Head of Community Engagement
Location: Kilifi
Country: Kenya
Summary:
The post holder is responsible for strategic planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of community engagement in the KEMRI Wellcome Trust research programme in Kilifi County and other geographic areas of its operations in Kenya.
The overall aim of community engagement in the programme is to support high quality, ethical biomedical research through maximising mutual understanding between local residents/research participants and programme staff based on a positive, transparent and respectful relationship; and supporting the development of locally appropriate research policy and practice.
This post includes responsibility for communicating with local, national and international collaborators/stakeholders about community engagement policy and practice in the programme.
Community engagement in Kilifi County currently includes interactions with a population of around 260,000 people.
This post will be based in Kilifi but will involve visits to other sites in Kenya where research is being conducted.
Reporting Lines:
Reports to the Scientific Director, KEMRI Wellcome Trust programme.
Key Responsibilities:
- Development and
implementation of short and long term strategic community engagement plans
for health research in Kilifi County and other geographic areas of the
programme’s operations, through consultation with internal and external
stakeholders and on-going monitoring and evaluation activities.
- Development and implementation
of short and long term strategic capacity building plans for community
engagement for Field Workers and other relevant programme front line
staff, including through collaboration with the programme’s Continuing
Professional Development department.
- Management and
capacity building for a team of 7 full time community liaison officers and
facilitators to ensure that community engagement and front line staff
capacity building plans are implemented in a timely and effective way.
- As part of
implementing community engagement plans, ensuring that all important
emerging issues (including those concerning communication and policy) are
appropriately acted upon; and attending and contributing substantively to
discussions in programme governance committees. The ability to critically
review the implications of proposed study goals and activities for
community interests/engagement is central to this responsibility.
- Managing
budgetary components of community engagement activities, including
ensuring efficient use of all resources, and ensuring timely reporting on
accounts.
- Managing the
development, production and distribution of print and other informational
materials to support community engagement, including development of
general leaflets and information booklets on KEMRI and medical research
and input to informed consent forms (through CCC), project specific
materials and audio visual materials.
- Effective
communication of community engagement activities with stakeholders in and
outside the programme, including timely internal reporting, updating
relevant information on the programme website and representation of the
programme’s community engagement policy and practice with local, national
and international stakeholders.
Skills
and Competence:
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- Graduate in
Public Health, Social Science or other related field.
- Relevant
Master’s degree.
- At least 5
years’ experience mid/senior level management position in a national or
international health research or community social/health development
institution or organisation, with a central role of managing interactivity
or engagement with community members, and responsibility for
supervising staff groups of 7 or more.
- At least 3
years’ experience working directly with large community groups in health
research or community social/health development sectors.
- High levels of
personal integrity and demonstrated commitment to high standards of
ethical practice in relation to community interactivity/engagement,
including awareness of ethical issues that may be involved.
- High competency
in working with different forms of communication (interpersonal, mass
media) and participatory learning approaches.
- Ability,
willingness and strong interest to develop good levels of understanding in
any new relevant area, including aspects of biomedical science and
research ethics.
- High competency
in budget management and use of Microsoft Office applications
- Track record of
commitment to, and competence in, working collaboratively and taking
account of a wide range of perspectives.
- Kenyan national,
fluent Kiswahili and English speaking/writing.
Desirable
Criteria:
- Understanding
and experience of working with health research ethics principles a major
advantage
- A relevant PhD
would be an advantage
Application
Procedure:
To apply for this post you must be a registered user. Log into your account then go to Vacancies, view the post and click on the button: "Apply for this job".
(www.kemri-wellcome.org).
All applicants are required to attach their Current CV, a cover letter and state their current/last salary.
Candidates must supply an email and telephone contact that will be used when offering interviews.
To apply for this post you must be a registered user. Log into your account then go to Vacancies, view the post and click on the button: "Apply for this job".
(www.kemri-wellcome.org).
All applicants are required to attach their Current CV, a cover letter and state their current/last salary.
Candidates must supply an email and telephone contact that will be used when offering interviews.
The
application closing date is 10th May 2013. Only shortlisted candidates will be
contacted.
KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) is an equal opportunity employer. Direct or indirect canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification.
KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) is an equal opportunity employer. Direct or indirect canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification.
KWTRP
does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application,
interview, meeting, processing, training or any other fees).
