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Job Title:   Head of Quality and Risk  

Organisation: Medical Research Council (MRC UK) /UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit

Duty Station: Entebbe, Uganda

Reports to: Unit Chief Operating Officer

 

About the Company:

The Medical Research Council (MRC UK) is an internationally recognised centre of excellence with dominant research themes in the areas of HIV and emerging infections, vaccines and immunity, and chronic diseases and cancer. Through a multidisciplinary approach, intersecting basic science, epidemiological research, social-behavioural research and the conduct of new intervention evaluation studies, the Unit contributes knowledge on changing epidemics and diseases, the evaluation of innovative health care options, treatment and prevention and the development of health policy and practice in Africa and worldwide. Following the signing of strategic transfer agreements between the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the Medical Research Council (MRC UK), the Unit formally joined LSHTM on 1st February 2018. The exciting new partnership will boost research capacity into current and emerging health issues in Africa and throughout the world. The Unit is based at the UVRI Entebbe campus with established outposts in Kalungu, Masaka, Wakiso and Kampala Districts.

 

Job Summary:  The position holder will be overseeing the Unit quality management system and Risk management practices to protect an organization from potential losses or threats to its continued operation. Identifying, analysing, and mitigating quality issues and risks that could impact the organization’s reputation, operations, and strategic objectives.

 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Quality Management.

• Oversees Unit wide quality improvement program of all staff, develops and maintains written quality improvement plan and annual evaluation of the plan’s effectiveness;
• Develops and maintains a performance measurement work plan and reporting calendar to ensure timely data collection, aggregation, analysis, and reporting of established performance measures related to key operational and Scientific processes and outcomes;
• Leads improvement teams through the Plan Do Study Act cycle and reports on outcomes;
• Manages electronic storage of quality improvement reports to promote ongoing access for key stakeholders;
• Develops and maintains policies and procedures related to the Unit Quality program;
• Support and oversee all external and internal audits and ensures that corrective action plans are documented in a timely manner and effectively implemented;
• Oversees investigations relating to reports of suspected violations of the Unit policies and code of conduct;
• Develops and maintains up-to-date knowledge of Unit compliance requirements related to National laws and regulations;
• Support QC/QA colleagues in Research Governance in maintaining ISO 15189:2012 and other relevant quality assurance standards risk management;

Risk Management

• Oversees a Unit wide risk management program, develops and maintains a written Unit risk management plan and annual evaluation of the plans’ effectiveness;
• Representative to the Unit to the LSHTM risk and Incident management group;
• On behalf of the Unit COO track and compile the MRC annual University Assurances Statement (UAS) report;
• Develops and maintains policies and procedures related to the Unit risk management program;
• Develops and maintains policies and procedures related to the Unit risk management program;
• Develops and oversees processes for internal incident reporting;
• Reviews incident reports and conducts follow up investigations as warranted;
• Investigates and evaluates allegations and potential claim;
• Work with the Safety office to support Unit wide safety program and evaluation of the plan’s effectiveness; and,
• Act as focal person for risk management for LSHTM colleagues in London and The Gambia.

Advisory Service

• Support Unit Management Committee in the development, implementation and assessment of any quality assurance strategies, organisational and operational needs;
• To provide advice and guidance related to quality assurance for a wide range of staff, visitors, students and other stakeholders;
• Advise and assist Unit departments in maintaining appropriate staff induction and mandatory training records;
• Facilitate understanding and correct implementation of procedures and policies by Unit departments and staff; and,
• Act as the focal person for all quality-related issues at the Unit.

Business Improvement

• Coordinate and chair annual high-level management review of QMS on behalf of the Unit Director;
• Identify and investigate incidents of non-compliance and complaints and oversee implementation and documentation of corrective/preventative actions (CAPA) by managers and staff;
• Record performance of sections/departments/laboratories against agreed Key Performance Indicators and identify areas for improvement; and,
• Follow up any suggested improvements and review effectiveness of implemented changes.

