Programme Manager (Fixed Term) Full-time

Programme Manager

The Institute of Metabolic Science Epidemiology unit (IMS Epidemiology) seeks to appoint a Programme Manager. The position is based within the Global Health team at IMS Epidemiology – as part of the Cambridge Africa Diaspora Centre for Healthy, Hopeful Urban Futures (UrbanBetter Academy @ Cambridge). The primary role of this post is to lead the management of research, training and convening projects and partnerships across Cambridge and African institutions.

The role combines project management and delivery, partnership coordination, financial and donor management, and research governance oversight. Alongside a competitive salary, University staff are eligible for a comprehensive package of benefits and services including discounts on shopping, health care, financial services and public transport. The IMS Epidemiology is based within the Institute of Metabolic Sciences at the School of Clinical Medicine on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. It undertakes research that investigates the aetiology and prevention of obesity, diabetes and related metabolic disorders to improve population health globally.

The post forms part of the Cambridge Africa Diaspora Centre for Healthy, Hopeful Urban Futures (UrbanBetter Academy @ Cambridge), a new Centre based at IMS Epidemiology in partnership with UrbanBetter. The Centre is a node of the networked UrbanBetter Academy and focuses on building evidence, coalitions and skills to shape healthier, climate-resilient urban futures in African cities. It supports transdisciplinary research, training and coalition-building programmes funded by multiple organisations and works closely with universities in Africa, city leaders, youth-led networks and practitioners.

A key focus of the role will be to help establish and administer the Centre's initial activities and the successful applicant will play a central role in helping to shape systems, structures and ways of working while ensuring high-quality delivery across a growing portfolio of activities. This includes supporting the coordination of multiple collaborative research projects funded by several funders, supporting the Lead with fundraising for new initiatives and providing administrative support for training programmes and coalition-building activities.

The successful applicant will work closely with project teams, funders and external partners in the UK, Africa and globally, and will act as a central coordination point to ensure effective communication, strong governance and timely outcomes-focused delivery of projects.

This role is well suited to an experienced programme manager with excellent organisational and communications skills and an entrepreneurial mindset, who is comfortable working in complex, multi-partner environments and contributing to the development of a new Centre. Applicants will be educated to degree level (or equivalent professional experience), with significant experience in programme and partnership management within a research, higher education, policy or NGO environment, and with demonstrated experience managing multi-partner and multi-funder programmes, overseeing budgets and donor reporting, and supporting research governance and ethics processes.

The successful candidate will be expected to manage multiple priorities, work with a high degree of autonomy and build effective relationships across academic and non-academic sectors.