Clinical Officer - Walter Reed Program (WRP)

Walter Reed Program (WRP) - Tanzania  | HJFMRI

A collaboration with U.S. DoD

 Locally known as the Walter Reed Southern Highlands AIDS Program, the Henry Jackson Foundation Medical Research International (HJFMRI) is an international non-governmental organization working in several countries conducting research studies and providing care and treatment to people affected by HIV/AIDS. HJFMRI is funded by the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief PEPFAR.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHSW), HJFMRI has been leading a comprehensive HIV/AIDS care and treatment program in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania since 2004 with support from the President’s Emergency Plans for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The program is based in the Southern Highland Zone and has since extended to more than 100 health facilities in Mbeya, Rukwa and Ruvuma regions, which collectively represent a catchment area of about 6 million people. Mbeya region is one of high prevalence regions in Tanzania and expansion of HIV care and treatment programs is critical.

Walter Reed Program is seeking qualified candidates to fill the positions below.

Cover letters and resumes should be sent to the

Human Resources Manager,

P.O. Box 6396, Mbeya

or

e-mailed to; recruitment@wrp-t.org

NOTE: to be considered, applicants must put the TITLE OF THE JOB in the SUBJECT LINE. Deadline for submission of the application is February 10th, 2017. Those who do not meet the minimum requirements as detailed below should not submit applications.

Position : Clinical Officer (AFRICOS)

Reports to : Study Coordinator (AFRICOS)

Location : Mbeya

Position Overview:

The Walter Reed Program/Henry Jackson Foundation Medical Research International (WRP/HJFMRI) together with the NIMR-Mbeya Medical Research Center (MMRC); the University of Munich and the Mbeya Referral Hospital (MRH), aim to improve treatment and care of HIV infected patients through clinical research tightly integrated into the routine implementation of the national ART Program. Projects conducted in the collaborative setting focus on treatment experienced HIV infected patients, the management of HIV associated diseases such as Cervical Carcinoma and Tuberculosis and program evaluation of the PEPFAR funded ART program in the southern highlands of Tanzania, integrating research activities into the routine patient care, capacity building and infrastructure development. In this context, the collaboration aims to implement the AFRICOS Study, a cohort study following up to 500 HIV positive patients on Care at MRH and 100 HIV negative participants over a long period of time and as such is seeking to fill the position of a Clinical Officer.

The candidate will work under the supervision of the AFRICOS Study Coordinator to ensure that clients who are enrolled in AFRICOS are examined and managed clinically during and after the enrollment process. This will include but not limited to ensuring that their vital signs are taken and that they are consented properly before they are enrolled in the study. The person will work closely with Walter Reed Program (WRP), Mbeya Referral Hospital (MRH) and Mbeya Medical Research Centre (MMRC) clinicians and Research Liaison Officer who are involved in the study. S/he will be required to work closely with the Laboratory in charges of WRP, MRH and MMRC to ensure that patient samples are collected appropriately and sent to the testing labs in the required time.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

 Work closely with AFRICOS Study Physician and the AFRICOS Team to ensure that clinical research and related activities of AFRICOS are performed in accordance with federal regulations, partners and sponsoring agency policies and Good Clinical Practice and principles of ethical research and other requirements that apply.

 Assist in the development of AFRICOS study document materials and tools necessary to implement and document all phases of the AFRICOS Study, including but not limited to budgets, protocols amendments, training materials, checklists, study logs and IRB submission.

 Support, coordinate and facilitate all phases of study implementation including but not limited to patient selection, recruitment and Informed Consent Process, Patient enrollment and follow up, clinical management and reporting of Adverse Events and Serious Adverse Events, management of study specific training and study close out;

 Works with the AFRICOS Research Officer to ensure that all Case Report Forms are filled properly as required.

 Works with the AFRICOS Research Officer to ensure that all Laboratory Tests are carried out as required and reported on a daily basis.

 Review all clinical procedures at the clinic to ensure that all study participants are enrolled in the right visits and the right sample types are collected as per study requirements.

 Ensure that all study participants are reviewed on time and that their medical status is reviewed as required.

 Attend to study participants who are sick with the support of the AFRICOS study physician.

 Other Clinical duties as assigned by the Study P.I or designee.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

 Work with Study Coordinator to develop research concepts from the AFRICOS Study for Research purposes.

 Prepare presentations of the AFRICOS Clinical Work to share with Program staff.

 Work with other study staff to contribute to contribute to publications or disseminate research findings using other appropriate methods.

 Carry out other clinical research activities as guided by the study coordinator.

 Participate in Program evaluation research activities and provide clinical expertise to Program staff in the field.

 Analyze study data with the aim of generating progress reports for the study.

 Support the study coordinator in preparing wire forecasts for AFRICOS study budgets.

Qualifications:

The suitable candidate should have:

 Hold a minimum of Diploma/Higher Diploma in Clinical Medicine.

 Have at least three years of experience in Clinical Research, including participant enrolment in clinical studies.

 Have documented Ethical and GCP training including CITI.

 The person should have experience and conversant with Codes of Ethics of Clinical Research.

 Further formal training in HIV (e.g. counseling, treatment literacy, PMTCT, PITC) is an added advantage.

 Mastery of Spoken and written English is mandatory.

Personal Skills:

 Good computer skills.

 Excellent organizational skills

 Good coordination skills and ability to work in a team.

 Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

 Fluency in English

 High degree of commitment

 Results oriented i.e. with the ability to meet deadlines with competing priorities.

 Willing to work independently in a multidisciplinary team.