Head of Research Department - East London, South Africa - Foundation for Professional Development (FPD)

Foundation for Professional Development (FPD)
Foundation for Professional Development (FPD)
Verified Company
East London, South Africa

1 week ago

Thabo Mthembu

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Thabo Mthembu

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Description
**Job Title : Head of Research Department

Annual Salary :
Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD)


Location :
FPD East London


Reporting to :
Managing Director***
Purpose of the position:To lead the development and sustainability of FPD's Research Department as follows:

  • Provide strategic leadership to FPD Research Department.
  • Build FPD's capacity in clinical research by securing new research grants and funding as the
Primary or co-Primary Investigator.

  • Generate/obtain financial resources for research implementation and department operations.
  • Ensuring rigor of clinical components across all research projects.
  • Take a leading role in the clinical, scientific and career development of staff and visiting
researchers/interns.

The successful applicant will lead the department's overall clinical research programme, and be
provided with the freedom to build FPD's clinical research and clinical trials portfolio in support of
strategically defined and negotiated research topics including, but not limited to:

  • Sexually transmitted infections
  • Mental Health
  • NCDs
  • HIV/TB
  • Neglected tropical diseases
  • Adolescent health
  • Men's health
  • Rural health
  • Implementation Science

Main responsibilities:


1) Provide strategic leadership to the Clinical Research portfolio under FPD's Research

Department (10%)

  • Work with Research Department and FPD leadership to develop strategic and operational goals
and plans to ensure the long-tern sustainability of the department.

  • Work with Research Department staff to develop operational goals and plans to optimally implement
research studies.

  • Representing the department at FPD organizational management meetings
  • Externally represent the department by attending appropriate clinical, research or stakeholder
meetings as requested/needed.

  • Engage with relevant stakeholders in national, provincial and district health departments, funders,
and academic institutions to enhance visibility of the department's work and attract new
opportunities.

  • Establish and manage relationships with national and international academic institutions and
research collaborators.

  • Stay abreast of new scientific developments and expand the network of collaborative partners by
attending conferences, technical working groups and academic meetings.

2) Build FPD's capacity in clinical research (30%)

  • Lead the Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) research portfolio by ensuring current studies is
implemented according to the highest standards, new opportunities are identified, and additional
funding is attracted.***- Leverage research and clinical expertise to identify opportunities and create clinical training courses

for FPD's Academic Department and serve as course faculty and/or quality assurance committee
member, as appropriate.

implemented with the highest standards.

  • Disseminate Research Department findings through local and highlevel scientific publications and
opinion papers, articles in popular media, conference presentations, and district/provincial feedback
sessions.

3) Generate/obtain financial resources for research implementation and department operations

(45%)
must be placed on international funders.

  • Expand the portfolio of clinical research activities by identification of new opportunities and
  • Identify, cultivate and leverage new sources of funding and profit generation for longterm
sustainability of Research Department activities.**
4) Ensure clinical rigour across FPD's research programmes (10%)

  • Ensure rigor of clinical component of FPD's research projects by providing guidance during grant
writing and providing training on clinical programme aspects to research staff.

  • Ensure visibility of FPD during clinical meetings with local, provincial and national health
departments, and facilitate linkage of FPD Research staff with the relevant clinical
facilities/structures for management of research patients.

  • Provide direct support and consultation on clinical components of all research studies.

5) Take a leading role in the clinical, scientific and career development of staff (5%)

  • Host / supervise clinical and research students during internships/fellowships and elective projects.
  • Provide regular training to staff on clinical topics; both in the Research Department as well as within
FPD's training programme.

  • Mentor junior staff researchers in protocol, manuscript, and grant writing.***
    Essential Qualifications:
  • MBChB with significant clinical expertise in resource
  • constraint settings.**
  • M.Med in Internal Medicine or PhD in Infectious Diseases or Public Health**
  • MPH or MS degree with a focus on epidemiology**
  • Management qualification highly desired**
    Additional requirements:
  • Minimum of 50 peer
  • reviewed publications, of which 20 must be as 1st author.
  • Expertise in one or more of FPD's strategic activity areas (potentially demonstrated by 10 or
more firs
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