Head of Epidemiology and Demography at KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP)

OVERALL JOB PURPOSE:

Programme Leadership:

KWTRP is a large Programme, now including 800 staff and 50 Principal Investigators working across hubs in Kilifi, Nairobi and Uganda. We account for £20M spending per year, 200 scientific publications per year and direct influences on areas such as vaccination policy, care of critical illness and health economic policy across Africa. Capacity building is a central aim and has been highly successful, included 76 completed PhD students and newly independent scientists through 10 Training Fellowships, 5 Intermediate Fellowships, 4 African Research Leader awards and an Oak Fellowship. We are now expanding our scientific leadership team to support the next phase of the Programme’s development.

The Head of Epidemiology and Demography will be a critical part of the new team, with responsibility for scientific strategy and decision making and for a transition in leadership within the Programme. She/he will take a leading role in the core funding renewal and shape the direction of the Programme for the near future and longer term with a centre of gravity based in Kenya, and in addition act as a Principal Investigator in their own right leading independent research.

Epidemiology/Demography Leadership:

The Epidemiology and Demography Department is central to the Programme’s surveillance strategy, overseeing the Kilifi Health Demographic Surveillance System with >0.25M residents, integrated ward surveillance of 5000 admissions per year, and surveillance of primary healthcare facilities. Researchers in Kilifi work on diverse areas ranging from vaccine effectiveness studies through to viral transmission and host genetics. Researchers in Nairobi work on spatial epidemiology, case management and public health with an emphasis on malaria.

With support from Head of Surveillance and Managers of the Demographic Surveillance team and ward surveillance, the Head will be responsible for setting strategic priorities and plans for Epidemiology and Demography, in addition to the broader Programme-wide responsibilities described above. The post will include substantial allocated time for developing and leading new independent research initiatives, with the expectation of building an independent research portfolio that addresses critical healthcare challenges in our setting.

The post requires a scientist with a track record of extensive and noteworthy independent scientific output, with proven capacity to attract funds for research relevant to LMIC settings. Experience of leadership in research is essential, reaching at least group level. External coaching in leadership skills will be made available to the successful applicant.

REPORTS TO:

• Programme Executive Director

JOINTLY SUPERVISES:

• Head of Surveillance.

INDIRECTLY SUPERVISES:

• Staff in Epidemiology and Surveillance Department (joint line management of project-specific staff by PIs and management of fieldworkers/research assistants through Head of Surveillance).

BUDGET AND RESOURCE RESPONSIBILITY:

• Epidemiology and Demography Core Budget
• Personal Project Grants.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leading the Programme Epidemiology and Demography scientific strategy, including chairing Departmental management and planning meetings.
• Active participation as part of the senior leadership team in shaping Programme-wide scientific strategy and acting as co-applicant for the Programme core grant.
• Developing proposals for new research initiatives, with ongoing leadership responsibilities for these areas of personal research
• Membership of the Heads of Scientific Departments committee, and in a broad range of governance structures and committees.
• Planning the overall budget and setting targets for development of Epidemiology and Demography on a yearly basis, and negotiating and agreeing the plans with the Scientific Departments Committee responsible for overall scientific strategy in the programme.
• Ongoing strategic decisions underpinning Epidemiology and Demography work, including reprofiling of the core budget, new research initiatives including the development of new sites or collaborations, design of engagement or data capture platforms and integration with other Departments.
• Line management of the Head of Surveillance.
• Providing input on surveillance or epidemiological aspects of developing proposals and funding applications, and willing to be a co-applicant on funding proposals from other PIs where relevant.
• Mentorship of early career scientists across the Programme with related interests, and training input for selected PhD students/ Masters students where relevant.
• To guide and support the development of collaborative linkages with other local and international health research institutions to develop synergistic and equitable partnerships.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Essential Requirements:

• A PhD or equivalent post-graduate qualification relevant to Epidemiology and Demography themes.
• Experience in research with significant impactful research outputs.
• Significant productivity in peer reviewed journals.
• Evidence of the capacity to win independent research funding.
• Leadership experience in research or related areas, at minimum to leading a group.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and lead complex projects.
• Significant experience of line management.
• Experience of PhD and/or Masters supervision with positive outcomes.

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience of studies on interventions (either clinical trials or observational effectiveness work).
• Ability in or understanding of spatial epidemiology.
• Experience of inter-disciplinary work.

COMPETENCIES:

• Evidence of supervisory ability and negotiation skills.
• Evidence of an ability to operate and lead in a federalized environment with decentralized authority.
• Strong skills in budgeting, development and oversight of project proposals, leadership of meetings, and writing skills.
• Ability to work across cultures and evidence of communications skills in that context.
• Willingness to respond within tight timelines and to cope with changing assignments.
• Strong leadership skills and managerial ability.
• Strong planning, administrative and organisation ability.
• Confidentiality, integrity, patience and calm disposition.
• Team working and ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.