Operations Manager (Wits VIDA)

About the position

Additional information:

• Wits VIDA Research Unit conducts cutting-edge scientific research
• They aim to continue to save lives across Africa and low and middle-income countries (LMIC) through translational research that informs local and global policy recommendations on infectious diseases and the use of next-generation and novel vaccines
• Formerly known as the Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit (RMPRU) and founded in 1995, the Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics (VIDA) Research Unit of the University of the Witwatersrand is an internationally recognized, African-led research unit in the field of epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases, and clinical development of life-saving vaccines
• Wits VIDA is looking for a dynamic operations manager to drive effective transversal business and facilities operations support
• With a multi-dimensional research strategy, WITS VIDA’s world-class laboratory, clinical trials facility, and significant observational, surveillance and social behavior sciences functions lead impactful programs that require systems-thinking, project management, and an innovative, collaborative approach to problem-solving, risk management, and business continuity
• The operations team supports hard and soft services, logistics, IT, and telecommunications, and liaises with the Wits Health Consortium Shared Services Centre on business administration
• The incumbent will be someone with experience in health research-related operations in complex, multiple facilities, and a demonstrated ability to work well with government and internal stakeholders to drive sustainable and growing operations

• Management of the WITS VIDA Research Unit’s day-to-day operations, ensuring smooth functioning and efficient resources oversight; implement and maintain operational management and administration systems, strategies, policies, and procedures to provide effective support for core business and research functions

• This role oversees operations across all Wits VIDA sites including but not limited to: VIDA offices, clinical trials department, and allocated hospital spaces at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Soweto (main) & Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, Coronationville

• Effectively plan and manage employee and soft services provided to all stakeholders
• Housekeeping & hygiene including pest control: oversee hygiene and housekeeping to all required standards across the unit
• Telecommunications: oversee and ensure effective telecommunications services, platforms, and usage
• Employee services & resource planning: Provide ongoing logistical, administrative, and procurement oversight to ensure all staff have sufficient stations and tools to enable effective study delivery and rapid start-up of new projects. Oversee project start-up and close-out to coordinate staffing deployment processes, equipment, and procedures (pre- and post-study). Actively engage with finance, HR, and other departments to support studies and departments with information and analyses that may inform resource planning (stock/equipment, services, staff) and provide change management support in relation to employee services. Drive operational employee engagement and facility usage including guidance
• Office accommodation: ensure office facilities and accommodation are adequate and operating at a high standard; provide adequate systems for filing and information sharing
• Meetings & Events: plan and manage meetings, spaces and facilities, and internal events
• Procurement and stock: effectively manage procurement including negotiation and agreements, delivery and performance, creditors and payments, petty cash, and stock control and systems
• Assets & equipment: oversee the accurate and effective planning, deployment, recording, tracking, and maintenance of assets and equipment
• Internal communications: create, implement, and monitor effective internal communications and information-sharing strategies
• Administration: monitor contracts, policies, and compliance; ensure effective administration and reporting
• IT & infrastructure: oversee the effective and strategic delivery and management of IT infrastructure and services, ensuring that unit IT requirements are planned and supported efficiently and that the IT support function for the unit is optimal and cost-effective. Ensure and coordinate optimized infrastructure, applications, and usage; resolution of issues; system implementation and change management, day-to-day functionality, risk, and system up-time, productivity

• Effectively plan and manage facilities and related services provided to all stakeholders
• Buildings and facilities: ensure all departmental and site buildings and facilities (structural, moveable, large equipment, infrastructure) and services are running optimally, maintained, and responsive to the unit’s changing needs
• Heat, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
• Power management including municipal, generator, UPS, and overall power infrastructure oversight
• Plumbing and sanitation
• Temperature monitoring systems (e.g. for laboratory and clinical samples)
• Security: oversee security requirements including staffing, systems, trackers, access control and biometrics, CCTV, policies, and procedures
• Logistics: ensure effective, cost-effective logistical support is provided to the unit. Provide oversight of logistics teams and fleet and support project requirements

