International Rescue Committee
(IRC)
Research Specialist - Kakuma
Sector: Research
Location: Kenya
Employee Type: Regular
Employee Category: Full
Time
Founded in 1933 at the request of
Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to
refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.
At work today in over 40 countries
and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are
uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
Health programs represent the largest single sector within which IRC currently operates, constituting approximately 45% of the international budget and with activities in 22 countries.
Health programs represent the largest single sector within which IRC currently operates, constituting approximately 45% of the international budget and with activities in 22 countries.
Field-based health staff are
supported by a headquarters Health Unit comprised of health professionals with
many years of experience in humanitarian work.
The Health Unit contributes to the
effectiveness and comprehensiveness of IRC primary health care programs through
technical support, staff development, and institutional learning.
The Health Unit ensures quality
programs by promoting self-reliance, participation, sustainability, equity, and
human dignity.
The Health Unit is committed to the
development of the field of humanitarian assistance through advocacy,
documentation of lessons learned and research.
The IRC is leading a multi-agency program of operational research to develop a combined protocol for the treatment of severe and moderate acute malnutrition (Combined Protocol for Acute Malnutrition Study- ComPAS).
The IRC is leading a multi-agency program of operational research to develop a combined protocol for the treatment of severe and moderate acute malnutrition (Combined Protocol for Acute Malnutrition Study- ComPAS).
The ‘Combined Protocol’ will be
piloted in two countries: South Sudan and Kenya.
The IRC is recruiting a Research
Specialist to provide overall management of the research work in Kenya.
The research is funded by OFDA and
CIFF, implemented by the IRC in Kenya and Action Against Hunger-USA in South
Sudan and supported by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Scope of Work: The Research Specialist , as part of the IRC Kenya team, is responsible for overall supervision of the ComPAS field study in Kenya., including coordinating with IRC headquarters and the country team, recruiting and training the research team, procuring and positioning supplies, ensuring high quality data collection and entry, providing on-going technical supervision and support to field teams, and contributing to interpretation of data analyses and publication of results.
Scope of Work: The Research Specialist , as part of the IRC Kenya team, is responsible for overall supervision of the ComPAS field study in Kenya., including coordinating with IRC headquarters and the country team, recruiting and training the research team, procuring and positioning supplies, ensuring high quality data collection and entry, providing on-going technical supervision and support to field teams, and contributing to interpretation of data analyses and publication of results.
This position will be based in the
field and will report to the Nutrition Coordinator in Kenya, with a dotted line
to the ComPAS principal investigator in New York and the LSHTM team in
London.
The Research Specialist will be a key
member of the global ComPAS team and will play an important role in the
interpretation and presentation of the results of the study.
Key Responsibilities
Research protocol and project development
Key Responsibilities
Research protocol and project development
- Assist Principal Investigator (PI) to finalize
research protocol and data collection tools (questionnaires, reporting
forms); lead field-level pre-testing in each country and refine tools.
- Support the completion and processing of
Research Ethical Approval (IRB) as required for research; responsible for
ongoing reporting in-country.
- Contribute to development of overall project
work plan and analysis plan; coordinate with partners to develop and
maintain timeline for regular communication and project/reporting
deliverables
- Support the development and processing of
initial proposal updates/revisions and associated budgets, in keeping with
IRC internal processes and donor requirements
Staff recruitment and training
- Recruit, train, and supervise field
researchers (officers, enumerators, etc.) on treatment protocol, study
protocol and project implementation, and data collection and management
methodology.
- Work closely with research team to develop
critical thinking research skills; develop and sustain a culture of
responsibility and detail-oriented work among all field researchers.
- Build capacity of staff (clinic staff, CHWs,
etc.) involved in project implementation and data collection. Provide
training and refresher training as applicable.
Coordination and management
- Provide on-site management and oversight of
project implementation at the clinics where the study will be conducted;
supervise research team members to enroll, treat and follow-up patients.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with
implementing partners and MoH at county level; act as primary ComPAS
contact in-country with regard to project leadership and technical
oversight
- Maintain ongoing dialogue with research team
members to assess project progress; support timely and quality
implementation and alert appropriate staff at country, regional and HQ
levels to potential delays.
- Observe activities of research team members
and enact plans to streamline operations; strictly ensure that research
team members carry out agreed upon actions, define operational changes
when required Develop, maintain, and implement system for project
deliverables monitoring and data management; ensure data quality and coherence
- Prepare ComPAS project updates for the global
ComPAS team and participate in regular calls and communications
Finance, budget and grant monitoring
- Overall responsible for ComPAS project budget
related to operational expenses in Kenya. Perform and monitor budget
spending in line with spending plan; ensure diligence in grants
utilization including timely spending and value for money.
- Prepare a monthly or quarterly report of
estimated expenditure (including actual and commitments) based with
narrative summaries; review budget expenditure reports prepared at IRC HQ
and inform the nutrition Coordinator and PI of any concerns, updates or
changes and support preparation of budget revisions when necessary.
- Contribute to donor reporting deliverables;
coordinate with nutrition coordinator and PI to inform narrative and
report preparation
Reporting and administrative tasks
- Track project outputs/ deliverables against
work plan. Develop new systems as necessary to ensure the tasks/
activities are tracked and completed on time.
- Maintain electronic copies of key project
files. (IRB, MoUs or other agreements, contracts, contract amendments,
budgets, TORs).
- Provide logistical support for meetings,
workshops and trainings as well as travel arrangements and schedules for visiting
PIs, project partners, etc.
Publications, reports, and
dissemination
- Write periodic progress reports throughout the
project with interim results for internal and external dissemination
(including both official project and donor reports as well as IRC/ComPAS
communications material etc.)
- Work with IRC/ACF/academic partners during
data analysis and write-up. Contribute to written sections and editing, as
required for publishing academic articles, briefing papers, case studies
etc.
- Represent ComPAS at dissemination conferences
and events; present/communicate study results and implications of research
findings and recommendations among global health professional peers
Required Qualifications, Experience
& Competencies
- Master’s Degree or PhD with three years
experience in research and/or nutrition program management in developing
countries with national or international partners
- Excellent research skills; knowledge of
quantitative data collection and analysis methods, strong experience
ensuring data quality
- Strong statistical and analytical skills
- Technical understanding of CMAM required,
experience with treatment of acute malnutrition a plus.
- Excellent demonstrated organizational and
managerial ability, prior experience managing a diverse team required.
- Excellent written and verbal communication
skills; demonstrated patience and effective leadership in communicating
broad and detailed topics to diverse audiences in person and through
written communication
- Ability to interact with donor agencies,
research and field partners, other international, national and local
actors in country
- Microsoft Office Suite with appropriate
research skills including for example, use of statistical packages
- Attention to detail and ability to multitask
- Experience of working with large complex
budgets in excel, donor reporting, and against workplan /deliverable
timelines
- Willingness to work with considerable
flexibility in a challenging environment and occasionally outside normal
working hour s.
How to Apply
CLICK HERE to apply online
IRC leading the way from harm to home.
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
CLICK HERE to apply online
IRC leading the way from harm to home.
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
IRC considers all applicants on the
basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion,
sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.
Please take note that International
Rescue Committee (IRC) does not ask for any fees in connection with its recruitment
processes. In the event that you receive any request for payment of any
sort, please get in touch with us on Tel: +(254-020) 2727730, Email:
IRCKenya@rescue.org or report to the nearest police.