Assistant Study Coordinator

Integrating Sexual and Reproductive Health into HIV care in clinic-based settings in Zimbabwe (TSIME)

Assistant Study Coordinator

 About the Biomedical Research and Training Institute(BRTI)

The BRTI was registered in Zimbabwe in 1995 as a non-profit making organization under Section 22 of the Companies Act (Reg. No.1676/95). The Institute implements research projects and provides training and support services in public health, biomedicine and health research mostly focusing on HIV/AIDS, SRH, TB, Bone and Malaria in clinical trials and operational research. Its mission is to promote the health and quality of life of the peoples of Zimbabwe and the Southern Africa Development Community SADC region through fostering research, training and research informed interventions in all fields that are relevant to essential national health needs.

The main role of the BRTI is to provide the support that researchers in all aspects of health need to become effective in influencing policy.

About the TSIME study

TSIME is a mixed methods complex intervention study that aims to co-design and test an integrated package of SRH and HIV services together with healthcare providers in public health clinics. The study includes conducting a situational analysis to understand the context and healthcare providers’ experience of delivering existing HIV services and evidence-base for developing and integrated package of services; using participatory research approaches to co-design an integrated package of services with key stakeholders; and conducting a feasibility study to test the intervention on a small scale in a clinic-based setting.

Job Summary:

The Assistant Study Coordinator will play a supportive role in the coordination of the TSIME study. They will work alongside the PI/Study Coordinator to ensure the research protocol is implemented, including helping with administration, communications, public engagement, and interviewing participants and stakeholders in the study. They will assist in staff training in the protocol and coordinate meetings across all sites in the formative phase of the study.

The position requires an independent, focused and hard-working individual who can work with minimal supervision.

Qualifications/experience:

1. A minimum of a Social Science Degree
2. Previous research or NGO experience

Duration:

14 months – November 2023 – January 2025

Main duties

1. Study support: Providing support to the principal investigator and co-investigators in various aspects of the research
2. Reporting: Assisting with the preparation of reports and presentations for dissemination meetings and reporting study results
3. Communications: Maintaining communication with participants, answering their questions and addressing concerns.
4. Compliance: Ensuring that the research protocol is adhered to and confidentiality and privacy are maintained.
5. Communications: Assisting with the study communications on social media platforms and dissemination of resources related to the study
6. Administrative tasks: Assisting with documentation and record keeping related to the study
7. Participant recruitment: Helping with the recruitment of study participants through screening and enrollment
8. Data collection: Assisting with collection of data, which involves conducting in-depth interviews, observations and planning for implementation of a clinic-based intervention
9. Coordination: Coordinating scheduling of study visits, meetings, and communication with participants and other team members
10. Quality assurance: Assisting with ensuring the accuracy and quality of data and adherence to the study protocol and collaborate with PI to ensure all regulatory issues are in place

Qualifications and characteristics

• Degree in Social Science, Sociology or related discipline (essential)
• Knowledge of the Mazowe District/Mashonaland Central province (essential)
• At least 2 years Drivers’ license and willingness to make multiple trips to Mazowe district (essential)
• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively as part of a research team
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• Experience working in community engaged research
• Demonstrable academic writing and analysis skills
• Good organizational skills, including effective time management and ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to suggest ideas, question, and discuss emerging themes from data
• Interest in reading academic literature and developing interest in sexual and reproductive health including HIV and social science research
• Desire to extend social science research skills, including leading the development of research outputs.
• Shona-speaking

Interested candidates can submit their detailed CV and cover letter by midnight 17th November 2023.

Interviews will be held 29th November to 1st December

The PI/Study Coordinator TSIME Study: Biomedical Research and Training Institute, 10 Seagrave Road, Avondale, Harare

Or email: rumbi.gumbie@lshtm.ac.uk

PLEASE SPECIFY IN THE EMAIL HEADER THE JOB POSITION YOU ARE APPLYING FOR

Please note only short-listed candidates will be contacted.