Internal Auditing and External Audit Support

• Develop annual audit plan to oversee compliance of Unit departments with Unit SOPs and policies;
• Ensure quality audits are coordinated and carried out on a regular basis, and that related reports are documented and identified actions are followed up and addressed effectively;
• Support and keep track of external audits, assessments and inspection and the follow-up of audit- related findings and corrective actions;
• Coordinate necessary groups and individuals to ensure that all required actions arising out of internal and external audits are addressed appropriately and documented; and,
• Provide guidance to and act as Unit focal point for external auditors, assessors and inspectors.

Service Delivery

• The Head of Quality and Risk ensures that the Quality Department is;
• Responsive;
• Promptly communicating to users new developments such as new services, changes to services etc;.
• Pro-actively resolving issues;
• Upholding high standards of professionalism; and,
• Take responsibility for the overall quality of the service delivery.

Financial Management

• Managing the Quality department budget, including forecasting budget requirements on an annual basis.

LSHTM Integration

• The post-holder is expected to support the further integration of the Unit into LSHTM by;
• Providing data and formal reports on Unit risk to London based colleagues;
• Engaging positively and collaboratively with colleagues at the sister Unit in The Gambia, sharing knowledge, documents and experiences as needed;
• Engaging constructively with departments across all LSHTM locations, as needed;
• Supporting harmonisation of policies and procedures across LSHTM sites, as applicable; and,
• Undertaking any other duties within the grade as set out by the Unit COO.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, Finance, I.T or other closely related field;
• An advanced degree in Monitoring and Evaluation or Business Management with a bias in Risk Management and Quality Assurance;
• Professional qualification in M&E, Risk, and Quality etc. required;
• Membership to Professional Bodies such as QIC, ASQ, ISQUA etc;
• Should possess at least five (5) years of progressive and professional auditing experience, at least three years should have been as a head of the Quality function;
• Experience and knowledge of Quality Management standards and procedures applicable to biomedical research;
• Demonstrated leadership skills including excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Strong knowledge of healthcare clinical fundamentals, patient safety standards, and performance improvement standards;
• Strong knowledge of CQI tools and techniques, ability to perform data analytics, and lead performance improvement teams;
• Excellent knowledge of quality standards, QA/QC methodology and continuous improvement;
• Evidence of good knowledge and understanding of risk management principles and standards;
• Familiarity with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) and ISO15189 standards;
• Ability to work with diverse populations;
• The ability to plan and manage an audit schedule effectively;
• Good planning and organising skills;
• Good Microsoft office skills;
• The ability to plan and manage an audit schedule effectively;
• Routinely taking initiative and negotiation skills;
• Excellent communication skills with individuals at all levels of the organisation; and,
• Commitment to equal opportunities and diversity.

 

How to Apply
Follow the link below to fill a form and submit your application documentation:

 

 Click  Here

 

Filling the form more than once will lead to automatic disqualification. High level of integrity while filling the form is required and will be considered during shortlisting.

 

All candidates should combine all their application documentation i.e. cover letter, CV & certified copies of academic documents into one PDF document. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. This position is open to Ugandan nationals only. Strictly follow the application procedure

 

as failure to do so will lead to automatic disqualification. Only online applications through the link provided will be accepted. You will receive a notification in your email if your application and documentation have been successfully received.

 

 N.B:  You will be required to present certified copies of your academic documentation before employment.

 

The applications should be addressed to:

 

The Head of Human Resources,

MRC/ UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, P.O. Box, 49, Entebbe, Uganda.

 

Consider your application unsuccessful if not contacted within eight (8) weeks after the closing date of the advert. Any form of lobbying at any stage will lead to automatic disqualification. By submitting your personal information, you consent to the MRC/ UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit holding and using it in accordance with its recruitment policy and procedure. The Unit reserves the right to verify documents attached with the relevant awarding institutions to authenticate their validity.

 

NB: MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit strives for inclusion and diversity and therefore considers all job applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, marital status, and disability. We highly encourage persons with disabilities to apply and compete for different job openings at the Unit. The Unit is an equal opportunity employer committed to having a diverse work force and does not ask for money at any stage of recruitment.

 

Deadline: 30th August 2024

 

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