Job Description

EMBL-EBI is looking for an experienced international project manager to manage all aspects of CABANA - a unique 4.5-year research capacity-strengthening programme in Latin America. Working with our partners in six Latin American countries, we will address the slow implementation of data-driven biology in Latin America by: (1) stimulating data-driven research through secondments to UK-based bioinformatics groups; (2) building bioinformatics training capacity in our target countries through a series of train-the-trainer workshops; (3) providing technical and research-management training through an extensive series of workshops in our target countries; and (4) developing eLearning resources to support research in three challenge areas – communicable disease, sustainable food production and protection of biodiversity.

You will be responsible for initiating and managing the delivery of the project. This will include:

• Scheduling and attending Executive Group meetings
• Being the primary contact for and with the project’s funders
• Being accountable to CABANA’s Executive Group for the day-to-day management of the project
• Ensuring that decisions taken by the Executive Group are implemented
• Monitoring the progress of the project with respect to milestones and deliverables, including monitoring and evaluating project impact
• Overseeing financial administration of the Project, in close liaison with the EMBL-EBI grants office
• Managing risks, including financial, project, reputational and legal risks
• Planning to manage distributed work streams
• Proactively seeking and following up on opportunities to exploit synergies with related projects
• Managing communications within the project and publicly
• Ensuring that an appropriate data management plan is put in place and followed
• Ensuring that the project complies with ethical frameworks

The post reports to the Head of Training, who is also the Principal Investigator on the project. It involves substantial autonomy and requires extensive interactions with others at and beyond EMBL-EBI. The role involves international travel, mainly to our partner countries in Latin America.

At EMBL-EBI, we help scientists realise the potential of ‘big data’ in biology by enabling them to exploit complex information to make discoveries that benefit mankind. Working for EMBL-EBI gives you an opportunity to apply your skills and energy for the greater good. As part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), we are a non-profit, intergovernmental organisation funded by 22 member states and two associate member states and proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus near Cambridge in the UK, and our 600 staff are engineers, technicians, scientists and other professionals from all over the world.

Qualifications and Experience

A university degree in the field of life-science or another scientific, technical or engineering discipline; an interest in and experience of bioinformatics or medical informatics research. An advanced degree in one these fields is a plus. Professional experience of managing international development projects in the context of research, technical services provision or professional training is required.

You should be able to demonstrate experience of managing international development projects in low-to-middle-income (LMIC) countries, including the negotiation of project collaboration agreements and with proven ability to effectively interact with multiple stakeholders (e.g. researchers, educators, funders and policymakers) to deliver results. You will also bring experience of managing outreach and communications including the production of web content, social media, mailing lists and newsletters and experience of creating and maintaining tools for managing large, complex projects, including risk registers, logical frameworks, change models and budget management tools.

An ideal candidate is a motivated self-starter with a proven ability to independently manage delivery within a multi-disciplinary, collaborative team environment. This will be a busy role with frequently changing priorities so it is essential that you:

• Organize your workload and work independently with a minimum of supervision;
• Meet deadlines and handle a heavy workload by openly and proactively clarifying priorities;
• Work to a high level of accuracy and attention to detail;
• Have a flexible approach, self-motivation and resilience;
• Collaborate effectively to deliver exceptional results as part of an international team
• Foster a culture of integrity and trust among the project partners, building mutual understanding and helping to set realistic expectations
• Enjoy experiencing new cultures and be prepared to travel internationally and work occasionally outside normal office hours (including weekends when necessary).
  

You will have a good knowledge of MS Office applications (especially Excel and Word), Google drive, email and internet applications, and a willingness to learn other software tools as needed to manage the project effectively.

Fluency in both written and spoken English is essential; familiarity with Spanish and/or Portuguese desirable but not essential.

Benefits

EMBL is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer offering attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international research organisation. The remuneration package comprises a competitive salary, a comprehensive pension scheme and health insurance, educational and other family related benefits where applicable, as well as financial support for relocation and installation.

We have an informal culture, international working environment and excellent professional development opportunities but one of the really amazing things about us is the concentration of technical and scientific expertise – something you probably won’t find anywhere else.

If you’ve ever visited the campus you’ll have experienced first-hand our friendly, collegial and supportive atmosphere, set in the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. Our staff also enjoy excellent sports facilities including a gym, a free shuttle bus, an on-site nursery, cafés and restaurant and a library.

Application Instructions

To apply please submit a covering letter and CV, with two referees, through our online system.

Additional Information

Applications are welcome from all nationalities - visa information will be discussed in more depth with applicants selected for interview.

EMBL-EBI is committed to achieving gender balance and strongly encourages applications from women, who are currently under-represented at all levels. Appointment will be based on merit alone.

Applications will close at 23:00 GMT on the date listed above.