socio-behavioural scientist - East London, South Africa - Desmond tutu Health Foundation

Description

SOCIO-BEHAVIOURAL SCIENTIST

FIVE (5) YEARS FIXED-TERM CONTRACT

EAST LONDON, EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE OR CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE

The Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF) is a registered non-profit organisation focused on the pursuit of excellence in research, treatment, training and prevention of HIV and related infections in Southern Africa.

We have fantastic job opportunities across our businesses for talented people wanting to realize their full potential. Could that be you? If so, we invite you to explore the possibility of joining us to play your part in Desmond Tutu Health Foundations' exciting future.

The main purpose of this position is to implement, coordinate, and monitor the research study protocol, oversee all implementation staff members, and ensure the execution of all research activities and operations.

Minimum Requirements:

• Master's degree in public health, Behavioural Sciences, Social Science, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years' experience using qualitative research methods
• Minimum 5 years research project coordination including project start-up, implementation, and closure of research projects
• Minimum 3 years' experience coordinating project staff
• Must have a minimum of 12 published manuscripts, of which at least 5 must be as first/co-first author
• Must have experience in presenting at conferences
• Must have demonstrable experience in Implementation Science methods and approached
• Must have experience using qualitative data analysis programs (i.e., Dedoose, Nvivo, Atlas ti)
• Computer skills – Microsoft Word, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Outlook and REDCap
• Knowledge of research documentation standards
• Strong verbal and written communication
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Attention to detail
• Planning and Organizing skills
• Problem-solving and detail orientated
• Team player, as well as the ability to work independently
• Valid code 8 driver's license

Advantageous:

• Content knowledge of TB/HV stigma and men's health issues
• Content knowledge of HIV prevention
• Experience in evaluating new diagnostic tools
• Strong knowledge of the South African National TB and ART Management Guidelines
• Current certification in Good Clinical Practice and Human Subjects Protections
• Previous experience managing and implementing research programs/projects in the Eastern Cape Province
• Knowledge of quantitative research methods, data analysis and interpretation
• Knowledge of data quality control activities, systems, and processes (QA/QC)
• Technical Project Management knowledge and skills

Other Skills

• Ability to build interpersonal relationships to manage and support study staff and project implementation.
• Excellent stakeholder and collaborator relationship management
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written) and strong public speaking skills
• Decision making & analytical skills
• Planning and organising skills
• Adaptive to change
• Ability to multi-task

Responsibilities:

• To help lead the portfolio of socio-behavioural and qualitative research activities across projects whilst adhering to the highest research quality standards.
• To document best practices in data collection and data quality assurance
• To supervise a team of qualitative data capturers, transcription and translation staff, and student interns participating in qualitative studies
• To ensure qualitative team members deliver high-quality work through training and other capacity-building activities.
• To develop qualitative data collection tools
• To work with senior researchers in the development and implementation of qualitative research studies, including proposal writing, budget development, field activities, data collection, management, and analysis
• To contribute to the dissemination of research findings and best practices through manuscript writing and publication in peer-reviewed journals, oral or poster presentations at national and international conferences and communication of research findings to stakeholders (i.e., government, community, and funders)

Academic

• Lead and participate in qualitative data coding, interpretation and analysis
• Compose abstracts of project results for scientific conferences and to (support) drafting scientific manuscripts for publication
• Assist with and participate in data dissemination
• Identify opportunities to leverage the project to advance portfolio, spin-offs, and outputs of the research team
• Lead academic manuscript development as first author
• Manage changes to protocol, ethics submissions and annual reporting to ethics board and donor

Study and Staff Management

• Ensure that study staff adhere to all study procedures according to IRB approved study protocol and Good Clinical Practice
• Manage qualitative data, including quality assurance and control
• Provide comprehensive feedback on project progress, successes, and challenges to the Research Team Leadership and the (inter-)national project collaborators
• Train and oversee staff to conduct in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and other qualitative data collection methods
• Train and oversee staff to conduct qualitative data coding using appropriate qualitative data coding and analytic software

Values fit: Passion Innovation Progress Integrity Respect Excellence

Submit a detailed cover letter, updated CV with certified copy of highest qualification and details of two (2) current contactable referees in a single PDF file by 19 April 2024. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

If you are a foreign national applying for this position, please attach a copy of your work permit to your application.

Visit the DTHF Career page to view the advert (Reference number: DTHF-C022) and apply: DTHF Career Page

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

If you have not heard from us within four weeks after the closing date please consider your application as unsuccessful.

We are committed to equity in our employment practices. It is our intention to appoint individuals with the aim of meeting our equity objectives. We reserve the right not to appoint if no suitable candidates are identified.

I understand and accept that by applying for this position, I authorized DTHF to process my personal information in accordance with its internal operational requirements.

I further understand that the personal information I disclose to DTHF will be processed in accordance with the requirements set out in the Protection of Personal Information Act and may include the transferring thereof to third parties for the purposes of verification.

This job may be removed before it expires.

Desmond Tutu Health Foundation is a child-friendly organisation committed to the protection of children.

For more information about the organization please visit our website.