Manager, Socio-Behavioral Research at International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI)

Position Summary

IAVI is seeking a highly qualified Manager, Socio-Behavioural Research (SBR) who will play an essential and enabling role in accelerating IAVI’s global SBR efforts. This position will be primarily responsible for strengthening the development and effective execution of SBR plans and strategies across the IAVI product portfolio of vaccines and antibodies for the prevention of HIV, TB and emerging infectious diseases. The successful candidate will collaborate with colleagues working on SBR issues, product development teams, research partners, external stakeholders, and executive leadership to ensure the timely, high‐quality, and budget-compliant design and execution of research projects and workplans.

Key Responsibilities:

Evidence Generations and Strategy Implementation

• Support implementation of key projects in the SBR strategic portfolio in Africa that utilizes existing evidence, or newly generated evidence, to inform R&D and access plans of the needs and behaviors of at-risk populations, healthcare providers, and policymakers.
• Work with research partners and key stakeholders to design and oversee implementation of research studies and maintain a comprehensive and timely understanding of the current landscape, unmet needs, gaps and critical socio-behavioral issues to support product development and global access to novel prevention products, including vaccines and antibodies.

SBR Market Insights

• Seek, consolidate, assess and disseminate key insights from research and analyses.
• Utilize qualitative and quantitative research methods and select the optimal mechanism to gather key insights based on SBR objectives.
• Monitor the broader landscape of SBR projects, including those sponsored by USAID and PEPFAR, and EDCTP, to identify opportunities to leverage insights, methods, and/or technical expertise.

Project & Budget Management

• Support the preparation of funding proposals, budgets, and work plans for regional SBR and access-related activities and prepare updates and presentations for donor reporting
• Monitor progress in workplans and performance metrics, follow up as needed and flag any persistent deviations for remedial action
• Manage SBR budget submission and prepare forecasts as requested by FA (Finance and Administration)
• Draft agendas, pre-read materials, summary presentations and meeting minutes for key meetings, as needed
• Represent department in drafting and monitoring departmental contributions in organizational scorecard

Execution

• Guide the IAVI team and research partners to support the execution of the SBR strategy and integration with global access, advocacy, policy, and communications objectives.
• In close collaboration with the SBR Director, lead or co-lead selected SBR studies and projects in Africa and India with IAVI partners including guidance and review of protocols, sample plans, research instruments, IRB submissions, etc.
• Work with Africa, India, and US-based IAVI teams and collaborating investigators to strengthen internal capabilities for SBR, including mentorship, training, grant writing, and publications
• Prepare literature, reports, compelling SBR communications and data analytics
• Represent IAVI externally to showcase leadership in SBR and help secure funding for future research
• Perform any other duties assigned by the SBR Director

Educations and Experience:

• Masters degree in anthropology, sociology, social epidemiology, behavioural economics, global health, public health, or a related field is required.
• Minimum seven years of experience leading the conceptualization, design, analysis, and execution of SBR studies in the area of global public health, vaccines, HIV or TB prevention, or product development is required.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Demonstrated experience with SBR methods, including qualitative, quantitative, experimental, interventional, and mixed-method studies is required.
• Demonstrated experience in the development of protocols and research tools and IRB submissions for SBR studies is required.
• Demonstrated experience in manuscript preparation is required.
• inability to convene and effectively run meetings and events are required.
• Proven track record in managing complex, cross-functional and multi‐country research studies and projects, including preparing and managing ethics review processes is required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as presentation skills are required.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly research, analyze, and provide synthesized summaries of data and information is required.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to facilitate team interactions
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), NVivo, and other data analysis software is required.
• Knowledge of HIV, TB, emerging infectious diseases, and global health programs is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with proposal development, donor engagement and communications and funding mechanisms is desirable.