RESEARCHER (HEALTH SYSTEMS)

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a leading Africa-based, African-led, international research institution headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. APHRC conducts policy-relevant research on population, health, education, urbanization and related development issues in sub-Saharan Africa.

APHRC seeks to recruit a Researcher to work in the Chronic Diseases Management Unit within the Research Division, mainly focusing on health systems strengthening. This is a new role arising from the implementation of the current five-year strategic plan which has, subsequently triggered tremendous growth in our programs.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Conduct research on vaccinations and health systems related areas which may include leading community-based trials and health facility and household surveys. Tasks may include study conceptualization and design, project management and coordination including, obtaining ethical approvals and research permits for studies, recruiting and training of field interviewers, supervision of field work and data management, data analysis, report writing.
• Co-design and test digital interventions with stakeholders to inform policy & practice on delivery and uptake of vaccinations and other health services.
• Lead and contribute to financial sustainability of the unit through contributing to fundraising efforts in the unit and cultivating relations with key institutional donors.
• Lead and contribute to scientific paper writing on vaccinations and health systems.
• Supervise, mentor and train junior researchers in the unit and the Center at large.
• Lead policy engagement, knowledge translation and communication to appropriate audiences.
• Participate in strategic planning for the unit and contribute to regular unit reports.

 Qualifications, Skills, and Experience 

• PhD preferably in a health related field including Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Systems or Clinical Medicine.
• Post-doctoral experience in research on health systems in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Experience in developing proposals and attracting research grants, particularly in health systems.
• Demonstrated experience in managing research teams and partnerships.
• Experience in managing community-based cluster trials, health facility audits and household surveys.
• Strong quantitative skills (managing, analyzing and interpreting data), with extensive familiarity with quantitative statistical packages (e.g. STATA, SAS or SPSS).
• Excellent communication skills and good record of publications on relevant areas in sub- Saharan Africa.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills and ability to work in a culturally diverse team and an understanding of working among vulnerable populations such as in urban slums and rural populations.

Desirable

• Expertise/experience in working with healthcare workers, caregivers and policy makers.
• Expertise in design of community-based cluster randomized trials and quasi experimental studies.
• A good grasp of chronic care models and application of modern technology in enhancing care and prevention.
• Expertise in qualitative methods, including familiarity with qualitative analysis software packages (e.g. NVivo).

The successful candidate may be appointed at Post-doctoral Research Scientist (0-2 years after PhD), Associate Research Scientist (3-5 years after PhD), or Research Scientist (6-11 years after PhD) levels depending on experience and track record. These positions are classified under Internationally Recruited Positions (IRP), Grades III to VI in our scales.

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application in English, and include:

1. A letter of application;
2. A statement of research interests and goals (1-2 pages); and
3. CV with contact details of three referees

through this link. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.  Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates will be required to have a Police Clearance Certificate.

 Special Notice

APHRC is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.