Research Coordinator, HaSET

HaSET (“happiness” in Amharic) a program teams up Harvard school of public health, Saint Paul’s Hospital and Millennium Medical College and Ethiopian public health institute through a support from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. HaSET program focuses on Maternal Newborn and Child Health evidence generation, capacity building to research fellows and evidence to policy translation in the area of maternal newborn and child health.

The HaSET program research Coordinator reports directly to Program Director 

Summary of Position

• The Coordinator will work with the Program Director in the overall design, conduct and management of HaSET. Specifically, the Coordinator
• Works with the Program Director to manage HaSET, including administrative support with EPHI and implementation of HaSET activities
• Responsible for executing tasks, managing research staff, monitoring progress, and quality assurance of research studies. Oversees day to day activities of research study activities (data collection –observations, interviews, chart reviews, and lab specimen collection) in the facilities and communities from beginning to end with expected time in the field of 50%
• Assists in data collector and supervisor training, protocol development, project planning and ensures that pre-established work scope, study protocol, and regulatory requirements are followed. Supports, facilitates, and coordinates the daily community research activities. Implements a quality assurance and quality plan.
• Works with team to coordinate the provision of administrative, financial, personnel and related aspects of the study. Maintains effective collaboration with community leaders, health facilities, local government leaders, and participants
• Supports the development of the data system, liaising with the developer to troubleshoot features, test and implement the data system in the field
• Directly supervises Field Coordinator and HaSET Program Administrator
• Collaboratively works with the fellowship coordinator and take-up assignments that need frequent follow-up

Specific Responsibilities

• Prepares program operations, and build HaSET working closely with Program Director
• Designs and develops concept proposals, research protocols, standard operating procedures, and study materials including but not limited to questionnaires, informed consent documents, logs, and study operational tools
• Supervises and trains research staff to ensure full compliance and knowledge of assigned projects. Specific duties include: designing training curriculum, leading training workshops, evaluating the performance of supervisors and data collectors and remediating as necessary, and overseeing field data collection (data on health and demographics, maternal and child health substudies)
• Work closely with the fellowship coordinator in running smoothly the fellowship program.
• Conducts regular supervisory field visits and provides on-the-job mentorship
• Assists in the development of training materials and tools
• Manages the day-to-day activities of studies, identifies and solves problems, communicates (verbally and written documentation) problems and solutions as they arise
• Monitors the progress of research activities, develops and maintains records of research activities, and prepares periodic reports as required
• Conducts data analysis and quality checks, and liaises with data team
• Prepares IRB and regulatory submission documents as required at EPHI
• Promotes ethical conduct of research, prevents misconduct in research
• Recruits and follows participants to studies
• Provides ongoing support with the preparation of presentations, grants reports, and manuscripts
• Implements quality control process throughout the conduct of the studies
• Conducts supervisory visits to Birhan site at least twice a month to provide feedback to supervisors and field team
• Reviews weekly QA reports and data summaries and provides feedback to the team
• Joins Birhan data system calls and liaises between the field team and data system developers and data team
• Ensures study timelines are met
• Provides HaSET updates to EPHI through attendance at monthly Technical Advisory Committee meetings
• Full-time commitment to the position.

Requirements

• At least a graduate Degree in Public Health, with research and clinical experience
• A minimum of 5 years of experience of supporting the research institutions in Maternal, Newborn and Child health research areas
• Experience in coordinating and leading research programs, monitoring and evaluation or similar fields
• Proven knowledge of the FMoH strategies and priorities
• Exceptional interpersonal, teamwork, communication, partnering and supervisory skills
• Fluency in English, Amharic and  preferably other local language
•   Excellent computer skills
• Willingness to engage in approximately 50% travel to the field