Program Coordinator at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
Job Title: Program Coordinator
Location: New York, New York, USA
Reports to: Executive Director, R&D Portfolio Management and Operations
Position Summary:
IAVI is recruiting for a Program Coordinator to serve as primary point of contact and key relationship manager for the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on the implementation of a new and transformative Africa-centered model of global partnership to Accelerate the Development of Vaccines and New Technologies to Combat the AIDS Epidemic (ADVANCE). Funded by USAID under a new $160 million cooperative agreement, this flagship initiative will dramatically accelerate development of a safe and effective HIV vaccine.
The Program Coordinator will play a critical implementing role for this new program, maintaining comprehensive financial, program and technical knowledge related to the full scope of activities under the cooperative agreement. He/she will coordinate the development of annual USAID workplans and reports, serve day-to-day project management needs across the ADVANCE Leadership Team, provide technical and implementation support to the Project Director (IAVI President & CEO, Mark Feinberg, MD, PhD) and other senior leaders on the project, and maintain strategic communication and regular contact with USAID. In support of the ADVANCE Leadership Team, this position will also play an important facilitating role for strategic alliances and co-funded activities with other funders and external research collaborators, including partners at the Wellcome Trust, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other US Government agencies involved in vaccine research, for example.
This position resides in the Executive Office of IAVI’s Research & Development (R&D) Department, as part of the R&D Portfolio Management and Operations Team. This team has responsibility for integrating IAVI programs with organizational strategy, which provides a unique opportunity for the Program Coordinator to engage with all aspects of IAVI’s R&D program. He/she will report to the Executive Director, R&D Portfolio Management and Operations, and work closely with the Executive Director for Global Public Giving, located in IAVI’s External Relations Department. As noted above the Program Coordinator will collaborate closely with IAVI’s President and CEO and other individuals across the organization, including especially IAVI’s East Africa Office in Nairobi, Kenya, as well as key staff in Finance & Administration.
Key Responsibilities:
- Maintain comprehensive financial, program and technical knowledge related to the full scope of activities within ADVANCE, including collaborating with colleagues across IAVI departments (R&D, Finance & Administration, External Relations) and working closely with IAVI regional offices in East Africa and India
- Serve as primary point of contact for USAID program managers and relevant stakeholders
- Serve day-to-day project management needs across the ADVANCE Leadership Team and provide technical and implementation support to the Project Director (Dr. Feinberg) and other senior leaders on the project
- Maintain primary responsibility for coordinating development of annual workplans for implementing USAID-supported activities, reporting on the implementation of these activities and executing the daily coordination of and strategic communication for ADVANCE
- Coordinate and communicate with research collaborators and donors on strategic alliances and discussions on co-funded activities
Experience and Skills:
- Master’s or PhD degree in a relevant discipline (biological sciences, business, management, economics, law, international relations, public health or a related area)
- At least 8 years of professional experience coordinating, managing or implementing biomedical research projects
- Demonstrated broad understanding of vaccine research and development program, including necessary elements of epidemiology, clinical and field vaccine trials, project management, financial management, knowledge management, strategic coordination and communication
- Demonstrated experience as project manager with a strong eye for detail, analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to take initiative as new situations and opportunities arise
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to prioritize and produce high quality work under challenging deadlines
- Good interpersonal skills with proven ability to develop relationships and work collaboratively in teams with others from a range of disciplines and cultures
- Professional experience interacting with US Government agencies, advocacy groups, policymakers, local collaborators and host governments is preferred
- Experience using Microsoft Office and knowledge management programs
