Program Manager

Are you looking to develop your career in research or project management? Can you work with a network of internal and external colleagues to manage the work streams of a large-scale, complex project from initiation to completion? Do you want to work collaboratively with academic colleagues to enable the success of a cutting-edge research and innovation project? An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the ‘ Africa AMR-STOP ' project on a fixed-term contract until 31 January 2030. This opportunity is available to both internal and external candidates. This is an exciting time to join Manchester Met. We are one of the top modern universities for research quality, and 90% of our research impact is rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.

About the Project: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is an urgent public health problem with a serious threat to human, animal and environmental health. It is particularly severe in low- and middle-income countries due to a range of factors. This project aims to develop a One Health approach to mitigate and manage environmental AMR for enhancing health and wellbeing in Kenya and Uganda.

About the Role: You will take a lead role in managing and co-ordinating the business of the Africa AMR-STOP project including administrative management, financial planning, and liaising effectively with partners and funders. This will involve:

• Managing the work streams of the Africa AMR-STOP research project from initiation to completion.
• Working with the Principal Investigator of the project to ensure project milestones are met, the project is producing meaningful outputs, and to identify, evaluate and address problems.
• Working closely, via remote channels such as Outlook and Teams, with fellow Research Managers at partner organisations in Kenya and Uganda to support the day-to-day management of the project.
• Co-ordinating communications with project partners and stakeholders, including planning and supporting meetings and producing reports, updates and guidance via a range of media.
• Managing the project budget(s) in partnership with the R&I Post Award Team.
• Acting as the point of contact for all external and internal agencies regarding enquiries pertinent to the project.
• Establishing procedures to ensure adherence to the requirements of the project funder (National Institute for Health Research).
• Conforming to the contractual requirements of various agencies and frameworks guiding the project by co-ordinating evidence gathering for audit processes in partnership with the R&I Post Award Team.
• Ensuring that any personal and confidential information kept for the necessary running of the project complies with current legislation and University standards.

About You: You will be educated to degree level or have substantial equivalent experience with a proven track record of managing complex projects with limited supervision. You will be highly organised with an ability to prioritise service provision. You should also have:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency in implementing robust data management systems.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build positive and effective working relationships to collaborate with colleagues both within and outside the University.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise a variety of work activities in a busy environment and meet strict deadlines.
• You must also have a commitment to excellent customer service and be willing to complete development and training in line with service requirements.

Working at Manchester Met: Manchester Met offers a fantastic range of benefits to employees including:

• Central location which is excellent for commuters
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Very competitive pension scheme
• Access to retail discounts
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Various other rewards and benefits.

How To Apply: Your application must include a supporting statement which provides examples of how your experience and skills match each of the requirements in the Person Specification for this role. Please also attach a Curriculum Vitae. For an informal discussion regarding the requirements of this role, please contact either: Peter Sarsfield, Senior Faculty Research & Innovation Manager, at P.Sarsfield@mmu.ac.uk / Jian Zhou, Reader/Principal Investigator, at J.Zhou@mmu.ac.uk.

Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from all local and international communities, including Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals. We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support. Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources, and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups. Manchester Met is a Disability Confident Leader and, under this scheme, aims to offer an interview to disabled people who apply for the role and meet the essential criteria as listed in the attached Job Description for that vacancy. Hybrid working is offered for this role. The nature of the role requires presence on campus at certain times of year, but at other times you will be able to complete some work remotely. We recognise the benefits and importance of an environment that supports flexible working and are open to conversations throughout the application process.