Senior Manager, Vaccine Translational Research

Position Description

Job Title:             Senior Manager, Vaccine Translational Research
Location:            Nairobi, Kenya
Reports to:         Director Global Partnerships, Antibody Discovery and Development, NAC

POSITION SUMMARY:

Help IAVI translate our scientific discovery into global health impact!

IAVI is seeking a Senior Manager, Vaccine Translational Research who will be support, manage, and execute the translational research activities in the ADVANCE program leading workplan development for research activities. The Senior Manager will collaborate directly with ADVANCE strategic area leads, researchers, program managers, operations team, and other key stakeholders across the IAVI-ADVANCE Clinical Research Center (CRC) network in East and Southern Africa. The Senior Manager will design programming to promote innovation, sustainable research platforms, technical rigor, and collaboration within the ADVANCE research community, creating equitable opportunities for diverse stakeholders at all levels to partner in the design of an HIV vaccine. The Senior Manager will align the translational research agenda, implementation activities, and learning platforms to a defined framework ensuring successful delivery of translational science activities, while assisting and advising stakeholders on technical and programmatic matters.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Scientific leadership for the ADVANCE program

• Ensure a high-quality translational research program through development of innovative technical workplans and draft project implementation in collaboration with strategic area and CRC leads.


• Provide technical leadership and troubleshooting support for translational science activities and support the management and implementation of key flagship program areas.


• In collaboration with strategic area leads and PMs of the respective flagship areas, ensure alignment and timely execution of ADVANCE research activities.


• Stay current in recent research and latest methodologies in the field of vaccinology and research workforce management to make recommendations based on relevance to ADVANCE.


• Lead regular scientific and technical progress meetings, providing input into the design and execution of experiments, collection, and interpretation of data, providing troubleshooting support and decision making on related technical issues.


• Support funding applications for translational research and contribute to review of protocols & manuscripts, grant applications, and conference presentations.

Manage key scientific partnerships in Africa to support IAVI’s mission

• Manage partnerships with external researchers and collaborative institutions on the African continent to advance HIV vaccine research and development.


• Foster new partnerships on HIV vaccine resources and opportunities in partnership with Strategic Area Leads and CRC PIs.


• Coordinate between internal and external stakeholders for the establishment and execution of agreements and contracts (collaborative agreements, MTAs, MSAs, etc.)

Programmatic support ensuring successful execution of scientific program

• In collaboration with PMs, support MEL documentation and reporting centered on progress on translational research by contributing to, promoting, and participating in MEL processes, data interpretation, and documentation.


• Help develop quarterly and annual research project reports for translational research activities and share with the ADVANCE Leadership Team and other ADVANCE performance review committees.


• Act as the main point of contact for strategic area leads for assigned flagship area ensuring alignment and seamless execution of priority areas and provide recommendations for implementation adjustments.


• Work together with the Program Managers and operations team to develop a robust operational plan to monitor performance, timelines, and progress on commitments.


•  Prepare reports for funders.

Lead scientific capacity strengthening of the ADVANCE CRC network

• Develop, implement, and execute inclusive strategies that foster creative inquiry while responding to a changing world and reflecting the multiplicity of disciplines, knowledge, and cultures within the global ADVANCE network and HIV vaccine R&D field.


• In collaboration with the ADVANCE SA3 leadership, ensure there is CRC site-specific scientific and institutional research development plans that will build long-term research expertise and infrastructure capacity that aligns with the CRC’s long-term goals and support the network sustainability plans.


• Support and contribute to the development of research proposal and grants that further strengthen translational research capacity at ADVANCE CRCs.


• Lead the identification and review of technology gaps at CRCs and make recommendations to support establishment of new capabilities or strengthening of existing ones.


• Ensure platforms and capabilities are established and individuals trained at ADVANCE CRCs to execute translational research activities.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE:

• A Ph.D. in Immunology or Virology or equivalent is required.


• Minimum 5 years’ work experience in a medical/ academic/research environment is required; experience in translational immunology research is preferred.


