IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:Programme Manager – Francophone (SM121-13)

School:Public Health

Department:Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Job Family/Level:Professional Services, Level 3b

Salary Range:£32,930 – £40,720per annum

Reporting to:Dr Lynsey Blair,Senior Project ManagerSchistosomiasis Control Initiative

Contract:Full time, fixed term for 12 months

Location:St Mary’s Hospital Campus, Paddington

The Post:

Applications are invited to join the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology located at St Mary’s campus, Paddington. The department is based within a five star research institute equipped with the latest technologies and facilities within Imperial College London’s School of Public Health.

The post holder will join the team of The Schistosomiasis Control Initiative (SCI). The SCI was established at Imperial College London to support the development of sustainable schistosomiasis and intestinal helminth control programmes and to promote the development of integrated neglected tropical disease control in sub-Saharan Africa. Building on the growing international momentum behind global control of neglected tropical diseases, the SCI seeks to foster expanded use of safe and effective drugs for the control of schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis and trachoma in an integrated approach. As additional funding has become available the countries to benefit from SCI’s work has been increased under a DFID funded project “Integrated Control of Schistosomiasis and Intestinal Helminths in sub-Saharan Africa” (ICOSA).

The Programme Manager will provide all the technical assistance required to African country coordinators within their Ministry of Health and/or Education to implement mass drug administration (MDA) programmes for the control of neglected tropical diseases, specifically schistosomiasis and intestinal helminths. The post holder will ensure that programme activities are delivered in a timely, comprehensive and cost-efficient wayby planning, finalising and executing workplans according to strict deadlines and within budget.Work plans will be developed based on MDA activity goals and targets, and implementing evidence-based interventions, as well as new technologies and practices.

Specific tasks include:

A. Support national coordinators and programme teams

  • Provide technical assistance on Neglected Tropical Diseases to Francophone sub-Saharan African countries, as assigned, and provide technical assistance to other partners where appropriate
  • Provide day-to-day support to in-country programme teams and national research institutions
  • Assist country programmes with organisation of treatment campaigns and associated activities
  • Act as liaison between national programmes and selected donors
  • Assist with drug procurement including ensuring targeted treatment numbers are accurately calculated alongside developing the rationale for treatment
  • Assist with the clearance of drugs and other commodities in-country
  • Develop and manage technical training in-country as needed
  • Assist with IEC campaign development
  • Develop long-term treatment strategies and work with governments to ensure sustainability at country level

B. Oversee financial management of country programme budgets

  • Develop and monitor detailed annual budgets for assigned countries
  • Monitor treatment campaign and monitoring and evaluation budgets for each country
  • Ensure financial accounting procedures are being rigorously adhered to within each country
  • Ensure the timely movement of funds in advance of programme activities
  • Support the financial contract office at Imperial College in drafting country specific contracts and terms and conditions of agreement

C. Oversee Surveillance and M&E activities

  • Assist in drafting country specific protocols and training material for drug coverage surveys, and any epidemiological investigation necessary to assess the impact of preventive chemotherapy treatment
  • Ensure that all relevant epidemiological country specific information is obtained before starting any activity related to treatments and epidemiological investigations
  • Ensure longitudinal surveillance activities adhere to developed protocols and data collection is undertaken according to timetable
  • Monitor all routine processes occurring in the annual programme cycle
  • Ensure presence in the country in activities financially supported by SCI for supervision
  • Assist with data management and, where necessary, provide training on statistical analysis of the data in country
  • Prepare scientific manuscripts for publication

D. Advocacy. Networking and Fundraising

  • Maintain excellent working relationships with Ministry of Health and/or Education officials
  • Collaborate with all relevant international and national NGOs and form working relationships where appropriate
  • Prepare both annual and biannual reports for the selected donors, reporting on activities completed and planned in-country
  • Assist in the development of proposals for funding grants to ensure sustainable financial support to country programmes
  • Prepare papers for, and attend, international meetings/conferences as required

Other

  • Assist in the translation of documents from French to English and vice versa
  • Observe and comply with all College policies and regulations, including the key policies and procedures on Confidentiality, Conflict of Interest, Data Protection, Equal Opportunities, Financial Regulations, Health and Safety, Imperial Expectations (for new leaders, managers and supervisors), Information Technology, Private Engagements and Register of Interests, and Smoking
  • Undertake specific safety responsibilities relevant to individual roles, as set out on the College Website Health and Safety Structure and Responsibilities page (

The post holder will also be required to contribute more broadly to the activities of SCI and Imperial College.

Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and so the post holder may be required to undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

ImperialCollege is committed to equality of opportunity and to eliminating discrimination. All employees are expected to adhere to the principles set out in our Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy, Promoting Race Equality Policy and Disability Policy and all other relevant guidance/practice frameworks.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • A graduate degree or equivalent in public health, epidemiology or biology
  • A post-graduate qualification in public health, epidemiology or equivalent
  • Qualification in written and spoken French language, or native French speaker

Experience andKnowledge

Essential

  • A strong understanding of health systems in developing countries
  • Good working knowledge of statistical packages
  • Practical public health field experience in Africa
  • Experience in financial management (budget development, cash flow forecasting)
  • Experience in report and proposal/grant development and writing

Desirable

  • Familiarity with neglected tropical diseases and their control strategies
  • Experience of working in the neglected tropical diseases field

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Strong analytical and computing skills
  • French language skills, both written and spoken, to enable working in a Francophone environment
  • Proven organisational skills
  • Persuasive and clear communication skills, both verbal and written
  • Proven ability to work using own initiative
  • Ability to work in a team

Other

Essential

  • Flexible and adaptable approach to work
  • Flexibility to travel internationally on a regular basis

APPLICATION GUIDANCE

Please read the person specification carefully and describe, as part of your application, how much you feel you meet each of the criteria.

Thank you for your interest in this post. We look forward to receiving your application.