Research Coordinator - IMA World Health

Job Title: Research Coordinator 1 Position (Based in Mwanza)

Reports to: IMA World Health Senior Advisor for Research and Quality Assurance

Program Description

IMA world Health in partnership with Cornell University, Partnership for Nutrition in Tanzania (PANITA) and Development Media International (DMI) will be implementing a five year program (from 2015 to 2019/2020) for Addressing Stunting in Tanzania Early (ASTUTE), to improve early childhood development and reduce the prevalence of stunting (low height for age) among Tanzanian children under 5 years old with focus on the first 1,000 days of life from conception.

The DFID-funded project in Tanzania will be implemented in 5 regions of Kagera, Mwanza, Shinyanga, Geita and Kigoma in collaboration with Local Government Authorities and other multi sectoral stakeholders to support the National nutrition Strategy and will look, specifically to

1) support interventions to build knowledge, change attitudes, strengthen practice and expand services

 2) retrain health facility and community level resource persons to ensure community engagement

3) deliver overall nutrition components and build the capacity of DNuOs and District trainers

 4) build capacity for planning, programming, budgeting and financial management to sustainably address stunting.

Position Summary

The Research Coordinator will report directly to the IMA Senior Advisor for Research and Quality Assurance and will provide direct support to the Cornell research team. The Research Coordinator will assist with following:

1. Support for Field Operations

·         Develop relationships with local communities and government stakeholders to facilitate data collection and coordinate sampling and recruitment efforts, according to research protocols.

·         Coordinate applications and renewals of ethical approvals in Tanzania.

·         Coordinate recruitment and hiring of field research staff, build the research team, assist in training field teams, and provide supportive supervision to the team.

·         Maintain quality of data collection and data entry, including regular monitoring and feedback to the research team.

·         Ensure proper and secure storage of data and overall data management and documentation.

·         Report to the project leaders about progress and any challenges of data collection, adverse events, or problems with performance of field research teams.

·         Participate in quantitative and qualitative data collection and date entry when needed.

·         Collaborate on qualitative and quantitative data analysis and write-up.

·         As a first point supervisor of the field research investigators the Mwanza based research coordinator will be responsible for identifying concerns within the team, consulting with project team leads including local Principal Investigators, and supporting and strengthening the team.

2. Logistics and Liaison

·         The research coordinator is expected to be a bridge between Tanzania based partners, local Principal Investigators, and the IMA World Health and Cornell ASTUTE teams on activities related to operations research (OR).

·         Assist the IMA and Cornell teams in communicating and coordinating with local partners for OR activities.

·         Support Cornell team field visits in terms of travel, stay, communication and meeting local stakeholders.

·         Support visiting and local research consultants during field visits to conduct training, pretesting, data collection and data management.

·         Assist in quarterly forecast of OR activities and budget preparation.

·         Contribute to the OR quarterly reports and other documentation as needed.

·         Support in arranging regular project meetings on OR, including facilitating skype calls.

·         Communicate with IMA and DMI in the field office and identify the priority areas to be discussed in ASTUTE team meetings.

Required Qualifications

·         Excellent Swahili and English communication skills, including written English skills.

·         Background in public health, community development, or related field.

·         Field research experience (either qualitative or quantitative and familiarity with the other).

·         Bachelor’s degree in relevant field plus at least 3- 5 years relevant work experience implementing international development projects, preferably in health

·         Supervisory and project management experience.

·         Evidence of ability to work with teams and take on leadership roles.

·         Familiarity with MSOffice software.

·         Willingness to travel and in rural and isolated communities will be required.

·         Ability to provide supportive supervision, motivate and mentor research staff in study settings.

·         Excellent organizational skills and experience with logistics.

·         Commitment to improving the lives of women and children and addressing health inequalities in Tanzania.

Desired qualifications

·         Master’s degree in relevant area.

·         Experience/training in child feeding, undernutrition, gender and/or food security.

·         Familiarity with qualitative analysis and software.

·         Familiarity with statistical methods and software.

·         An understanding the need for qualitative exploration of barriers and facilitators of adoption of recommended behaviors.

·         Willingness to collaborate and work efficiently within the project timeline.

·         Experience in designing and conducting research

How to Apply

Interested applicants may submit their application together with photocopies of testimonials plus updated curriculum vitae by 15th September 2016:

By email: tanzaniaHR@imaworldhealth.org the e-mail subject must read. ASTUTE –Research Coordinator Email applications must be accompanied by a signed and scanned letter, with a one page motivational letter for the position the original of which will be required to be produced at the time of interview. Attachments should be in one folder

Or by mail: Applications must in a sealed envelope addressed to the following:

Country Director IMA World Health Tanzania P.O. Box 9260 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.