Assistant Research Officer-Qualitative Digital Health Researcher at KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP)

JOB PURPOSE: 

As an Assistant Research Officer (ARO) focusing on (UX/HCD/Health Informatics), will drive the creation of user-centered solutions for delivering robust clinical data pipelines and behavior change challenges in information use for routine-decision making. The ARO role is a hybrid role of user-research using qualitative methods, digital health, and design acumen. You must demonstrate proficiency in all aspects for this position. The ARO will work in the data BRIDGE project under the Principal Investigator to ensure project success. The individual will focus on both strategic and tactical aspects of the research project, attending to the day-to-day delivery while keeping sight of the overall project objectives. You will iterate on solutions, informed by user research, to deliver exceptional solutions to meet the needs of end-users (e.g. healthcare workers, public hospitals etc.) and key stakeholders (e.g. County health officials, MoH staff etc.

Electronic Health Record systems (EHRs) have the potential to improve health data collection and decision-making in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for monitoring health system performance, routine maternal, perinatal, and neonatal death surveillance and response (MPNDSR) and for integrated disease surveillance response (IDSR). However, existing EHRs audits reveal that they are challenging and expensive to sustainably implement in SSA. Therefore, in the short-to-medium term, paper-to-digital systems will continue to dominate. This project proposes to improve the quality, volume, and range of data collected through paper-to-digital systems in SSA while reducing the workload of information officers and improving data use culture. This will be achieved by (1) Co-developing with key stakeholders patient-level core dataset(s) for routine-decision making that are valuable to different stakeholders (2) Exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to develop an efficient, user-friendly clinical informatics pipeline that leverages paper-to-digital systems and (3) Identifying how the core dataset(s) from the pipeline can be routinely used for multiple surveillance needs (MPNDSR/IDSR) and QI programmes through optimising Audit and Feedback plan-do-study-act cycles and mechanisms. This project aims to bridge the gap between data and information by developing a practical and sustainable solution for improving health data collection and use for routine decision-making in Kenya with an initial focus on neonatal care in public hospitals.

Description: 

REPORTS TO:  Study PI and Study Supervisor.

BUDGET AND RESOURCE RESPONSIBILITY:  Responsible for allocated hardware and software

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

User research

• Work with PI to review background literature research, uncover gaps, and develop strategic approach for research.
• Assist in field plan development, including selecting proven insights research methods and tools and creating new methods to achieve research objectives.
• Facilitate in-field focus-group discussions, one-on-one interviews, hospital walkthroughs, meeting non-participant observations and other participatory research methods.

Analysis/synthesis

• Work with PI to distill user-research learnings into actionable key insights.
• Design and develop stakeholder presentations beyond powerpoint; make it an experience.
• Document project process through photos and videos to be used for case-studies and learning products.

Ideation and Prototype development

• Translate research findings into effective, user-centered experiences through low fidelity prototypes.
• Test and validate ideas with stakeholders and be able to quickly pivot and iterate prototypes as you learn.
• Demonstrated ability to document creative process and rationalize decisions based on actual findings.

Strategy Development

• Work with Communications Director, the PI, and Ministry of Health stakeholders, to develop brand, marketing, and/or communications strategy of the research findings.
• Demonstrated ability to make sound rationalizations for strategic recommendations.

Creative Design and Execution

• Design prototypes, at mid-level fidelity, to effectively communicate concepts to end users, policy makers and other key stakeholders.
• Design and build final art for production, this will include, but is not limited to, print layouts, packaging, and storyboards
• Design solutions that meet measurable health system goals and requirements in Kenya

QUALIFICATIONS:

The successful applicant will have:

Essential qualification:

• Undergraduate degree in Sociology (Medical Sociology), Health Informatics, design (interaction, product, service)
• At least 1 years related work experience.
• At least a minimum of 1-2 years’ experience in conducting qualitative research using methods such as focus group discussions, indepth interviews and non-participant observations.
• At least a minimum of 1 – 2 years’ experience solving end-user problems for digital health products or services in public hospitals in Kenya health systems.
• Experience generating user story maps, stakeholder journey maps and user personas.

Preferable

• User-centred design – experience in qualitative, participatory research, persona development, customer journey mapping, and or visualizing other user experience flows.
• Facilitation skills – experience in leading workshops with participants at different learning and ability levels (from frontline healthcare staff, senior managers and policy makers)
• Creative and design abilities – proficient in strategic concept development, have experience with a variety of convergent and divergent thinking methods.
• People skills – excellent interpersonal skills, an empathetic disposition and sensitive to cultural differences
• Brand and marketing acumen – have knowledge of marketing and brand fundamental, demonstrate the ability to think of concepts holistically through a variety of media platforms.
• Have experience in using approaches / methods such as Lean UX canvas, Direct Experience Storyboards, Persona-based walkthroughs.
• Experience conducting co-design ideation workshops.

COMPETENCIES:

• Proficiency in English both written and verbal
• Excellent interpersonal, written and presentation communication skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Focus on timely delivery of objectives.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS:

• Office based with field work in selected counties in Kenya.
• Willingness to travel for fieldwork approximately 10 -25% of the time

Working hours:

• Requires flexibility in the hours worked, with the priority being meeting the team’s research goals