Operational Research Specialist

Malaria Consortium is recruiting for an Operational research Specialist to join our team in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Research Specialist will provide technical inputs (research design, statistical and analytical support) to an effectiveness-implementation hybrid project on the operational feasibility and effectiveness of SP-PMC in Nigeria. The position holder will lead performance monitoring against the project logframe, provide technical support to research planning, implementation and dissemination, and support the development and implementation of a research uptake plan linked to evidence and learning from the hybrid PMC project.

The post holder will work with the project team to deliver scientifically robust research outputs, design of study protocols, data collection methods and data analysis plans and ensure that high quality surveillance and research approaches are implemented in the hybrid PMC project. The role will involve technical assistance/consultancy management, knowledge management, and working with the Senior Project Manager to ensure collaboration and coordination between the project and key stakeholders. The position holder will provide technical support to the National PMC Research and Policy uptake subcommittee (NRPUS) and Data safety and Monitoring Board (DSMB) in conjunction with the Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Principal Investigator (CoPI) and ensure tracking and proper documentation of performance against logframe. The post holder will be a member of Malaria Consortium’s Research Group.

This position will report to the State Project Manager and have working relationships with the following:

• Country Director, country programme manager and other members of the country office Senior Management Team (SMT)
• Technical Director, also the PI
• Senior Country Technical Coordinator, also the Co-PI, and other co-investigators
• Statistician
• State project team
• National and state stakeholders, NMEP, NAFDAC, NPHCDA, SPHCDA and SMEP
• Project sub-grantee/contractors - National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Cost-effectiveness analysis consultants.
• National PMC Research and Policy uptake subcommittee (NRPUS)
• Data safety and Monitoring Board (DSMB)
• Key donors
• Other key partners as identified in the project stakeholders’ matrix.

Research Contribution (70%):

• Coordinate day-to-day technical preparations, implementation and evaluation of research activities for the hybrid PMC project
• Initiate the implementation of research activities as articulated in the project work plan
• Lead preparation and planning of formative research at project initiation;
• Provide technical inputs in development of all research protocol for the hybrid PMC project and lead submission of protocol for ethical approval;
• Coordinate the identification, set-up and maintenance of surveillance sentinel sites for the project
• Support the recruitment, training, deployment and monitoring of sentinel site data collectors throughout the project life;
• Facilitate the initiation and regular coordination meeting of the NRPUS and DSMB;
• Support statistical analysis of research data including surveys, and contribute to technical report writing;
• Support Senior Project Manager to write quarterly and annual progress reports for the project for donors and other audiences as required;
• Support the state implementation officer to ensure project is rolled out in strict adherence to agreed standards and protocols;

Research Uptake:

• Develop, implement, monitor and evaluate an overarching research uptake (RU) strategy for the hybrid PMC project, which will support uptake of evidence and learning from the PMC research. This should be done in consultation with the PI and CoPI for the project.
• Systematically identify opportunities to co-design or co-implement research activities with policy makers and key stakeholders (NMEP, NPHCDA, WHO), where appropriate;
• Keep potential users those interested in the research outputs engaged with progress updates throughout the project lifespan at the sub-national, national and international level;
• Coordinate the implementation of in-country dissemination of research findings and research uptake activities such as stakeholder consultations, media engagements etc

Research Quality:

• Lead the development and implementation of a quality assurance and quality improvement framework for the research project.
• Identify technical assistance needs for specific pieces of work in the project work plan, develop terms of reference for engaging consultants and monitor such contractors/ consultants to ensure resultant high-quality deliverables.
• Ensure MC’s internal quality assurance processes for activities and technical assistance management are followed within the context of the hybrid PMC project;
• Provide technical support to research activity implementation and outputs as well as quality assure research data collection and management processes;

Monitoring, Evaluation Accountability and Learning (25%):

• Contribute to the development and implementation of organizational approaches and tools for monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL)
• Lead the development of a monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning plan for the project which will include:
• A project performance monitoring and evaluation framework with clear indicators and targets.
• A framework showing project accountability to donor, stakeholders as well as beneficiaries;
• A learning agenda articulating specific learning questions, learning activities and a master plan for developing learning dissemination products e.g. learning briefs, learning papers, research briefs and other peer-reviewed publications.
• Support, and as appropriate lead, the documentation of research findings and lessons learnt from the project, including production of manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals, learning briefs, learning papers and general documentation (e.g. narrative reports, infographics);
• Support the dissemination of lessons learned to national and global audiences through conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and technical reports;
• Carry out quarterly project performance assessments and prepare progress reports as required;
• Participate in MC technical team’s cross learning forums.

External Representation (5%):

• Participate in national technical working groups and NMEP’s sub-committee meetings as relevant;
• Participate in technical discussions and strategic planning meetings of the project technical team;
• Represent the project in external meetings as agreed with Senior Project Manager or SCTC.

Qualifications and Experience:

Essential:

• PhD or equivalent experience in Public/Global Health, Epidemiology, statistics or a related research discipline.
• Extensive experience in a research role with an excellent understanding of quantitative research approaches
• Experience in research management
• Experience in design of operational and/or implementation research
• Demonstrable first-hand experience publishing scientific work in peer-reviewed journals
• Demonstrated experience in survey design, survey implementation, analysis, and report- writing;

Desirable:

• Experience in working effectively with government and non-government partners.
• Experience of working on immunization programmes, familiarity with NPHCDA, Ministries of Health; NMEP
• Experience in addressing inequities in research such as gender or disability

Work-based skills:

Essential

• Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively on a team, particularly with Ministries of Health, NMEP, NPHCDA and/or other government sectors and partners;
• Knowledge of malaria prevention and control in endemic settings
• Demonstrable understanding of research uptake in relation to overcoming the barriers to uptake experienced by decision-makers as well as approaches of effectively communicating research to broad stakeholders such as decision-makers, beneficiaries and media.
• Excellent statistical analysis skills including familiarity with software such as STATA, R or Statgraphics;
• Excellent understanding of good research practice
• Excellent command of English with exceptional writing and communication skills and the ability to present information in clear, concise, and compelling ways;
• Results-oriented attitude to work;
• Able to travel to project location for up to one week at a time to oversee surveys or other data collection activities;
• Excellent skills in in MS Office software package.

Desirable:

• Demonstrable skills in qualitative research methods and data analysis software such as Nvivo;
• Excellent skills in developing a range of outputs for communicating research – in print, electronic and face-to-face formats;
• Data-driven decision-making mentality
• Excellent understanding of practices in relation to research integrity
• Good knowledge of gender intentional research

We need to keep beneficiaries safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to safeguarding. Please find our Code of Conduct, Safeguarding Policy and Privacy Notice here.

Due to the nature of this role we will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis and the role might be filled and closed before the closing date. Early applications are encouraged.