Programme Manager

Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases

Hours
36 hours per week

About the Organisation

Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) is a partnership of the world's biggest public research funding agencies. The Associate Members have come together to promote research collaboration and to fund research programmes to address the prevention or treatment of chronic non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and mental health issues. GACD specifically focuses on research that will provide essential evidence on the most effective ways to prevent or manage disease in poorly resourced settings in low- and middle-income countries and to improve health equity in underserved indigenous populations.

About the role

You will be responsible for the Global Alliance for Chronic Disease’s joint research funding activities, and you will manage and coordinate activities between Associate Members to support priority research on noncommunicable diseases. Reporting to the CEO, the Programme Manager will be responsible for the coordination of activities between the Associate Members and lead on the delivery of GACD joint research funding calls in global implementation science on non-communicable diseases.

Responsibilities

• Manage GACD’s relationship with its Associate Members on the GACD Programme Subcommittee (PSC) to enable the PSC to deliver on its responsibilities.
• Lead on the preparation, coordination, and day-to-day delivery of multi-member funding calls, including facilitating consensus on call material content, advice to applicants, and supporting joint submission of research proposals.
• Lead on the organisation and delivery of international joint peer review for participating funding agencies, ensuring selection of an appropriately balanced panel, reviewer allocation, and management of the complex joint review panel meeting, coordinating decision outcomes amongst the participating agencies.
• Identify, implement and evaluate initiatives to improve the quality of research proposals, this may include focussed workshops, facilitation of thematic working groups, development of resources and key guidance and optimising the monitoring and evaluation framework for GACD projects.
• Keep abreast of relevant science and best practices in research funding to embed these learnings and practices in GACD grant call related activities.
• Liaise with advisory group members and key stakeholders to ensure relevant additional guidance for each call is developed.
• Line manage interns or assistants when engaged to support call-related activities.
• Report on multi-member collaborative activities to the CEO, Strategy Board, and Board of Trustees.
• Represent GACD with external partners and key stakeholders as delegated by the CEO.
• Monitor and manage risks to GACD and Associate Members of joint research call activities.
• Contribute to strategic organisational planning and annual budget processes in areas relating to research investment.

Skills & Competencies

Experience:

• Health research funding (working with a national funding agency, research organisation, and international funder).
• Managing and delivering research funding schemes and processes, including knowledge of facilitating a robust peer review process.
• Convening, running, and briefing committees.
• Partnership working, multi-stakeholder project management.

Abilities:

• Take initiative, prioritise, plan, coordinate, manage, and deliver on agreed objectives.
• Work collaboratively in a small team.
• Network and develop strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Communicate and liaise with people of all levels of seniority, demonstrating tact and discretion where appropriate.
• Write clearly on complex matters using research knowledge and analytical skills and with excellent attention to detail.
• Find solutions to problems by reviewing best practices elsewhere, adapting and modifying procedures in response to changing work needs.
• Demonstrate high level of IT skills, specifically excellent M/S Word, Excel.
• Respond flexibly to work priorities and requests.

Personal Attributes:

• Diplomatic
• Relationship builder
• An enthusiastic team player.

Attractive Extras:

• Post-graduate qualification in life sciences
• Experience in global health research partnerships
• Experience in working with international funding agencies
• Knowledge of grant management software/Airtable /Mentimeter.

Required Qualifications

• A degree in life sciences.

Compensation & Benefits

• 30 days Annual Leave plus public holidays
• Annual pay award.
• Probation period: Six months
• Notice period: Three months after successful completion of a six-month probation period.

Conditions of employment

• You must have the right to work in the UK.

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• Please send your completed application to [email protected] by 13:00 BST on Tuesday, 22 April 2025.
• Provide an up-to-date CV which includes your contact details, education and vocational qualifications, membership of professional bodies, career history and explanation of any breaks in your employment history.
• Provide a brief supporting statement setting out why you are the right candidate for this role making reference to the job description and the person specification. The case that you make and the way that it is presented will form a key part of the shortlisting process.
• Confirm that you can provide evidence of a ‘right to work’ in the UK.

Interviews

• Interviews: w/c 28 April 2025

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