Laboratory Strengthening Project Manager

Sightsavers, Inc; Haywards Heath; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

A reputable international development organization is seeking an experienced Project Manager to oversee a Systems Strengthening work package for a health initiative aimed at eliminating onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis in Africa. This role involves extensive project coordination with a focus on laboratory capacity building. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in International Development or Public Health, excellent management skills, and fluent English. A hybrid working model is available, with an attractive benefits package.

Benefits

Generous annual leave allowance

Pension

Season ticket loan

Cycle to work scheme

Discounted gym memberships

Wellness discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in International Development or Public Health.
• Able to work largely without supervision within a team.
• Willingness to undertake periodic travel for meetings.

Responsibilities

• Provide all aspects of project management support and coordination.
• Work closely with the Laboratory Technical Advisor for RLMF.
• Ensure all tasks and activities progress and provide reports.

Skills

Extensive demonstrable experience managing multi-organisational projects

Excellent analytical and IT skills

Exceptional coordination and management skills

Fluency in English

Good inter-personal and relationship management skills

Education

Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant discipline

Job description

Overview

Sightsavers is looking for an experienced Project Manager to deliver a Systems Strengthening work package for the Reaching the Last Mile Fund (RLMF), working to eliminate onchocerciasis (OV) and lymphatic filariasis (LF) in Africa.

Salary: £34,529 - £40,622.00 pro rata
Location: UK remote and/or Haywards Heath based, with occasional travel to Africa

Contract: 12-month Fixed-term Contract (renewable subject to funding)

Hours: Full time (35 hours) or part time (25 hours plus) with some flexibility around hours worked

Responsibilities

About the role

The Reaching the Last Mile Fund (RLMF) expansion project is a six-year, $500m programme that will progress the elimination of onchocerciasis (OV) and lymphatic filariasis (LF) in Africa. In 2026, Sightsavers is working with Ministries of Health to implement RLMF funding in ten countries, with RLMF supporting work in 34 in total. Sightsavers chairs the Systems Strengthening Committee, and under this committee a new package of activities focusing on increasing laboratory capacity for OV detection has been approved for 2026. We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to oversee and coordinate this work package.

As Project Manager for RLMF laboratory capacity building, you will provide all aspects of project management support and coordination for the 2026 laboratory capacity strengthening workplan; including working closely with and providing support to the Laboratory Technical Advisor for RLMF, ensuring all tasks and activities progress and providing reports of this progress to colleagues, the donors and the RLMF Systems Strengthening Committee.

This role will suit an experienced and proactive Project Manager with exceptional coordination and management skills, who has previously supported delivery of a large-scale workplan within a multi-organisational programme and has experience of International Development, public health or Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Skills and Experience

Essential

• Extensive demonstrable experience managing multi-organisational projects within International Development, Public Health or similar.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
• Experience of communicating with and reporting to internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent analytical and IT skills.
• Strong analytical, writing, editing and verbal skills for communicating with broad and diverse stakeholders.
• Effective as a collaborator in complex internal and external organizations.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Good inter-personal and relationship management skills
• Knowledge and behaviours that support equality, diversity and inclusive practice
• Able to prioritise and manage competing tasks and deadlines across workstreams and countries
• Able to work largely without supervision (but within a team)
• Willingness to undertake periodic travel for meeting attendance.
• Fluency in English

Desirable

• Project management qualification(s).
• Experience with onchocerciasis, NTDs, or work with African Health Systems
• Experience of working as part of a multi-organisational team
• French language skills
• Understanding of research governance and ethical principles particularly in relation to research with vulnerable people

This is a varied role, please read the full job description for further details.

Benefits

Sightsavers offers some fantastic benefits. Our comprehensive benefits package includes generous annual leave allowance, pension, season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym memberships and wellness discounts. If you choose to work in or are visiting our collaborative, modern office space, you will find it an easy 20-minute train journey from Brighton or 45 minutes from London.

Next Steps

To apply for this exciting new opportunity, please complete an application via our recruitment portal.

We anticipate that remote interviews will take place in the week commencing 9 February 2026. The evaluation process will include a verbal interview and potentially a written task.

Closing date: Sunday 1 February 2026

As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applications from all sections of the community. Sightsavers is a Disability Confident Leader and qualified people living with a disability are particularly encouraged to apply.