Programme Manager (Fixed Term)

Cambridge Africa Diaspora Centre for Healthy, Hopeful Urban Futures

The Institute of Metabolic Science Epidemiology unit (IMS Epidemiology) seeks to appoint a Programme Manager.

The position is based within the Global Health team at IMS Epidemiology - as part of the Cambridge Africa Diaspora Centre for Healthy, Hopeful Urban Futures (UrbanBetter Academy @ Cambridge). The primary role of this post is to lead the management of research, training and convening projects and partnerships across Cambridge and African institutions. The role combines project management and delivery, partnership coordination, financial and donor management, and research governance oversight.

Alongside a competitive salary, University staff are eligible for a comprehensive package of benefits and services including discounts on shopping, health care, financial services and public transport. We also offer defined benefits pension schemes and tax-efficient bicycle, car lease and charity-giving schemes.

The IMS Epidemiology is based within the Institute of Metabolic Sciences at the School of Clinical Medicine on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. It undertakes research that investigates the aetiology and prevention of obesity, diabetes and related metabolic disorders to improve population health globally. The post forms part of the Cambridge Africa Diaspora Centre for Healthy, Hopeful Urban Futures (UrbanBetter Academy @ Cambridge), a new Centre based at IMS Epidemiology in partnership with UrbanBetter. The Centre is a node of the networked UrbanBetter Academy and focuses on building evidence, coalitions and skills to shape healthier, climate-resilient urban futures in African cities. It supports transdisciplinary research, training and coalition-building programmes funded by multiple organisations and works closely with universities in Africa, city leaders, youth-led networks and practitioners.

A key focus of the role will be to help establish and administer the Centre's initial activities and the successful applicant will play a central role in helping to shape systems, structures and ways of working while ensuring high-quality delivery across a growing portfolio of activities. This includes supporting the coordination of multiple collaborative research projects funded by several funders, supporting the Lead with fundraising for new initiatives and providing administrative support for training programmes and coalition-building activities.

The successful applicant will work closely with project teams, funders and external partners in the UK, Africa and globally, and will act as a central coordination point to ensure effective communication, strong governance and timely outcomes-focused delivery of projects.

This role is well suited to an experienced programme manager with excellent organisational and communications skills and an entrepreneurial mindset, who is comfortable working in complex, multi-partner environments and contributing to the development of a new Centre.

Applicants will be educated to degree level (or equivalent professional experience), with significant experience in programme and partnership management within a research, higher education, policy or NGO environment, and with demonstrated experience managing multi-partner and multi-funder programmes, overseeing budgets and donor reporting, and supporting research governance and ethics processes. The successful candidate will be expected to manage multiple priorities, work with a high degree of autonomy and build effective relationships across academic and non-academic sectors.

Informal enquiries about the role are welcome and may be directed to Professor Oni (to317@cam.ac.uk). Queries about the application process can be directed to HR (Recruitment@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk).

Further information about the role, including the full job description and person specification, is available via the University of Cambridge jobs portal.

We welcome applications from individuals who wish to be considered other flexible working arrangements.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Please ensure that you upload a covering letter and a CV in the Upload section of the online application. The covering letter should outline how you match the criteria for the post and why you are applying for this role. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.

Please include details of your referees, including email address and phone number, one of which must be your most recent line manager.

The closing date for applications is: 2nd April 2026

The interview date for the role is: 14th, 15th, 16th April 2026.

This is a fixed term position for 1 year, subject to satisfactory completion of a 9-month probationary period; with the possibility of extension up to 3 years.

Please quote reference SJ49137 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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