Trial Manager

• PositionTrial Manager
• CompanyMakerere University Lung Institute
• LocationKampala, Uganda
• Job TypeFull Time
• CategoryHealth, University, Operations Jobs in Uganda
• IndustryClinical research and lung health
• DepartmentCONAT Program
• DeadlineFriday, 20 November 2026, 11:59 PM EAT
• Not in the advertPay and benefits

Makerere University Lung Institute is part of Makerere University’s College of Health Sciences. It describes its work as combining lung-health research with disease prevention, clinical care and training in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Institute says it uses research and innovation to address lung disease and provides education and training. Its Kampala base is the Lung Institute Building at the New Mulago Hospital Complex.

The Trial Manager oversees day-to-day operations across the CONAT clinical-trial portfolio. The post supports site assessments and study setup, obtains ethics and regulatory approvals, and helps teams follow approved protocols, Good Clinical Practice and standard operating procedures. It coordinates site readiness, supplies and participant recruitment, maintains milestones and study records, checks data quality, and addresses operational or compliance risks.

The role reports to the programme directors and manager and works with investigators, participants, the sponsor, data and quality teams, study staff, auditors, regulators and finance colleagues. It includes team supervision and training, serious adverse event reporting, and coordination of site payments, supplier invoices and participant reimbursements. The advert describes a six-month, full-time engagement based in Kampala, with travel to field sites.

In plain terms, this job splits into 4 areas of work. Each list below restates the employer’s duties in shorter words; the advert linked under How To Apply is the final word.

Trial setup and compliance

This work prepares studies, secures permissions and helps teams deliver trials according to approved methods and standards.

• Support site checks, protocol drafting and the practical preparation needed before trial launch.
• Obtain approvals from the relevant ethics panels and regulators, and keep them current.
• Follow authorised study protocols, GCP principles and the approved standard operating procedures.
• Send regular written and spoken progress updates to participants, programme leads, investigators and the sponsor.

Data, schedule and risk

The manager tracks milestones, keeps study records ready for review, monitors site readiness and acts on operational or compliance risks.

• Coordinate with quality and data colleagues to keep trial forms and records ready for audit.
• Maintain portfolio-wide schedules, milestone records and operational plans.
• Identify delivery, recruitment or compliance problems early and carry out corrective and preventive actions.
• Check trial sites can meet their operational requirements before activity begins.

Supplies and staff development

This area coordinates study materials, staff performance, ongoing training and communication of research results.

• Manage procurement, stock records, safe storage and distribution of study products, equipment and materials.
• Help prepare reports, data summaries, abstracts and papers; work with Communications to share programme findings.
• Set performance expectations and coach trial staff.
• Train study teams continuously, including refreshers on Good Clinical Practice.

Enrollment and study oversight

The manager supports recruitment, audit readiness, data checks, safety reporting and timely financial processing for trial activity.

• Develop recruitment and retention approaches and monitor whether enrolment goals are met.
• Host study monitors, outside auditors and regulators, maintaining review-ready study files.
• Work with data managers to resolve issues and compare clinical records with original source material.
• Escalate serious adverse events immediately to investigators, ethics committees and regulators.
• Coordinate site disbursements, supplier bills and participant refunds with finance colleagues.

Required Education

• MBChB.
• Postgraduate qualification in Public Health, Epidemiology, Clinical Trials or a related field.

Work Experience

• Proven experience in clinical-trials research and project management within a health or academic research institution.

Additional Requirements

• Registration with the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Council and a valid Annual Practising Licence (APL).
• Deep understanding of Good Clinical Practice, human-subject protection and national or international clinical-trial regulations.

Technical Skills

• Clinical trial compliance: Apply Good Clinical Practice, human-subject protection and national or international clinical-trial requirements.
• Clinical data tools: Use clinical data collection and management tools to maintain trial records and resolve data queries.
• Microsoft Office: Proficiency in Word, Excel and PowerPoint is required.

Soft Skills

• Leadership: Set performance targets, supervise trial personnel and provide mentorship.
• Organisation: Manage timelines, study documentation and operational plans across the trial portfolio.
• Problem-solving: Identify operational or compliance risks and coordinate corrective and preventive action.
• Communication: Provide clear written and verbal updates and reports to participants and trial stakeholders.

No pay figure is given for this Trial Manager post, so raise it only after an offer. To judge an offer, check a gross figure with the Uganda take-home pay calculator (PAYE and NSSF) and compare it with our guide to how to negotiate salary in Uganda.

• Manage a portfolio of clinical trials under the CONAT Program at Makerere University Lung Institute.
• Coordinate trial planning, ethics approvals, protocol delivery, site readiness and participant recruitment.
• Work across clinical operations, data quality, audit readiness, supplies and financial processes.
• Mentor trial staff and deliver ongoing Good Clinical Practice training.
• Contribute to programme reports, data summaries, abstracts and scientific manuscripts.
• Build hands-on experience coordinating clinical trials in a six-month, full-time assignment.

Submit a one-page cover letter, CV of no more than three pages, academic documents, relevant certificates and two reference letters as one PDF through the CONAT Program application form. Address the application to the Director, CONAT Program, Makerere University Lung Institute. Apply by Friday, 20 November 2026 at 11:59 PM EAT.

• Checked on 13 November 2026 against Makerere University Lung Institute's official advert.
• Closing date confirmed as 20 November 2026. NextRoleHub closes the listing at 23:59 Kampala time that day.
• The application link goes to the employer's own page or email. Applying is free; report anyone who asks for money.
• Work out what an offer pays after PAYE and NSSF with the take-home pay calculator.

• Government health posts are paid on the medical salary schedule, not the general one. If the advert gives a scale code such as U5, check what it pays in our nurse salary guide for 2026/27.
• Applications go through forms.gle. Create your account early and keep your CV in a simple layout; our guide to applicant tracking systems explains why.
• If a gross salary is stated, check your take-home pay after PAYE and NSSF with the free salary calculator. When you are shortlisted, prepare with interview questions and answers for Uganda.