Project Manager, Brain and Mind Institute

Introduction

Chartered in , (AKU) is a private, autonomous, and self-governing international university, with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries over three continents. An integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network, AKU provides higher education in multiple health science and social science disciplines, carries out research pertinent primarily to low- and middle-income countries and operates 7 hospitals (soon 8) and over outreach clinics, all at international standards. It has almost 2, students and 14, staff. The University is both a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change. As a leading international institution dedicated to excellence and change, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact, and access.

The Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) is a trans-AKU entity that seeks to build capacity in the domains of mental health and neuroscience. In collaboration with partners, the Institute is advancing research leadership capacity and support service delivery across East Africa and South Asia, and other regions served by the AKU. The Institute supports a hub for scholarship exchange and action on mental health issues, as well as educational, clinical, and community-based programs. BMIâs research focuses on the context of todayâs youth in Africa and South Asia, while our programmatic offerings address mental health related and brain health issues, including stigma and resiliency. A significant area of interest is the implementation of science-based programing in hospital and community settings that translate new discoveries into prevention and treatment programs.

Job Summary

As part of the Broad Institute funded Genetics of PTSD in African Ancestry Populations project, this position will support the Principal Investigator to carry out the project aims. A culmination of assigned tasks will ensure that the project adheres to ethical guidelines and regulations; required number of research participants are recruited, consented, and followed up; data collected is clean, kept private and confidential.

Responsibilities

·Preparation of tools including doing pilot and pre-tests and calibrating tools. Also streamlining the data collection tools within the preferred electronic platform;

·Mobilisation of study sites and key people in authority within the preferred research sites;

·Manage research implementation cycle schedules including leading implementation activities, opening meetings, monthly and quarterly project and budget variance meetings, closing meetings and conduct follow-ups;

·Overall coordination and supervision of PTSD study activities at Aga Khan University Hospital, Mama Lucy Hospital and Mbagathi Hospital;

·Management of project assistant and research assistants including organising and leading performance review sessions;

·Lead in preparation and facilitate certifications/approvals for research protocol and procurement of study devices and software;

·Managing the locating, recruitment and consenting of study participants;

·Review, summarize, analyse and report of study outputs;

·Storage of data in private and confidential manner- and in compliance of Kenya data protection laws;

·Ensure study supplies are stored safely and accounted for including any monies allotted to study activities;

·Ensure compliance with ethics and study protocol, including policies and regulations related to safety, privacy, and confidentiality;

·Monitor project milestones and deliverables, identify potential delays, bottlenecks and their effects on project deliverables; and implement strategies to ensure operational effectiveness;

·Prepare basic field reports for review by the project leads;

·Prepare and monitor a project risk register; and

·Participate in research dissemination activities and maintain a comprehensive inventory of research dissemination activities.

Requirements

·Masters level training in a related field (i.e., Project Management, Biomedical Sciences, Psychology, Social Sciences, Anthropology, Public Health);

·3-5 yearsâ experience in research preferably in a managerial position;

·At least one-year experience in field data collection preferably in hospital settings;

·Educational or experiential knowledge of psychological tests administration;

·Experience in using SPSS and any other statistical software;

·Academic exposure and interest in PTSD and Genetics; and

·Knowledge of data collection as per data protection guidelines.