Technical Specialist, Population-based Surveys

Position Summary

Reporting to the PHIA Project Director, the Associate Research Scientist (Technical Specialist) is responsible for managing the day-to-day aspects of selected country-specific Population-based HIV Impact Assessments (PHIA) Project survey activities at ICAP. In this capacity the Associate Research Scientist provides technical direction and support to PEPFAR, Ministries of Health and other local partners to design and implement population-based surveys in order to assess the impact of PEPFAR-supported HIV prevention, care and treatment programs. Assists the Project Director to ensure the PHIA Project achieves its goals and objectives with efficiency and with high quality.

In addition, the Associate Research Scientist serves as director or co-investigator for four research studies/clinical trials. The Associate Research Scientist oversees the data management and analysis activities for a COVID multicenter clinical trial; oversees all activities for the ECHO study; and is the study director/co-investigator for a HIV prevention trial of an injectable agent to prevent HIV transmission.

Major Accountabilities

PHIA

• Manages all aspects of planning, developing and implementing 1-2 concurrent country-specific PHIAs; serve as co-Principal Investigator as needed
• Assists the Project team with the evaluation and dissemination of PHIA results from 1-2 concurrent country-specific PHIAs
• Coordinates internally within ICAP on the development of budgets and tracking of finances related to PHIA Project activities
• Works closely with the Project Director and other Project staff to assure that capacity building activities are included in all phases of Project planning and implementation
• Identifies, prevents and resolves potential operational, strategic and technical problems and reviews outputs for quality control
• Serves as the technical link with and liaison to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other collaborating local partners to generate PHIA protocols, informed consent forms, Standard Operating Procedures, training materials and training plans, country-specific work plans and corresponding budgets
• Leads and/or assists the Project Director, CDC staff, and local collaborators in the generation and presentation of project reports, publications and presentations
• Recruits and manages country-project staff and coordinates inputs from ICAP technical staff advising on the country-specific project
• Provides technical inputs and recommendations on survey design and implementation

COVID-19

• Serves as Data Coordinating Center Director for COVID-19 and convalescent plasma clinical trials
• Establish infrastructure and oversee all data management and analysis activities for two clinical trials (severe COVID and mild COVID studies).
• Interface with PIs and statisticians outside of ICAP in order to lead on this work

ECHO

• Oversee all study operations; liaise with ECHO management; serve as co- investigator
• Establish infrastructure for first clinical trial in Eswatini, laying the foundation for subsequent HPTN work and establishing a NIH network clinical research site (CRS)

HPTN 084

• Serve as Study Director/co-investigator
• Build on ECHO infrastructure to help establish CRS; serve as CRS co-investigator

ICAP clinical trials unit

• Serve as Quality Assurance Specialist
• Performs other related duties as directed

Minimum Degree Required

• Doctoral level degree in medicine, public health, tropical medicine, epidemiology, health management or related field

Minimum Qualifications

• Approximately eight (8) years of experience working on international public health projects either in the headquarters of an international organization or in resource-limited settings
• Approximately five (5) years of experience in the design, delivery and evaluation of programs and services for HIV care and treatment programs in resource-limited settings with preference for three (3) years based in RLS settings
• Demonstrated experience designing and conducting population-based surveys
• Excellent communication, writing, quantitative and project management skills including the development of measurable objectives, operational plans and measurable indicators/targets for public health programs and projects
• Demonstrated experience establishing, growing and maintaining effective working relationships with donors, implementing partners and other stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience in working in project-based environments requiring the management of multiple and often overlapping priorities and deadlines
• Demonstrated experience leading an international and inter-disciplinary team
• Experience working independently with a minimum of supervision and also working in a team-based environment functioning as part of a technical assistance team
• Fluency in English (speaking, reading and writing)

Preferred Qualifications

• Fluency and proficiency in French or Portuguese is a strong advantage
• Experience working with USG funded projects

Additional Information

• Requires international travel up to 50% of the time primarily to PHIA assessment countries