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Research Project Manager

Employer
KINGS COLLEGE LONDON
Location
London (Greater)
Salary
£38,304- £41,517 per annum (Grade 6) / £35,366 – £37,297 per annum (Grade 5) inc London Weighting
Closing date
7 Nov 2021

Job Details

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to work as a Research Project Manager on a new international mental health research project within the Centre for Global Mental Health at King’s. The post-holder will work closely with, and provide comprehensive support to, the joint principal investigators Prof. Melanie Abas (based in London) and Dr Chibanda (University of Zimbabwe), both of whom are internationally recognised leaders in global mental health. Dr Chibanda founded the world-famous Friendship Bench program.   

 

We are seeking a candidate with the drive and passion to deliver high quality research management.  

 

The ‘King’s College London NIHR Global Health Research Group on Interventions for Youth with Depression and Anxiety Disorders in African Countries’ has been funded for four years. The multidisciplinary group of African and UK researchers will adapt and evaluate a stepped care intervention for youth aged 15 to 24 with depression and/or anxiety in Zimbabwe and Ghana. This will include a randomised clinical trial in senior high schools in Ghana. The project includes capacity building including through training doctoral and post-doc African researchers.    

 

The successful applicant will be required to have an overview of all the study activities. The role will include co-ordination between the principal investigators, the Country Leads in Zimbabwe, Ghana and Malawi, and project managers. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring research ethics committee approvals are in place and up to date, preparing/editing/finalising with the country leads a range of study documents such as questionnaires and protocol manuals, preparing reports for the funder, coordinating sub-contracts. Travel will be required to Zimbabwe and Ghana in all years to work with the local team. The post holder will support dissemination of study outcomes at local, regional, and international levels. The post holder will be supported by a full time study administrator. The post-holder will be joining a dynamic team of international researchers and will receive career mentorship and opportunities for co-authorship and for building their skills in academic mental health.  

 

The successful applicant will be capable of working autonomously and liaising directly with NIHR Group investigators, external partners and stakeholders. They will use their initiative, knowledge, experience and problem solving on a daily basis, and provide supervision for the study administrative staff.  

 

The role will be based in London with a split between working in the office and working from home.  

 

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract until 31/Aug/2025 

This is a full-time  post - 100% full time equivalent

 

Key responsibilities

Coordination and project management  

The post holder will be expected to work independently, and communicate effectively, guided by the Principal Investigators to: 

  • Coordinate all activities of the NIHR Group, ensuring that all project timelines and milestones are met, through thorough project management and regular communication and with country leads and overseas project managers.   
  • Ensure the NIHR Group Executive team meetings are properly conducted, organising meetings, preparing agendas, taking and disseminating minutes and pursuing action points 
  • Ensure the Trial Steering Committee and the community engagement board meet as planned to input into materials, research design, implementation, dissemination, and to ensure research integrity and data quality of the trials. 
  • Liaise directly with the Data Safety and Monitoring Board, and ensure they are provided with timely reports to ensure a high standard of research and  monitor progress and safety of the project. 
  • Manage and account for NIHR Group budgets and purchases, both King’s College London expenditure, and subcontracted partners alongside the project administrator  
  • Gather relevant data on dissemination, impact, and other indicators relevant to the monitoring and evaluation or the project and coordinate the drafting of reports, as necessary. 
  • Supervise the project administrator and ensure that all financial reporting is correct and completed on time   

 
 

Research

The postholder will need good background knowledge of research methods and procedures, relevant to epidemiology. The post holder should be able to work autonomously and with the Principle Investigators and country leads to:

  • Assist investigators with the drafting of research protocols, applications for ethical approval, and research questionnaires
  • Train new research staff in the research protocols and questionnaires
  • Ensure trial master files are organized and regulatory approvals are obtained and up to date
  • Assist in, and/ or conduct systematic reviews of the background literature
  • Assist with the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, and lead on, or collaborate with the drafting of research reports for publication
  • Contribute to the design and delivery of the research capacity building program.

Communication and networking

Effective communication and good interpersonal skills are required, and the postholder must be able to speak and write in fluent English. The post has professional relationships with services within KCL and externally (internationally) with funders, contractors, research and teaching collaborators.

