Research Officer Job in Kenya

Kenya

Medical Research Institute
 

Opening

date: 9th

March 2016 

Program

Description: This

program is a collaboration between Kenya Medical Research Institute, Henry

Jackson Foundation MRI and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention whose

remit is to conduct research in Malaria, HIV, Tuberculosis and other

diseases. 

Due to

its continued growth, the HIV Research Branch has the following vacancy.

Position: Principal

Research Officer (HIVR Branch Chief) 

Reports

To: Program

PI
 

• Ph.D.
  
  or MD with Masters in Epidemiology, Public Health, or related field


• Highly
  
  experienced (minimum 7 years) in clinical, epidemiological, sociological,
  
  demographic, clinical or population science research and/or program
  
  management


• Supervisory
  
  experience including effective management of support personnel in health
  
  research projects and research teams.


• Publication
  
  experience – At least five (5) articles published in peer- review
  
  scientific journals in relevant fields.

• Minimum
  
  5 years of experience in HIV research studies


• Experience
  
  with designing, initiating, implementing, analyzing, presenting and
  
  publishing successful research projects as an investigator and Principal
  
  Investigator


• Demonstrated
  
  knowledge of the range of laws, policies, regulations and precedents
  
  applicable to research and especially research ethics


• Grants
  
  application and management experience


• Ability
  
  to lead and work within a team environment and in diverse cultural environment.


• Expertise
  
  with research study logistics including budgets, equipment and study
  
  products, staffing, etc.


• Computer
  
  literacy in Microsoft office suite, proficiency in Excel, Access or other
  
  database application and internet searches.


• Excellent
  
  interpersonal skills, initiative, resourcefulness and attention to detail.


• Works
  
  well with minimal supervision, employing sound judgment in problem solving
  
  and awareness of own limitations


• Work
  
  in a professional and ethical manner with competence, accountability and
  
  integrity, maintaining positive working relationships

Job Description: Specifically,

the Principal Research Officer will lead the conduct of epidemiologic studies

and clinical trials in HIV research areas such as prevention, treatment and

cure studies and others. 

The

primary responsibility of the Principal Research Officer will be to optimize

the scientific activities of the Branch from inception through

publication. 

The

Principal Research Officer will work closely with the CDC Senior Technical Advisors

for HIV Research, the deputy Branch Chiefs for operation and management,

clinical Trial and epidemiology, laboratory director and other colleagues on

overall leadership of the branch and staff capacity building. 

The

incumbent will provide leadership, direction and technical expertise to the

HIVR Branch, MOH, non-governmental organizations, universities, medical

institutions and other stakeholder agencies.
 

Duties

and Responsibilities:

• Development,
  
  preparation, implementation, analysis and dissemination of high-impact HIV
  
  research portfolio through scientific journals, periodic reports and
  
  public presentations.


• Oversee
  
  the research and capacity building activities of the HIV Research Branch.


• Serve
  
  as Principal Investigator, co-Principal Investigator and/or
  
  co-investigator for various Branch studies


• Supervision
  
  and mentorship of Branch staff


• Work
  
  closely with the Deputy branch chief, CDC Technical Advisors and other
  
  scientists to determine the scientific agenda of the Branch


• Review
  
  all scientific presentations and manuscripts prepared by members of the
  
  branch and provide feedback.


• Maximize
  
  the quality of all study activities conducted in the Branch and diagnose
  
  and resolve study implementation problems, designing and implementing
  
  necessary organizational systems to ensure efficient and effective
  
  delivery of quality research activities and outputs.


• Works
  
  with Branch administrative staff and others to ensure that financial,
  
  human, and other resources are allocated and managed efficiently


• Review
  
  scientific presentations and manuscripts prepared by members of the Branch
  
  and provide feedback


• Lead
  
  efforts to find and apply for funding for scientific activities in the
  
  Branch


• Oversee
  
  human resource management to ensure that branch staffing is optimized.


• Work
  
  closely with HIV Research leadership to develop the capacity of branch
  
  staff through training and mentoring.


• Attend
  
  internal and external scientific meetings for the Branch and represent the
  
  Branch externally in scientific, media, and community forums.


• Review
  
  scientific literature, keeping self and staff up to date on scientific
  
  advances in relevant areas of HIV and public health.


• Manage
  
  change during transitions in organizational focus


• Coordinate
  
  and supervise monitoring and evaluation systems


• All
  
  other duties as assigned

• Excellent
  
  scientific writing and presentation skills


• Must
  
  have a good understanding and experience in HIV research, including
  
  protocol development, data collection,


• analysis
  
  and report writing


• Excellent
  
  interpersonal and organizational skills


• Ability
  
  to work well in a team, and be able to collaborate well with the Ministry
  
  of Health and other partners


• Fluency
  
  in English, written and spoken


• Ability
  
  to offer excellent research mentorship

Terms of Employment: A one

year Renewable contract as per KEMRI scheme of service. Probation period for

the first three months.
 

Remuneration: Compensation is

negotiable within a relevant grade, based on educational levels, relevant

experience and demonstrated competency. 

The

salary scheme is based on KEMRI scales plus supplemental amounts.

Applications must include the following:

• Letter
  
  of Application (Indicate Vacancy Number)


• Three
  
  referees with contact telephone numbers and e-mail addresses


• Copies
  
  of Certificates and Transcripts

Applications are due no later than: 30th March 2016

Human

Resource Manager, 

Or

e-mail to recruitment@kemricdc.org

Internal candidates interested in applying for this position are strongly

advised to access an internal candidate application form available in the CDC

Intranet; print and process it through their project Managers and attach it

before forwarding their application to HR.

Only short listed candidates will be contacted