Manager (Research & Grant Administration), Paediatrics & Child Health - MC

Introduction

The Outreach and Research Programme of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health has ten community-based field sites across Pakistan (including four in Karachi) and focuses on research for betterment of women and child health. The Department has a Nutritional Research Laboratory as well as an Infectious Disease Research Laboratory that cater to the needs of its research projects. It has well-acclaimed work to its credit both at the national and international level.

As an equal opportunity employer, AKU believes in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture and is committed to adopt appropriate standards for safeguarding and promoting a respectful relationship with and between diverse workforce of its faculty, staff, trainees, volunteers, beneficiaries, wider communities, and other stakeholders with whom it works, including children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees/trainees and partners to share this commitment.

Responsibilities

You will be responsible to:

• ensure smooth running of research grants; strategic planning is pertinent to human resources, financial resources and capital
• developing and implementing innovative, sustainable strategies to inculcate efficiency in existing research and grants administration capacity of the Department
• lead the grants acquisition for the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Leading through includes, but is not limited to, correspondence with the granting agencies, ensuring conformity to regulatory compliance of the agencies, tracking and delivering narrative and financial reports (after liaison with the concerned entity(ies), etc.) and Operations of Research Project
• organize and manage legal formalities of granting agencies (and sub-contractors) and ensure that those are adequately met and endorsed
• facilitate Researchers towards development of Research Proposals, finalizing contents and procedural formalities (non-technical)  
• manage research administration of various extramural and intramural research grants
• plan and develop promotional materials, handbooks, brochures and web-content for the Dept
• be the Financial Controller of all the Research Projects of the Department. This involves supervising the Finance team of the Departments (Paeds and Obs/Gynae), develop and constantly seek to improve systems related to financial controls and audits and ensure that the systems are in line with the University policies and procedures
• identify, select, and establish Outreach Sites (Field Offices) for the various Research Projects at the community. This involves having a proactive approach to project management, liaison with AKU’s support departments for timely delivery of tasks and ensuring that the sites are established in consonance with AKU’s Housing and Construction Departments’ guidelines
• supervise and develop Administrative Teams of Outreach and Research, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health and Research Admin This includes on-job coaching of juniors for capacity development
• monitor, evaluate and improve operating procedures of all administrative functions of the Division
• developing and implementing a more robust and user-friendly Grant Regulatory System (ERCs, GC, CT Registration, MTAs, CoI forms, Faculty Time and Effort Sheets, pre and post award management systems) to ensure greater facilitation to the Divisional Faculty and investigators
• developing and implementing stringent and internationally acceptable Programme and Financial Audit systems to adhere to various granting agencies' rules and regulations to ensure 'zero' observation in external audits
• conduct financial and administrative audits at the field sites (outside and within Karachi)
• conduct project monitoring visits at the field sites to ensure that project activities are in line with the agreed upon timelines with the granting agencies.

Requirements

You should have:

• an MBA from a reputable university with a major in Business Administration, or be a finalist in CA or ICMA
• an additional certification in Grants Administration and/or Financial Research Administration from recognized national or international bodies will be considered an advantage
• strong knowledge of grants management operations, as well as experience in related enabling/support and technical functions will be highly valued
• six to eight years of professional experience in Business Management and/or Research & Grants Management (Administration, Operations, & Compliance) in Pakistan or abroad
• excellent organization skills  
• proven track record of Capacity Building of subordinates and effective multi-tasking
• ability to manage time and prioritize tasks effectively with having focus on customer satisfaction
• contributing Team Player and a proven, effective leader 
• excellent communication and interpersonal Skills 
• resilience and ability to cope with work pressure & stringent deadlines
• willing to travel and work in the communities / rural field sites and internationally 
• excellent computing and Report Writing Skills.

Comprehensive employment reference checks will be conducted.