Job Description

Position: Biostatistician I
Full time: 12 months

Zvitambo is an internationally recognized multidisciplinary public health research institute with the mission of helping children survive and thrive through research. We work in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) to conduct research and provide technical support to reduce the burden of malnutrition and infectious diseases, and give children a good start in life. Zvitambo operates from a head office in Harare, and a field site in Shurugwi, where we conduct clinical trials and observational cohort studies, with embedded laboratory and qualitative substudies.

Job Purpose

Zvitambo is seeking an experienced Biostatistician to conduct statistical analysis and modelling in various research studies which include climate change modelling, health systems evaluation, and clinical trial and cohort data analyses. The postholder will also perform data management and statistical analyses working with the study investigators and other field researchers. The post holder will be based in Harare. The postholder will assist the Principal Investigator and Project Lead in developing the study protocol with statistical input, will help with compiling and analysing data, and writing statistical analysis plans and writing manuscripts for publication. The postholder will be supported by a Senior Biostatistician and by the Associate Director for Data, IT and Statistics.

Duties and Responsibilities

Main Duties
• Carry out statistical analyses
• Extract, curate and analyse relevant DHIS2 data
• Extract, curate and analyse climate data from various sources
• Develop and validate statistical models to analyze complex biological, clinical, and epidemiological data, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of results.
• Integrate quantitative and qualitative data
• Interpret study findings and communicate results effectively to researchers, clinicians, and other stakeholders through written reports, presentations, and visualizations.
• Collaborate with researchers to develop appropriate study designs, including sample size calculations, randomization procedures, and statistical analysis plans.
• Perform advanced statistical analyses on research data using appropriate software (e.g., R, SAS, STATA) to address research questions and hypotheses.
• Prepare progress reports to regulatory bodies (e.g. MRCZ and MoHCC)
• Participate in study-related training sessions and regular meetings
• Contribute to writing project reports and journal publications based on research findings; the latter to be submitted to peer-review journals of high international ranking.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential:
• Degree in Statistics, Public Health or a related quantitative field.
• Master’s degree in Biostatistics, Statistics, or a related field is required
• 3 years proven experience in biostatistical analysis within a research or academic environment, preferably in the healthcare or life sciences sector.
• Proficiency in statistical software packages (especially STATA or R) as well as experience with data management and manipulation.
• Strong understanding of clinical trial design, epidemiological methods, and regulatory requirements governing biomedical research.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and convey complex statistical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities and experience in mentoring junior staff or leading statistical projects on time in full.
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks governing clinical research, such as Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines.
• Experience using a variety of qualitative research methods, including conducting semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office software (including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Desirable:
• Experience accessing and working with DHIS2 data
• Experience in integrating qualitative and quantitative data
• Track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals or presentations at scientific conferences demonstrating contributions to the field of biostatistics.
• Experience working with communities to co-design interventions especially in a rural setting
• Experience with systems dynamics modelling
• Experience working within a research organization
• Keen understanding of the research ecosystem in Zimbabwe.

How to Apply

Please follow the link https://form.jotform.com/251053012364544. Include a cover letter, CV, and other supporting documents; it is preferable if this can be combined as one PDF document if you have more supporting documents to submit.

The closing date for applications is 25 April 2025. This post will start in May 2025. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Consider your application unsuccessful if not contacted within eight (8) weeks after the closing date of the advert. Any form of lobbying at any stage will lead to automatic disqualification.

By submitting your personal information, you consent to Zvitambo holding and using it in accordance with its recruitment policy and procedure. Zvitambo reserves the right to verify documents attached with the relevant awarding institutions to authenticate their validity.

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