Project Manager, Healthcare Research Studies at 54gene

Status: Full-time, Exempt
Reports to: Director, Research Projects
Department: Research Operations
Industry: Biotechnology

Position Summary

• As a Project Manager at 54gene, you will play a critical role in supporting the organization to achieve its goals towards advancing healthcare for Africans.
• The research team, which you will be joining, is behind the insight generation for translational and precision medicine.
• As such, you are required to be organized, analytical and thorough in owning, coordinating, managing, and overseeing all aspects of the implementation of epidemiological research studies from inception to completion within the set timeframe, budget, and scope.
• You will think quickly and strategically when identifying and addressing challenges; and, you will display sensitivity and high levels of emotional intelligence when interacting with all stakeholders.

Roles and Responsibilities
Project Planning:

• Develop technically feasible proposals for research studies that define the project scope, objectives, phased approach, and timeline for execution
• Develop SOPs to guide the execution of the research studies on the field
• Serve as a critical partner to the company’s operation’s team (Supply chain, logistics, Finance) in all aspects of project’s resources and operational planning
• Determine the resources (material and human) required to meet the objectives of the study / project and allocate appropriately. This includes forecasting of all technical, operational and staffing resources
• Prepare budget for project based on resource requirements, logistics and key activities required for the execution of the project
• Determine other department(s) required to join the execution team. Define the responsibilities of each departmental team member
• Develop detailed project and operational plans showing the phases of the project, tasks / activities, resource requirements per task, team member responsible and timeline
• Establish and document the processes to be followed during project execution
• Define S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely) KPIs specific to the project
• Perform risk management to minimize risks on the project
• Seek regulatory approvals for developed proposal prior to execution of research studies
• Design (real-time) project tracker for monitoring progress, as well as a reporting template for weekly reports
• Coordinate the training / onboarding of key personnel required for executing the study/project, where applicable

Project Execution:

• Leads and coordinates all critical elements of research studies, implementing them using industry best practices and following all established processes and ethical rules and guidelines related to clinical research
• Create and maintain an organized comprehensive project documentation
• Track project costs to ensure activities are implemented within the budget
• Manages staff conducting the day-t0-day operations of multiple research studies including kick-off, conduct and close out activities
• Liaise with team members to ensure tasks are being achieved completely and in a timely manner
• Manage contracts with stakeholders by assigning tasks and communicating deliverables
• Monitor progress daily and make adjustments as needed
• On an ongoing basis, escalate project in-field issues to operations teams and devise ways to mitigate changes in a timely manner
• Update project tracker daily or as frequently as changes occur
• Measure project performance, document challenges and develop action plans for addressing the challenges
• Discuss action plan with management and execute immediately

Project Reporting:

• Prepare weekly reports highlighting key updates, trends and progress
• Share weekly report with management
• Identify and report key insights found on the research progress of the research project

Stakeholder Management:

• Develop a stakeholder management plan for all key stakeholders including Study investigators, study sponsor, study execution team, etc.
• Establish and maintain relationships with stakeholders: Serves as primary contact for partner, sponsor and / or functional area representatives in running the research study execution
• Keep stakeholders informed on all crucial changes that occur during the course of the project
• Hold stakeholders accountable in an emotionally-intelligent manner
• Ensure regulatory compliance relating to healthcare research ethics

Desk Research:

• Conduct secondary research and literature reviews to support internal reports
• Perform valid and reliable market research relating to internal initiatives, as required. This includes but is not limited to: benchmark analysis, competitive analysis, industry analysis, gap analysis, and SWOT analysis
• Remain fully informed on trends within the public health space and implement best practices

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor's Degree (preferably in a Life Sciences discipline)
• MBA, MPH, PhD, MD or other relevant Graduate or Postgraduate degree is a plus
• Certification in project management e.g. Project Management Professional (PMP), PRINCE2, is a plus

Experience:

• 5+ years of multidisciplinary experience in management consulting, clinical research, public health, health services or health systems research, pharmaceutical, diagnostics, or other related industry
• Proven working experience in project management within the healthcare or life sciences industry: Should have managed a team consisting of at least three other members on several short-to-medium term client projects
• Knowledge of key stakeholders within the healthcare industry and public health space is a plus
• Previous experience working in clinical research projects is a plus.

Requirements
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to think critically, take initiative and make strategic decisions with minimal supervision
• Ability to analyze large sets of data, interpret and report in a coherent format
• Excellent presentation skills: Proven ability to communicate a message in an articulate & professional manner
• Excellent client-facing and internal communication skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Solid organizational skills including attention to detail and multitasking skills
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.

Other:

• Authorization to work in Nigeria
• Valid international travel documentation
• Occasional domestic and international travel may be required.