Early Post doc Researcher-IHCor at KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP)

JOB PURPOSE: 

To provide scientific leadership and lead implementation of day to day activities as part of the Improving Hypertension Control in rural sub Saharan Africa (IHCor Africa) NIHR Global Health Research Group

Description: 

• REPORTS TO:  PI / Study Supervisor  
• DIRECTLY SUPERVISES: PhD students and Research Assistants
• BUDGET AND RESOURCE RESPONSIBILITY:  Work planning, requisition and procurement of supplies, consumables and ensuring sensible use of resources.

JOB DIMENSIONS:

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has one of the highest prevalence of hypertension worldwide. The impact is particularly damaging in rural SSA where the prevalence of hypertension is as high as urban settings, but awareness, treatment and control is lower. We have obtained funding to help understand and address some of the problems leading to poor control of hypertension in rural sub-Saharan Africa.

The IHCor-Africa NIHR Global Health Research Group is a partnership between the KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme (Kenya), Medical Research Council, The Gambia and The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (UK)

The main aims of the IHCoR Africa Global Health Research group are to:

• Understand the experiences, needs, and practices at the individual, organisational and system levels to detect, treat and control hypertension;

• Determine the optimal diagnostic and risk stratification approaches for people with hypertension;

Develop and evaluate the feasibility of a community-centred programme to improve the management of hypertension Based in Kilifi, Kenya, the position entails working within an international multi-disciplinary team to ensure optimal conduct of the project while also being supported in their personal professional development. The primary area of work involved in this position will be to understand the experiences, needs, and practices at the individual, organisational and system levels to detect, treat and control hypertension.

This will involve conducting qualitative work to explore patient experiences of living with hypertension, and healthcare provider, decision-maker views and perspectives on the organisation and delivery of hypertension care. The findings from these and other aspects of the project will be used to develop a multi-faceted intervention that will be tested in a pilot cluster randomized trial.

The post-holder will also be expected to provide support and mentorship to PhD students, research assistants and engage with local and national Ministry of Health officials. In addition, the post-doctoral researcher will support and contribute to the development of a capacity strengthening programme composed of technical skills workshops and seminars targeting junior researchers from the region and beyond. He/she will be supported to develop their own body of work and mobilize research funding to support transition to research independence.

 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop research proposals for regulatory review
• Work with study PIs in study set up and engagement meetings with various stakeholders
• Analyse and report study findings
• Contribute to the writing of manuscripts
• Mentor and support junior staff and PhD students
• Monitor study milestones and manage communications with local and international partners
• Develop grant applications for funding
• Lead implementation of capacity building activities
• Conduct/attend and participate in study related meetings and other meetings as needed.
• Participate in dissemination of study findings
• Any other duties as may be assigned by to them by the study Principal Investigator.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A PhD in Health Policy, Health Systems, Public Health or related field
• An undergraduate degree in a health-related field
• Experience in conducting health policy and systems research
• Experience with qualitative data collection and analysis including familiarity with qualitative analysis software such as NVIVO

Desirable Criteria:

• Excellent presentation and communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Experience working with external stakeholders as well as community health workers

COMPETENCIES:

• Demonstrated high levels of confidentiality and integrity
• Excellent interpersonal, written, presentation and communication skills
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong Management, leadership, and decision-making skills,
• Ability to build strong and diverse effective teams, delegation, and team motivation .
• Ability to build productive and collaborative relationships with varied stakeholders