Job Description

CeSHHAR Zimbabwe is an organisation that specialises in population health research and programming, including on sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS. CeSHHAR has an extensive national, regional, and international academic and community partnership network. CeSHHAR has a diverse range of funders which include the Wellcome Trust, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, United States NIH, UK Medical Research Council, Templeton World Charity Foundation, USAID, Global Fund for AIDS TB and Malaria, UNICEF and UNFPA. We partner very closely with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (UK), Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health and Childcare and international and regional centres of research excellence to evaluate national programmes and determine the impact, uptake, and cost effectiveness of novel reproductive health interventions.

Duties and Responsibilities

JOB ROLE
Reporting to the Director – The Social Scientist is responsible for leading research projects under HIGH Horizon and HAPI in Mt Darwin District. The two projects address knowledge gaps around the quantification and monitoring of direct and indirect impacts of ambient heat exposure on maternal and newborn health. The projects will contribute to designing individual/household/community and health facility-level interventions. The field coordinator is responsible for coordination of fieldwork activities to ensure compliance with protocols and overall study objectives. Key responsibilities include: -

• Research Leadership: Spearhead the design and implementation of research projects within the Climate and Health Department, ensuring alignment with departmental objectives.
• Protocol and Grant Development: Collaborate with investigators in crafting research protocols and grant proposals. Facilitate timely protocol approvals and maintain an organized system for protocol renewals, payments, and reporting.
• Document Preparation and Ethical Approvals: Author research protocols, supervise the crafting and translation of essential research documents, and secure necessary regulatory and ethical clearances for studies.
• Quality Assurance and SOPs: Design and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for research undertakings. Periodically conduct audits to ascertain consistent adherence to SOPs.
• Research Coordination: Oversee the strategic planning, execution, and synchronization of research activities, ensuring alignment with established protocols and project timelines.
• Ethnographic Research: Lead and manage ethnographic research initiatives, from determining the appropriate methodology to conducting comprehensive analyses.
• Team Leadership: Supervise research personnel, offering training and continuous support to ensure adherence to study protocols, ethical standards, and data gathering methods.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Engage proactively with interdisciplinary teams, focusing on pivotal questions at the intersection of climate change and health.
• Data Oversight: Direct the data collection, management, and analysis processes, working closely with data management teams to guarantee accurate data capture and meaningful analysis.
• Academic Contributions: Contribute to manuscript development, infusing academic outputs and reports with nuanced social science perspectives.
• Leading the Social Science Working Group: You will take the lead role in facilitating and guiding the Social Science Working Group's activities at CeSHHAR. This includes developing agendas, scheduling meetings, steering discussions, and coordinating with group members to ensure the successful execution of planned initiatives.
• Active Participation in CeSHHAR's Citizenry: The Research Manager is expected to actively contribute to the sense of community and mutual support within CeSHHAR. This may involve participating in regular meetings and discussions, providing mentorship to junior team members, and actively contributing to the organization's culture and values.
• Additional Responsibilities: Execute other duties as directed by both the Principal Investigator and the Director of Climate and Health.

Qualifications and Experience

MSc in Social Sciences, Climate-related publications, Valid GCP Certificate. At least 8 years of research experience. Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively as part of a research team with a good understanding of qualitative and quantitative methods of research; Prior experience managing a field team. GCP and Research Ethics. Microsoft Office packages. Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Self-motivated and good leadership skills. Ability to work with people from different backgrounds.

How to Apply

Step 1: Click the Apply button below
Step 2: If you are interested in the above position, please email your CV and application cover letter addressed to Human Resources and send to [email protected]. Indicate the position and duty station you are applying for in the subject line. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

CeSHHAR Zimbabwe is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, sexual orientation, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply.

The successful candidate will undergo relevant background checks and will be required to commit in writing to comply with the CeSHHAR Zimbabwe safeguarding guidelines.

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