  • Manage communications internally within divisions/department at KCL. This will include liaising closely with the KCL post-award team for the timely execution of subcontracts and the payment of invoices 
  • Act as the intermediary for external contacts to the NIHR group by responding proactively to enquiries, and liaising with investigators, other researchers and the wider global health community
  • Co-ordinate regular NIHR group newsletters or updates, and promote their dissemination to all targeted stakeholders 
  • Support (and lead where necessary) the training of new staff, both at KCL and internationally 
  • Foster open communication channels and a sound working relationship with colleagues and stakeholders in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Ghana. This will include international travel to facilitate face-to-face meetings  
  • Support dissemination of study outcomes at local, regional and international levels 

 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Please note that if the successful post holder has a PhD they will be appointed at Grade 6. If they do not have a PhD they will be appointed at Grade 5.

 

Experience of managing clinical trials and/or adapting interventions, particularly for low resource settings are desirable for this post. Candidates with clinical experience, or a background in epidemiology, global mental health or implementation science are encouraged to apply.  There is scope within this post for continued professional development. 

 

Grade 5 Research Project Manager  

Essential criteria

1.       A relevant higher degree (e.s MSc global mental health, MSc in epidemiology or public health), or equivalent 

2.       Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies relevant to global mental health or global health 

3.       Proven ability to draft research protocols, ethical approval applications, and reports  

4.        Previous experience of managing research projects within a busy environment  

5.       Previous experience or knowledge of methodology for adapting psychological or behavioral interventions 

6.       Ability to communicate effectively at all levels  

7.       Ability to manage time effectively, work flexibly and prioritise workload  

8.       Knowledge of interventions for depression including cognitive behavioral therapy and antidepressants  

 

Desirable criteria

1.       Experience of living or working in a low-resource setting 

2.       Experience of managing budgets and monitoring expenditure  

3.       Clinical or research experience of psychological interventions for common mental disorders 

 

Grade 6 Research Project Manager, as above - plus:

Essential criteria:

1.       PhD in a relevant field (e.g. global mental health)

 

Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Company

King's College London is one of the top 20 universities in the world and among the oldest in England. King's has more than 27,600 students (of whom nearly 10,500 are graduate students) from some 150 countries worldwide, and some 6,800 staff.

King's has an outstanding reputation for world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) King’s was ranked 6th nationally in the ‘power’ ranking, which takes into account both the quality and quantity of research activity, and 7th for quality according to Times Higher Education rankings. Eighty-four per cent of research at King’s was deemed ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (3* and 4*). The university is in the top seven UK universities for research earnings and has an overall annual income of more than £684 million.

King's has a particularly distinguished reputation in the humanities, law, the sciences (including a wide range of health areas such as psychiatry, medicine, nursing and dentistry) and social sciences including international affairs. It has played a major role in many of the advances that have shaped modern life, such as the discovery of the structure of DNA and research that led to the development of radio, television, mobile phones and radar.

King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts are part of King's Health Partners. King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) is a pioneering global collaboration between one of the world's leading research-led universities and three of London's most successful NHS Foundation Trusts, including leading teaching hospitals and comprehensive mental health services. For more information, visit: www.kingshealthpartners.org.

King’s £600 million campaign, World questions|KING’s answers, has delivered huge global impact in areas where King’s has particular expertise. Philanthropic support has funded new research to save young lives at Evelina London Children’s Hospital; established the King’s Dickson Poon School of Law as a worldwide leader in transnational law; built a new Cancer Centre at Guy’s Hospital; allowed unique collaboration between leading neuroscientists to fast-track new treatments for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, motor neurone disease, depression and schizophrenia at the new Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute; created the Cicely Saunders Institute: the first academic institution in the world dedicated to palliative care, and supported the King’s Sierra Leone Partnership in the Ebola crisis. Donations provide over 300 of the most promising students with scholarships and bursaries each year. More information about the campaign is available at www.kcl.ac.uk/kingsanswers.

Company info
Mini-site
KINGS COLLEGE LONDON
Telephone
+(44)02078365454
Location
STRAND
LONDON
WC2R 2LS
United Kingdom

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