Job Description
Job Description
UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE
Research Assistant (RA) – Qualitative Research
OVERVIEW
The Child Heat Impact – Climate Health Intervention (CHI²) project will focus on heat exposure and its impact on child respiratory health, incorporating comprehensive health assessments, environmental monitoring, and active engagement with communities and key stakeholders. This project is designed as a multi-centre, transdisciplinary project and brings together cross-disciplinary experts from six institutions across five countries (3 African and 2 European).
POSITION INFORMATION
Job Title: Research Assistant (RA) – Qualitative Research
Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
Number of Posts: 2
Job Commitment: 50%
Contract Duration: 4 months
Reports to: CHI² Project Coordinator Zimbabwe
Start Date: August 2026
PURPOSE OF JOB
To support implementation of the CHI² project by conducting community-based qualitative data collection with children and caregivers to explore the impact of heat on respiratory health and daily life. The RA will ensure culturally sensitive, ethical engagement and accurate data collection and management.
KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS
* Participant recruitment and community liaison
* Qualitative data collection
* Data management
* Translation, transcription, and team support
Duties and Responsibilities
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Participant Recruitment and Community Liaison
* Develop Standard Operating Procedures for working with children.
* Work with the SDC and local stakeholders to recruit participants reflecting diverse ages, genders, and vulnerabilities.
* Conduct interviews and book venues.
2. Qualitative Data Collection
* Obtain informed consent and assent.
* Audio record interviews and manage field notes.
* Assist with visual ethnography data collection (photovoice method).
3. Data Management
* Label and transfer recordings and notes securely to the Data Manager.
* Ensure privacy and confidentiality of collected data.
4. Transcription, Data Analysis, and Team Support
* Assist with transcription, translation, and verification of transcripts.
* Participate in regular team debriefs and contribute insights for thematic analysis.
* Conduct data analysis.
* Contribute to manuscript writing and information dissemination.
* Produce weekly research progress reports to the Study Coordinator.
* Perform any other duties and responsibilities assigned by the Principal Investigator (PI), Coordinator, or Data Manager.
Qualifications and Experience
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THIS POST
Educational Requirements
* Bachelor of Science degree in Health/Social Sciences (Health Promotion, Social Work, Development Studies, Environmental Health).
Experience
* At least 1 year of experience in qualitative data research.
* Prior work with community/school-based projects.
* Experience with obtaining informed consent is required.
Knowledge
* Familiarity with climate change and health issues.
* Research ethics certification.
* Understanding of qualitative research methodologies and the use of data analysis software (NVivo).
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
* Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a diverse team.
* Multilingual (Shona and English). Understanding of Ndebele is an added advantage.
How to Apply
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please send your CV and a one-page motivational letter to:
Closing Date: Friday, 24 July 2026