilities, and the scale of its contributions to national and international agencies.

Faculty information

Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health

The Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health (EPH) houses a large group of epidemiologists, demographers, statisticians and nutritionists working on issues of major public health importance in the UK and globally. EPH has approximately 400 staff members organised into four research departments:

• Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Department of Medical Statistics
• Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology
• Department of Population Health

The Faculty has a teaching programme consisting of ten MSc courses: Epidemiology, Demography and Health, Medical Statistics, Public Health in Developing Countries (run jointly with the Faculties of Infectious & Tropical Diseases and Public Health & Policy), Nutrition for Global Health, Reproductive & Sexual Health Research, Veterinary Epidemiology (run jointly with the Royal Veterinary College), Global Mental Health (run jointly with Kings College London – Institute of Psychiatry) and the Distance Learning courses in Epidemiology and Clinical Trials. The Faculty also has approximately 120 research students studying for an MPhil, PhD or DrPH degree.

The Dean of Faculty is Professor Elizabeth Allen

Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology (IDE)

The Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology conducts research on the epidemiology and control of infectious diseases of public health importance. Work is carried out in low-, middle- and high-income countries, including the United Kingdom, in close collaboration with partners in each country. The Department has groups working on maternal, neonatal and child health; international statistics and epidemiology; vaccines, outbreaks and humanitarian crises; and modelling. Research methods include ecological studies of variations in disease frequency in different populations, observational case-control and cohort studies to define risk factors for disease, randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness of individual- and community-level interventions, and mathematical models to project the impact of public health interventions.

The Department Head is Professor Mark Jit.

The UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST)

Launched in 2016, the UK-PHRST is an innovative government-academic partnership funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and co-led by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), with a consortium of academic and implementing partners in the UK and internationally.

It is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of public health professionals and researchers with a novel integrated triple-remit of outbreak response, research and capacity strengthening to prevent and control epidemics of infectious diseases in countries eligible for UK Official Development Assistance (ODA). Both institutes contribute and are responsible for delivery of the UK-PHRST triple mandate across outbreak response, research and capacity strengthening, with LSHTM leading the research programme and UKHSA who lead the outbreak response.

The UK-PHRST has the following objectives:

1. Support partners in LMICs to investigate and respond to disease outbreaks rapidly at source, with the aim of stopping a public health threat from becoming a health emergency.
2. Identify research gaps and deliver rigorous research with partners that improves the evidence base for best practice in disease outbreak prevention, detection and response in LMICs.
3. Develop in-country capacity for an improved and rapid national response to disease outbreaks and support implementation of International Health Regulations.

The UK-PHRST team is comprised of epidemiologists, microbiologists, infection prevention and control experts, social scientists, and in addition to the Director and Deputy Director for research, the core management team. It is underpinned by a cadre of multidisciplinary outbreak-focused research fellows.

UK Health Security Agency

At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our staff are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work. Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.

The portfolio of duties outlined below will vary in accordance with the detailed expectations of the role (attached), which may be varied from time to time, and agreed at your annual Performance and Development Review (PDR).

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Project Management
   1. Providing effective research project management across multiple projects, ensuring all research projects have measurable operational plans that allow for active monitoring against milestones, taking pre-emptive steps to prevent problems.
   2. Responsible for all non-scientific aspects of a portfolio of projects as part of the UK-PHRST; including organising travel, visas, reimbursement of expenses, arranging project meetings, workshops and conference calls, and shipments.
   3. Assist the Programme Manager, Director and Deputy Director for Research in ensuring emergency and service continuity plans are in place for the UK-PHRST’s research delivery.
   4. Collaborate with other members of the Research Management Team and Core Management Team (including UKHSA Colleagues), while working independently and managing arrange of projects and outputs.
   5. Deputise for the LSHTM Programme Manager in their absence and, where appropriate, undertake additional activities as required in service of effective UK-PHRST research and programme delivery. Confidently and independently mitigate any problems that arise
   6. Ensure that the logframe (performance measurement database tool) is maintained as live, in line with best practice by the Programme Management Team, trouble-shoot any problems or bottlenecks in data collection, including working collaboratively with cross-disciplinary stakeholders based in multi-time zones.
   7. Report project management outputs against the logframe, contributing to annual internal evaluations and periodic external evaluation of progress looking at UK-PHRST research project outputs and purpose.
   8. Provide significant input into the short‐ and longer‐term planning of the UK-PHRST Programme, helping to develop the scope, plan and budget.
   9. Develop and maintain a risk register for the projects to help identify and manage potential risks to the project in a timely manner.
   10. Develop a strategy for the management of multiple research projects’ activities, ensuring management structures are transparent.
   11. Identify and advise on the response to and manage potential financial risks arising from the project within in a timely manner.
   12. Identify and investigate any system failures relating to the UK-PHRST’s research activity and develop robust new approaches to prevent similar issues arising again.
2. Monitoring & Reporting
   1. Lead the Research Management team’s ongoing monitoring activities, review of progress and summary of achievements, involving the collection of data and information across multiple global work streams and projects.
   2. Work with the UK-PHRST Programme Manager, Deputy Director for Research and Assistant Professor in Monitoring Evaluation and Leaning (MEL) to deliver the UK-PHRST’s monitoring and evaluation activities.
   3. Oversee and contribute to the drafting and production of documents throughout the year such as:

• Quarterly Highlight Report (high-level overview of progress, finances, risks, and their mitigation)
• Quarterly and Annual Financial Report
• UK-PHRST Annual Review Report (performance against log-frame indicators)
• Annual Research Projects Progress Report
• Annual Implementation Plan
• UK-PHRST Annual business plan

4.Oversee that the logframe is updated annually to reflect progress and revised targets for following years.

5.Ensure that team performance is measured against specific objectives as set out in the UK-PHRST annual business plan.

1. Financial Management
   1. Managing part of a multi-million (£) complex grant with multiple collaborators and high-profile funders reflecting the need for advanced skills in financial management.
   2. Coordinate the development of ToRs and lead on the quarterly and annual reporting for collaborating institutions.
   3. Manage the interface between sub-awardees, academic staff and LSHTM central services in the development and execution of contracts for research and consultancy
   4. Assist Research Operations with the establishment of sub-contracts with partner organisations, advising on reporting/invoicing requirements and audits.
   5. Analyse research activity and spend on a regular basis and input into reports, forecasts, and scenarios as required to ensure transparency and project compliance, tracking the policy and practice impacts of projects in association with academic staff.
   6. Develop and maintain a system to track progress of collaborator led research projects, to be able to report against objectives, activities, responsible parties and key milestones, ensuring that narrative and financial reports are submitted on time.
   7. Make budget spend decisions around the research budget in collaboration with the Programme Manager and Deputy Director for Research.
   8. Provide advice to the UK-PHRST Programme Manager and Directorate, including on matters related to management and resource allocation, to ensure effective implementation of the research programme.
   9. Adhere to all LSHTM policies and processes.
   10. Support strategic financial planning for renewal of external funding applications and ensure subsequent effective grant management.
   11. Administer the cyclical financial compliance reporting requirements, grant management and reporting progress/KPI’s to funders as well as ensuring governance and accountability to meet audit requirements.
   12. Work with the Research Finance Team to complete detailed financial reports for submission to funders by collating and submitting evidence of expenditure as appropriate and ensuring these are delivered on time.
2. Initiative and Problem Solving
   1. Use initiative to solve standard problems by following set procedures/guidelines, for example, responding to queries from the Principal Investigator, team members, collaborators and Professional Services.
   2. Determine when appropriate to escalate issues to the Programme Manager, the Principal Investigator or someone with specialist knowledge.
   3. Use initiative and creativity to identify and solve more unusual problems; interpreting school and funder policies and procedures and assessing the consequences of various courses of action.
3. Internal Communications
   1. Liaison with the range of LSHTM departments relating to the effective operation of the collaboration, in particular, the Funding Team, Research Finance Team, Services Team, Finance Department, Human Resources Department, Procurement Department, Communications and Engagement Department, and Research Governance and Integrity Office.
   2. Present regular updates to the UK-PHRST Senior Management Team on the activities and the wider research activity of UK-PHRST at formal and informal meetings (all staff meetings, core management calls, LSHTM team meetings etc.)
   3. Attend and present at UK-PHRST Full Team Meetings
   4. Attend and facilitate Research Coordination Meetings as required
4. External Communications
   1. Ensure that the project team functions cohesively through effective communications with academics and administrative staff at collaborating institutions.
   2. Attend meetings between the partners, funders and liaison staff.
   3. Oversee the drafting of research briefs, production of research presentations and other external research outputs to help influence wider audiences.
   4. Liaison with the project’s website and report designer, the member of academic staff responsible for the website and the project’s communications officer to ensure maintenance of an up to date, high quality project/collaboration website.
   5. Work with the UK-PHRST’s Communications Team on all research related external outputs (including, publications, events and presentations, data visualisations, reports, opinion pieces and blogs)
   6. Proactively look for opportunities to publicise the research activities of the UK-PHRST.
   7. Advise on requests from the school press office and other sources regarding press and other enquires.
5. Liaison and Networking
   1. Liaise with external stakeholders as appropriate, in particular those critical to the success of operational research delivery, such as UKHSA, DHSC, NIHR and academic partners.
   2. Support the establishment and maintenance of good working relationships with overseas research partner institutions to ensure constant exchange of information and to provide recommendations to improve research projects.
   3. Develop relationships with internal stakeholders, relevant LSHTM departments and central services.
6. Human Resources
   1. Line manage the Project Coordinator (Grade 5), providing effective leadership, training, development, mentorship and delegation of work.
   2. Conduct annual Professional Development Review, liaising with academic staff and others on individual performance.
   3. Assist in the induction and training of new staff or temporary administrative staff within the team.
   4. Supervise and manage other team members in the Programme Manager’s absence.
   5. Assist in the recruitment process of new staff members, including drafting job descriptions and HERA job evaluations, arranging interviews and participating in short-listing/interview panels as appropriate.
   6. Prepare Payroll Funding Variation Forms (PVFs) independently across multiple academic staff and projects to extend staff contracts and change funding or full time equivalent (FTE).
   7. Support staff based overseas to operate effectively and in compliance with the LSHTM’s human resources and financial policies and procedures.
   8. Pro-actively monitor staffing on projects, through staff forecasting and advise the Principal Investigator and Programme Manager when funding shortfalls arise and work together to achieve a solution.
7. Other
8. Provide cover during absence of other Professional Support Staff within the UK-PHRST, including dealing with queries, attending meetings and making urgent decisions if required.
9. Work as part of a team and show awareness and consideration of other administrative roles in the UK-PHRST, covering periods of absence of others in the team.
10. Undertake occasional visits to overseas sites to attend meetings and workshops.
11. Adhere to Faculty and School policy and procedures at all times.
12. Demonstrate continuous professional development by acquiring relevant skills and competencies e.g. keeping up to date with changes in procedures/regulations, attending relevant training.
13. Contribute to general activities of the Department and School that help to promote the objectives of the school.
14. Attend Department and Faculty meetings.
15. Respond to requests from the Department and Faculty Operating Officers on administrative matters.
16. Undertake other duties related to the post as requested by the PI.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

