JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Project Manager-Research
Job Code: 000488
Employing Hospital and Department:
Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard
Minimum degree: BS/BA
Years experience required: 1 – 2 years directly related experience.
Experience Required:
Demonstrated professional experience in a supervisory or project management position
with international experience in a resource limited setting desired.
Summary:
A position is open for a Research Project Manager at one of the international sites of the Ragon
Institute of MGH, Harvard and MIT. The candidate for this position will be based full-time in
Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where they will work as core team member of
the Ragon-affiliated ITEACH Program. The primary responsibility of this position will be to lead
all aspects of research to determine whether HIV self-testing is feasible in a high-burden resource
limited setting. Knowledge gained from preliminary studies will be used to guide the design of
an HIV Self-Test Kit (STK), creating a contained complete self-testing service, inclusive of
testing materials, instructions, link to mobile counseling and guide for entry into HIV care. A
secondary responsibility will include monitoring and evaluation of existing ITEACH clinical
services, including auditing of protocol implementation, and data analysis.
Job Duties:
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Lead development of research protocol to assess feasibility of an HIV self-test kit
Assist with research budget development and ensure all activities are conducted within
allocated budget
Prepare and submit research protocol for submission to UKZN Bioethics Research
Committee (BREC); oversee submission, responses to queries, amendments and renewals.
Prepare and submit research protocol for submission to MGH/Partners Human Research
Committee (PHRC) IRB; oversee submission, responses to queries, amendments and
renewals.
Provide effective support to the research team during pre-research activities, including
obtaining community support and buy-in, establishing recruitment partners, selecting
appropriate study sites with required approval
Maintain effective working relationships with project key collaborator/partners, including
Frog Design, Praekelt Foundation and Ghetto Ruff Records.
Maintain and establish new relationships with potential partners/supporters that may
contribute to project success, including Letsema Consulting, FIND Diagnostics, Microsoft
Research, etc.
Ensure ordering and inventory of research supplies
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Ensure detailed documentation of the experimental work
Ensure regular maintenance, cataloging and back-up of experimental data files
Prepare manuscripts for academic presentation and publication
Minimum 1 year commitment required
Qualifications:
• Good organizational skills and excellent attention to detail
• Must be willing to learn and grow
• Excellent documentation skills
• Excellent writing skills
• Ability to perform as a team member
• Must have good interpersonal skills
• Some occasional weekend or evening flexibility may be required
• Computer experience is essential
• 1 year commitment minimum, 2 year commitment preferred