KEMRI is employing a Research Officer.The position attracts a salary of Ksh144,000 per month and is available on contract basis.
Reference Number: RO180118
Category: Clinical Healthcare and Research
Grade: 7.01
Location: Kilifi
Country: Kenya
Summary:
JOB PURPOSE:To oversee the planning and execution of the research activities for a study that aims to identify health system factors enhancing or constraining the integration of breastfeeding Peer supporters into inpatient setting in public hospitals in Kilifi County, Kenya. The post holder will be involved in managing and co-ordinating research study activities in two sub-county hospitals. Activities will include managing participatory meetings, and collecting, entering and analysing qualitative and quantitative data. Specifically, the post holder will work with the Principal Investigator to undertake an audit of infant nutrition records and initial interviews in a situation analysis in each hospital; participate in stakeholders meetings, and in participatory strategy development for the integration of the peer supporters, monitoring and feedback meetings; conduct end of project interviews, analysis of infant nutrition records and write up of findings.
REPORTS TO: Principal Investigator
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & MENTORSHIP: Principal Investigator
BUDGET AND RESOURCE RESPONSIBILITY:
- Responsible for a laptop computer.
- One or more digital voice recorders used in this work.
- Petty cash budgets associated with fieldwork and meeting organisation.
JOB DIMENSIONS: The post holder will need to be self-sufficient and be able to work minimal supervision, often with an unpredictable timescale. The post requires travel to local field sites (public hospitals) and may require occasional overnight stays out of station. The post is mentally demanding, and involves a high level of intellectual input and communication with the study team, participants, regulatory bodies and the wider community.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- To contribute to the on-going development and implementation of the SIBs study protocol and workplan
- To take primary responsibility for research data collection, including supporting the development of methods and draft data collection tools, planning for field work, collecting data and ensuring that all interactions with study participants are managed in ways that positively support ethical conduct and the collection of high quality data.
- To contribute substantively to analysis of data from the study, and take primary responsibility for analysis in designated areas.
- To support dissemination of study findings, including through the preparation of drafts of reports and manuscripts for publication; making presentations at scientific meetings; and supporting feedback to study participants.
- To actively contribute to developing their own capacity in social science, health systems research and related research methods, particularly for qualitative research. This includes engaging with a wide literature on health policy/systems and social science methods, active participation in trainings provided and focused efforts to continuously seek and act on feedback on performance.
- Where indicated, provide training and support to other research team members / collaborating partners in areas within these responsibilities.
- To attend departmental and programme scientific meetings including regular meetings of the Centre Scientific Coordinating Committee meetings, and social science group meetings
- Other duties that may be assigned from time to time.
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & COMPETENCIES:
Essential
- A master’s degree with at least 1 year work experience in health research; or equivalent experience in social science, health system or public health, nutrition or equivalent.
- A degree in public health, or nursing (or a Registered Nurse), or nutrition and dietetics with at least 3 years work experience in health research.
- Experience in facilitating participatory workshops and meetings
- Good interviewing and observation skills
- Strong research experience with collecting, managing and analysing qualitative data
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written)
- Computer literate with proficiency in Microsoft applications and qualitative analysis tools such as NVIVO
- Experience working in public hospitals settings in Kenya.
Desirable
- A keen interest in health policy and systems
- Experience in Quantitative data analysis
- Good spoken Mijikenda and Kiswahili languages of the coast of Kenya is an added advantage.
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS:
- Hospital wards and offices in Kilifi County
- Be available to work flexibly, out of hours as necessary and stay overnight out of station as necessary.
- Exposure to patients and materials considered infectious and/or biohazards.