• Provide oversight and effective coordination of OHS matters, policies, procedures, and committees as required by WHC and law to maintain a safe working environment
• Report incidents and initiate actions and resolutions/projects as required with management and unit leadership, implementing relevant risk mitigation and business continuity measures e.g. through preventative maintenance
• Manage employee perception in terms of management’s commitment to OHS and ensure business-wide compliance with legislation related to OHS

• Plan, develop and implement strategically aligned operational budgets to support all departmental and core service-related requirements and portfolios. Create or provide input as required into other departmental or project budgets
• Ensure effective monitoring of budgets, expenditures, and key metrics, and regularly provide reports and insights including variance
• Develop systems and reporting that inform financial performance, efficiencies, and decision-making
• Effectively manage assets (i.e. building, vehicles, equipment); ensure optimal and cost-effective utilization
• Insurance: Liaise with WHC and unit/study departments to ensure adequate and appropriate insurance is secured or in place, as needed, and manage insurance requirements for studies/departments/researchers

• Draft, implement and regularly review Standard Operating Procedures and drive standardisation
• Develop and implement best practice operational policies and procedures; drive effective operational management and administration systems including usage and reporting
• Design an operational framework where systems, people, policies, and processes are accessible and enable users to deliver on performance outcomes; enable synergy between back-of-office functions and frontline services
• Create new solutions to improve processes, operations, and practices
• Business compliance: ensure administrative and operational compliance across departments including but not limited to procurement, stock, finance, and administration, and uphold all compliance standards per policies, SOPs, and legislation
• Risk management and mitigation including disaster management, crisis communications, and business continuity management
• Assist with compliance in business or donor reporting and preparation of quality or relevant operational reports; support and drive internal audit where risk may be identified
• Evaluate business activities in terms of value-added impact and balance opportunities and risk

• Drive a culture of monitoring business insights through key operational performance metrics and proposing long- and short-term data-driven solutions
• Provide regular reporting and information/business insights relevant to unit or study-specific decision-making and management
• Collaborate effectively and productively within Wits Health Consortium (other divisions and the Shared Services Centre/SSC) as well as at sites with stakeholders such as hospital management
• Provide high-level financial, grant, human resources, and infrastructure planning recommendations in support of sustainable unit management, growth, and research management, and in order to mitigate risks across departments, projects and grants
• Collaborate with the research administration function to provide access to relevant information and systems
• Strategise, plan and implement special projects (eg. new buildings, shared facilities, study support)
• Liaise with WHC (SSC) and support the unit implementation of the Service Level Agreement (including acting as a core business SSC liaison for legal, finance, insurance, HR, and other services as needed)
• Assist with securing new business and grant applications (e.g. collate relevant information)
• Collaborate with ExCO and Senior Management Team to set and drive company vision, operational strategy, hiring needs, and financial reports
• Adopt a commercial and risk management-driven approach to the development of models for the organization operating in a complex environment. Initiate innovation and recognize opportunity
• Set and track objectives, key performance areas, and indicators for the operations team
• Implement new systems and oversee change management in line with the organization’s goals
• Identify trends and formulate policies and procedures to address risks and/or shortcomings as identified
• Identify operational weaknesses and develop strategies to address them with relevant role players
• Investigate utilization of infrastructure, equipment, resources, and processes, ensuring efficiencies

• Build and maintain authentic, professional relationships and communicate effectively and efficiently with all internal and external stakeholders (participants, community members, suppliers, collaborators, researchers, donors, etc.)
• Train staff effectively; foster a practice of knowledge exchange and peer learning
• Manage internal and external stakeholder expectations and communicate appropriately with initiative and solutions
• Maintain a high standard of successful internal and external stakeholder relations (e.g. negotiations, building productive relationships)
• Escalate issues appropriately, ensuring adequate discretion and risk management, and demonstrate integrated problem-solving
• Effectively manage work processes, teams, and relationships in order to maintain high levels of productivity

• Capacity development
• Contribute towards the