• Experience in immune assays such as Flow Cytometry, ELISA, B-cell and/or T-cell responses evaluation, as well as Molecular Biology is required.


• Experience with post-graduate student supervision and mentorship is required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

• A proven research track record accompanied by a good publication record in the field of HIV translational science is required.  


• Experience in managing multi-center research projects is required.


• Proven success in medical/academic research management and administration.


• Proven success in servicing committees.


• Excellent planning, project management, and organizational skills to multitask and prioritize.


• Excellent reasoning and analytical skills.


• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships at all levels.


• Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills are required.


• Computer literacy, with advanced Microsoft Office skills, is required.


• Previous work experience in the field of Global Health and/or HIV is desirable.


• Proven experience in project MEL is desirable.


• Willingness to travel at least 10-20% of the time is required.

Organizational Overview:

IAVI is a nonprofit scientific research organization dedicated to addressing urgent, unmet global health challenges including HIV and tuberculosis. Our mission is to translate scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions. Through scientific and clinical research in Africa, India, Europe, and the U.S., IAVI is pioneering the development of biomedical innovations designed for broad global access. We develop vaccines and antibodies in and for the developing world and seek to accelerate their introduction in low-income countries. IAVI programs and partnerships are grounded in the regions of the world where the disease burden is the greatest, and our approach emphasizes sustainability. Our network of clinical research center partners in Africa and India helps strengthen in-country research capacity and supports the training and education of the next generation of scientists. The global impact of our science includes fundamental contributions to understanding the biology of HIV infection, which IAVI and others are applying toward advancing vaccine science and immunology. IAVI accelerates scientific discovery and development by fostering unique collaborations among academia, industry, local communities, governments, and funders to explore new and better ways to address public health threats that disproportionately affect people living in poverty. Our global reach, including a clinical research network in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in India, has allowed us to make fundamental contributions to understanding the epidemiology, transmission, virology, and immunology of HIV. This work played a key role in facilitating the design of promising HIV vaccine candidates, as well as the discovery of broadly neutralizing antibodies that are now being advanced as promising approaches for HIV prevention. Our integrated capabilities in vaccine and antibody discovery, development, and clinical research take advantage of bio-pharmaceutical industry expertise to accelerate the development and testing of prevention methods for HIV and other diseases. Through the Product Development Center, we support external researchers with technical and scientific expertise to accelerate the development of their own products.  

About ADVANCE: 

ADVANCE (Accelerate the Development of Vaccines and New Technologies to Combat the AIDS Epidemic) is a ten-year cooperative agreement with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This visionary $200 million program will run until June 2026 and is part of IAVI’s 22-year collaboration with USAID that has significantly impacted the field of HIV vaccine R&D and accelerated the search for innovative prevention tools, including a safe and globally effective HIV vaccine. USAID’s long-term investment and willingness to foster advances in science to benefit the world’s most at-risk populations have enabled IAVI’s unique model in Africa and India. 

IAVI CORE VALUES: 

• Dedication to the Mission: We are committed to the translation of scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions. 


• Innovative Evolution: We are committed to solving complex problems in creative and innovative ways, learning from our mistakes and successes and never giving up 


• Integrity: We are committed to meeting the highest ethical and professional standards in everything we do and to taking responsibility for our actions to earn respect 


• Collaboration: We are committed to embracing diversity, the power of global teamwork and the belief that by working as one we can make a difference

Disclaimer: Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship. IAVI is an equal opportunity employer and applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.  

IAVI IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER actively committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive global organization. IAVI believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a representative candidate pool. At IAVI, we celebrate the spectrum of colleagues’ experiences and believe that dedication to our mission above all is essential to our success as a scientific global non-profit. IAVI upholds these principles through IAVI’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Committee.   

IAVI has zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, caste, national origin, home language, ancestry, religion, marital or civil partnership status, age, physical or mental disability, HIV status and any other medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and veteran status, in addition to any other status protected under the law in any of our locations worldwide.