This form lists the essential and desirable requirements needed by the post holder to be able to perform the job effectively

Essential criteria:

• Higher education to degree level or equivalent or extensive relevant experience.
• Significant proven experience of project management in an academic institution, NGO or similar environment.
• Significant experience of managing large complex multi-million-pound projects with multiple partners and multiple workstreams.
• Significant financial management experience including preparing, monitoring and negotiating budgets, monitoring expenditure and variance, and producing projections and reports in a clear and logical format.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, counterparts and staff in collaborating institutions, individuals from different backgrounds and cultures, together with the ability to communicate effectively and negotiate at all levels.
• Excellent organisational skills including a proven ability to prioritise effectively.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills, significant experience of donor reporting and the ability to provide guidance on organisational policies and processes.
• Proven ability to work with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Advanced working knowledge of the MS Office Suite, Management Information Systems and software relevant to grant management.

Desirable criteria:

• Political sensitivity and cultural awareness, with understanding of the particular challenges of research within LMIC setting.
• Experience in a rapid response/support team environment across such as, outbreak response, research and capacity development
• Willingness to travel for work purposes.
• Proven ability to lead, manage and motivate a team.

SALARY AND CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT

The post is funded by UK Government Overseas Development Aid until 31 March 2025.

Salary is on the Professional Support Grade 6 scale in the range £41,829 to £47,503 per annum (inclusive of London Weighting).

The post will be subject to LSHTM terms and conditions of service. Annual leave entitlement is 30 working days per year, pro rata for part time staff. In addition, there are discretionary “Wellbeing Days”. Membership of the Pension Scheme is available.

ASYLUM AND IMMIGRATION STATEMENT

The School will comply with current UKVI legislation, which requires all employees to provide documentary evidence of their legal right to work in this country prior to commencing employment. Candidates will be required to email a copy of their passport (and visa if applicable) to HR prior to their interview and if appointed will be asked to bring the original documents in to be copied and verified before their start date.

Applications from candidates who require sponsorship to work in the UK will be considered alongside other applications. Applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK will have to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration regulations before they can be appointed.

Further information about Sponsorship and eligibility to work in the UK, can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-skilled-worker