Seeking Project Manager
Rheumatic Heart Disease Initiative, Zambia
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) affects up to 70 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of cardiovascular-related death in the developing world.
Building on a longstanding partnership with physician colleagues in southern Africa, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR; http://www.nibr.com/) is now engaged in a large-scale, multi-year initiative to combat RHD in Zambia. The Project Manager, Rheumatic Heart Disease Initiative, will be NIBR’s field representative based primarily in Lusaka, Zambia. This position is sponsored by NIBR but locally hired.
The Project Manager will be responsible for working with local partners the implement the program’s activities, which will include:
· Measuring the prevalence of RHD in Lusaka through population-based screening at 50 primary schools using state-of-the-art portable echocardiography
· Establishing strong collaborations with the clinical/scientific community and organizations (universities, research hospitals and other non-profit organizations) in Lusaka that are working on this and similar projects
· Rolling out a novel mobile phone-based electronic registry to track patients with RHD for 2-3 years
· Strengthening health systems that prevent and treat RHD in Lusaka’s main teaching hospital and up to 20 health clinics
· Raising awareness of RHD among the general public
· Monitoring the use of penicillin and related activities in accordance with the study protocol and as specified by Sandoz/Novartis
The Project Manager will work closely with senior leaders at NIBR, the Zambian project lead and other staff located at the Lusaka University Teaching Hospital. Novartis RHD-related activities may over time extend outside of Zambia and, if so, the Project Manager will be responsible for leveraging lessons learned from the Zambian experience to other contexts. Finally, working with local partners and the Project Directors he/she will be responsible for developing and delivering reports and presentations that describe the program’s success and lessons learned.
The ideal candidate will have the following:
· Advanced degree in life sciences, public health, or related degree
· International work experience and/or experience working in a multicultural environment is a must; experience working in Africa is preferred
· Strong communication skills; strong project management skills and ability to work in a highly matrixed environment are essential
· Ability to conduct needs assessments, develop and implement targeted programs/solutions, and to define and measure success of complex interventions is needed
· Excellent negotiation, communications (oral and written) and presentation skills are required; previous academic writing a plus
· Languages: English (with and in-depth understanding/sensitivity to cross-cultural issues)
HOW TO APPLY:
If interested, please forward your CV along with cover letter to Jessica Pettit atjessica.pettit@outlook.com .
