Aga Khan University Hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan and Nairobi, Kenya are private, not-for-profit institutions providing high quality health care. The Main Hospitals serve as the principal sites for clinical training for the University’s Medical Colleges and Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in Pakistan and East Africa.

Job Purpose/Summary

The BMI at AKU is recruiting a Project Manager to support our study the Neuropsychiatric Genetics of African Populations – Psychosis, II (NeuroGAP-Psychosis II); sponsored by the Stanley Global Neuropsychiatric Genetics Initiative. The specific aims of the NeuroGAP-Psychosis II project are designed to build on the success of the work started in the original NeuroGAP-Psychosis study. The study aims to: (a) Expand knowledge of the genetic architecture of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in the African continent through large-scale sample collection and analysis in Kenya and South Africa (b) Increase understanding of the genetics of African populations, through various methods for biospecimen collection and (c) Enhance neuropsychiatric genetic research capacity in Africa through the training of scientists and supporting the development of locally-led research programs.

The research Project Manager role, supervised by Principal Investigator (PI), orchestrates the entire research project(s) lifecycle, from initiation to closeout. They meticulously plan, execute, and monitor project(s) activities, ensuring alignment with objectives and timelines. Through stakeholder engagement, regulatory compliance, risk management, and efficient communication, they navigate challenges and facilitate collaboration. Ultimately, their efforts culminate in successful project(s) closeout, delivering valuable insights that advance the BMI’s mission of promoting brain health and mental well-being.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Implement the project’s workplan by overseeing and coordinating all activities according to established timelines and milestones.
• Ensure compliance with ethical, regulatory, and institutional requirements throughout the duration of the project.
• Monitor and track project progress against predefined metrics, milestones, and deliverables, adjusting as necessary to ensure project success.
• Monitor project budget and expenses, tracking spending against budget allocations and identifying any variances or discrepancies.
• Implement quality assurance and control measures to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and validity of research data and results.
• Maintain regular communication with stakeholders, including, PIs, sponsors, collaborators, and regulatory bodies, to provide updates on project progress and address any concerns.
• Lead project closeout including conducting a final evaluation of the project to assess achievements and identify areas for improvement, ensure all regulatory requirements are met, coordinate financial activities to close project budgets and reconcile expenses, establish organized and accessible archives for project documentation and materials.
• Liaise with the PIs to disseminate project findings and outcomes to relevant stakeholders, including drafting manuscripts.

Relevant Experience and Qualifications

• Master’s level training (or higher) in a related field (i.e., biomedical sciences; neuropsychology, psychometrics, social sciences, anthropology, public health).
• 3-5 years’ experience in research with preference for managing multi-component projects.
• At least one year’s experience in field data collection, preferably in community and hospital settings.
• Educational or experiential knowledge of psychological and neuropsychological test administration
• Experience in using REDCap for data collection and SPSS or any other quantitative statistical software.