Programme Manager – Global Health and Enteric Disease Research Group (GLOHED)

Organization Description

The Malawi – Liverpool – Wellcome – Programme (MLW) (http://www.mlw.mw) is an internationally recognized centre for research and training, funded by the Wellcome Trust in collaboration with our key partners, the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KuHes), Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and University of Liverpool (UoL) among others. We are committed to promoting research and training led by Malawian & International scientists, with the aim of improving the health of people in Malawi and elsewhere in the Region.

Our vision: To be Africa’s’ based beacon of excellence leading impactful research that drives innovation, policy and practice globally.

Our mission:To conduct high-quality research and train the next generation of researchers and leaders to benefit health.​

Requirements

Job Purpose:

The Programme Manager will be based at MLW in Blantyre and will provide overall operational coordination for a multi-country research programme investigating drivers of cholera transmission in Africa. They will work closely with the Principal Investigator, country leads, work package leads and partner institutions to ensure that programme activities are delivered effectively, on time and in accordance with the funder’s and institutional requirements.

The role requires a highly organised individual who can coordinate activities across multiple countries and scientific work packages, maintain oversight of programme milestones and budgets, and facilitate effective communication between investigators, research teams, institutional partners and external stakeholders such as Ministries of Health.

Job Specification:

• A postgraduate qualification in public health, Epidemiology, health research, project/programme management, business administration or another relevant field.
  
• Demonstrated experience managing or coordinating complex research, health or development programmes involving multiple institutions or partners.
• Experience managing programme workplans, milestones, budgets and reporting requirements.
  
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage several workstreams simultaneously.
  
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams and senior investigators or programme leaders.
  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build effective working relationships across institutions, disciplines and countries.
  
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement and follow activities through to completion.
  
• Strong computer skills, including experience with standard project management, spreadsheet and document-management tools.
  

Key Responsibilities:

1.Coordinate implementation of programme activities across participating countries and work packages, ensuring alignment with agreed milestones, deliverables and timelines.

2. Develop and maintain programme workplans, implementation trackers, risk registers and reporting schedules.

3. Coordinate communication between the Principal Investigator, country leads, work package leads and partner institutions.

4. Organise and support consortium meetings, scientific steering meetings, annual programme meetings and cross-country workshops, including preparation and follow-up of actions.

5. Monitor progress against programme milestones and identify implementation risks or delays requiring escalation.

6. Work with MLW finance and partner institutions to monitor programme expenditure, budgets, forecasts and financial reporting.

7. Coordinate preparation of scientific, operational and financial reports required by Wellcome and partner institutions.

8. Support agreements and regulatory processes including sub-awards, contracts, data-sharing agreements, material transfer agreements and relevant institutional approvals.

Maintain oversight of programme governance structures and ensure that decisions and agreed actions are documented and followed through.

9. Coordinate programme-level stakeholder engagement with Ministries of Health, public health institutions and regional and international partners.

Support communication and dissemination activities, including programme reports, policy outputs, meetings and other programme communications.

10. Facilitate collaboration and information sharing across work packages while maintaining clear documentation of programme activities and outputs.

Support recruitment, onboarding and coordination of programme-funded staff across participating institutions.

11. Contribute to development and implementation of programme monitoring and evaluation processes.

12. Undertake other programme management activities required to support successful delivery of the research programme.

• Management of large international or multi-country research programmes.
• Experience working on externally funded research programmes
  
• Experience working within research institutions in sub-Saharan Africa.Familiarity with infectious disease, epidemiological or public health research.
  
• Experience working with Ministries of Health, universities, research institutions or international public health organisations.
  
• Knowledge of research governance, ethics, data-sharing and contracting processes.
  
• Experience coordinating capacity-strengthening activities, postgraduate researchers or research training programmes.
  

Benefits

Remuneration and Benefits

MLW offers a competitive remuneration package aligned with the responsibilities of each position. The package includes a medical aid scheme, 24-hour insurance cover, a pension scheme, and an annual gratuity benefit. In addition, employees have access to training, career development opportunities, and scholarship programmes, subject to performance and other applicable eligibility criteria.

Application Deadline: 16 September 2026.

MLW recognizes its responsibility in safeguarding and protecting communities, research participants and patients it works with. Successful candidates will be requested to undergo a safeguarding check prior to appointment and on regular basis throughout employment.