Location: Ekiti Nigeria

Purpose of the Role

The Research Manager will plan, coordinate and deliver CeNHRI’s research projects and related activities. The postholder will turn approved ideas and commitments into workable plans, coordinate the people and resources needed to deliver them, monitor progress, resolve operational issues and ensure that outputs are completed to a high standard.

As a centre focused on newborn health research and innovation, CeNHRI works across research, programme delivery and partnerships. The Research Manager will work closely with the Programme Management Office (PMO), technical teams and external partners to manage research activities within this wider portfolio. The role requires strong project management skills alongside the ability to guide research design, safeguard quality and support the use of findings.

Scope of the Role

The role covers the management of CeNHRI’s research projects from initiation to close-out. This includes project planning, coordination of teams and partners, tracking timelines and deliverables, managing risks, overseeing research operations, assuring quality, and coordinating reporting and dissemination.

The Research Manager may manage several projects or research workstreams at different stages. The postholder will draw on appropriate methodological and subject matter specialists rather than being expected to personally conduct every aspect of each study.

Authority

The Research Manager is authorised to:

• Develop detailed workplans, schedules, responsibilities and deliverable trackers for approved projects.
• Coordinate staff, consultants and partners responsible for assigned research activities.
• Convene project meetings, follow up on agreed actions and address routine delivery issues.
• Monitor progress, identify risks and recommend corrective actions.
• Review protocols, tools, field procedures, reports and other outputs for completeness and quality, with input from relevant specialists.
• Recommend adjustments to activities or timelines for management consideration.
• Escalate decisions concerning strategy, budgets, contractual commitments, research ethics or major changes in scope to the Executive Director through the appropriate processes.

Key Responsibilities

A. Research Project Planning and Delivery

• Develop and maintain project plans that set out activities, milestones, responsibilities, budgets, dependencies and deliverables.
• Coordinate day-to-day delivery of assigned research projects and workstreams across CeNHRI teams, sites and partners.
• Work closely with the PMO to align research activities with wider project plans, reporting cycles and coordination processes.
• Track progress against agreed plans, maintain action and risk logs, and follow up to keep work moving.
• Identify delays and operational challenges early, coordinate practical solutions and escalate issues that require management decisions.
• Oversee project documentation, reporting and close-out, ensuring that outputs are delivered and records are complete.

Expected outputs: Approved workplans, project trackers, progress reports, risk logs and completed project deliverables.

B. Research Design, Operations and Quality

• Work with technical specialists and partners to define research questions and develop suitable study designs, protocols, tools and analysis plans.
• Coordinate ethics applications, institutional permissions, site preparation, training, fieldwork and data management.
• Oversee the work of research staff, consultants and data collection teams, including adherence to agreed procedures and timelines.
• Put appropriate quality assurance measures in place and address issues affecting data quality or study integrity.
• Ensure that research activities follow approved protocols, ethical requirements and CeNHRI’s data governance procedures.

Expected outputs: Study protocols and tools, ethics and permission documentation, fieldwork plans, quality assurance records and completed study datasets or records.

C. Analysis, Reporting and Use of Findings

• Coordinate analysis and interpretation with relevant methodological and subject matter experts.
• Ensure that reports and other outputs answer the agreed research questions and accurately reflect the findings.
• Translate findings into practical recommendations for programmes, health services, policy and further research.
• Coordinate the development of manuscripts, briefs, presentations and other outputs for relevant audiences.
• Support discussions with CeNHRI teams and partners on how findings should inform decisions and future work.

Expected outputs: Research reports, briefs, manuscripts, presentations and documented recommendations.

D. Partnerships and Team Coordination

• Maintain productive working relationships with research institutions, government counterparts, healthcare facilities and other project partners.
• Clarify partner roles, inputs and timelines, and follow up on shared commitments.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams and ensure that methodological, clinical and programme expertise is brought into projects when needed.
• Mentor research staff in project delivery, research practice, documentation and scientific writing.
• Contribute to the development of new project concepts and proposals within CeNHRI’s newborn health mandate.

Expected outputs: Partner coordination records, collaborative outputs, staff development activities and contributions to new project opportunities.

5. Reporting Lines

The Research Manager will report to the Executive Director and work closely with the PMO on project planning, coordination, progress tracking and reporting. The role will also work with CeNHRI’s technical, programme, monitoring and data teams; chapter and state teams; research institutions; healthcare facilities; government counterparts; and other project partners.

6. Qualifications & Requirements

Education

• A clinical qualification in medicine, nursing, midwifery or another relevant health profession.
• A master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, health services research, maternal and newborn health or a related field.
• A PhD or additional advanced training in in research methods or project management is an advantage.

Experience

• At least six years of relevant experience, including substantial responsibility for managing health research projects or research components of health programmes.
• Demonstrated experience in maternal, newborn and child health research and/or programme delivery.
• Experience coordinating research activities, including protocol development, ethics processes, fieldwork, data quality assurance, analysis and reporting.
• Experience working with healthcare facilities, government institutions, academic partners or development organisations.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong project management, organisation and follow-through.
• Ability to coordinate multiple workstreams and multidisciplinary teams.
• Sound understanding of health research methods and research ethics.
• Ability to review technical work, identify quality concerns and seek specialist input where needed.
• Strong problem-solving, stakeholder management and facilitation skills.
• Excellent report writing and communication skills.
• Ability to balance research quality with practical delivery requirements.

7. Working Conditions

The role will be based at CeNHRI and will require travel to programme and research sites as necessary. The position will involve close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, government stakeholders, research institutions and programme partners.