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Business development;

• Identify suitable funding opportunities and alert the head of theme;

• Actively seek funding opportunities in research areas aligned to the Unit’s strategic research agenda. Support researchers in matching proposals to the right funding scheme;

• Provide overall direction and leadership to the theme portfolio of projects ensuring that

• projects are implemented according to funder terms and conditions and Unit Policy;

• Ensure that approvals for submissions are undertaken and relevant background information collected for submissions;

• Coordinate the grant writing team by putting together different components and support grant submissions through donor portals;

• Support management of the program core budget and facilitate budget approvals and revision processes as the Unit and according to MRC/UKRI and LSHTM policies and procedures;

• Lead the team in fundamental substantive operational issues ensuring optimization of human and financial resources and nurturing a culture of results-driven with highest performance standards;

• Ensure that the Unit rules and regulations concerning proposal submissions, finance, procurement, and HR are adhered to; and support an environment of learning for staff within the program;

• Coordinate the due diligence process and support potential sub-award capacity assessments; and,

• Support work package objective writeup and costing of activities for potential sub-awardee applications.

Program planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation;

• Ensure that department policy, SOPs, and guide documents developed for the department work procedures concerning program planning and implementation, are adhered to and develop documents upon request;

• Provide strategic advice, direction, and technical input to PI and the researchers and keep the theme informed about emerging issues and trends;

• Ensure program milestones and timelines are collected for effective monitoring and evaluation of project activities;

• undertake the day-to-day management of the operations of the theme, including effective program implementation and document progress towards the achievement of outputs;

• Oversee the establishment of the monitoring and evaluation plan for projects and ensure its implementation is aligned with the overall department monitoring and evaluation plan;

• Plan and participate in the dissemination activities with the project team;

• Ensure that the management information system established in the department and within the Unit is utilized which allows for the efficient and effective collection, storage, and analysis of data throughout the project life cycle and across programs;

Guide the development of the theme’s communication strategy in close collaboration with relevant partners.

• Ensure that communication strategies adopted by projects are aligned to Unit and funder communication;

• Ensure that Terms of Reference or scope of work are developed for all consultants/experts recruited and ensure proper delivery of technical services and submission of technical and other reports;

• Ensure proper coordination of the project implementation among implementing partners/collaborators promoting timely responses;

• Ensure the timeliness and quality of the outputs as well as timely preparation of reports, and delivery of resources and results according to planned timelines and milestones;

• Promote identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning as part of knowledge building, management, and transfer;

• Promote cross-theme teamwork and skills development for the project team members through coaching and mentoring; and,

• Participate in knowledge networks and other forums to draw on best practices and lessons learned in other similar contexts.

Governance;

• Within the set of projects in the portfolio ensure that all compliance points for both donors and the MRC/UKRI are implemented. These cuts across projects both during and after the projects are closed;

• Work with the project leads to ensure that all regulatory compliance are met as well as compliance with donor terms and conditions;

• Cooperates with Unit’s research governance to ensure compliance to all Clinical Trial regulations;

• Be responsible for overseeing the safe-keeping of Unit and project resources ensuring they are kept safe, secure, and not misused; and,

• Ensure approval for financial transactions is done in compliance to Unit and funder conditions.

Financial management;

• Perform accurate accounting of grants, monthly account status reports, reconciliation, and reporting;

• Assist with the reallocation of funds and transfer of expenses(recharges) as necessary;

• Assist with the review of monthly expenditures and reports from Finance to project and principal investigators;

• Where required, ensure that project audits are carried out and audit reports submitted to all parties relevant;

• Review quarterly reports and budgets for shared resources;

• Ensure that reporting deadlines and assignments are met promptly;

• Prepare, maintain, and consolidate financial reports for the theme every quarter;

• Reconcile study-related invoices under the Theme;

• the Unit and for preparation of required reports;

• Facilitate transparent financial management of the program that can stand up to regular audits and evaluations;

• Approve requisitions orders and payment requests in relevant systems and ensure monthly delivery of program outputs; and,

• Coordinate the preparation of work plans, and produce timely reports – financial and progress reports as required by donor reporting systems.

Collaboration liaison;

• Maintain a master reporting schedule for projects within the theme;

• Lead the production of Theme performance reports. Report will be analysed and discussed with the Theme Leaders to ensure that appropriate action is taken to remedy issues, and where necessary, issues are appropriately escalated;

• Coordinate the preparation and submission of financial and technical reports to funders;

• Ensure that all reporting obligations are met; and,

• Ensure that the project is closed according to the Units and funder project closure procedure.

Line management;

• Line manage project managers, and Grants Officers; and,

• Support the Head of the theme with the Management of a multi-disciplinary team of researchers, field, and laboratory staff providing support and guidance.