Research Medical Officer I-IHCoR at KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP)

JOB PURPOSE: 

To 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:  Reports to the study PI.

DIRECTLY SUPERVISES: Research Officer, Assistant Research Officer, Clinical officers, Fieldworkers, Post graduate diploma interns, Data manager, Data entry clerks.

INDIRECTLY SUPERVISES: Community Health Volunteers and research assistants.

BUDGET AND RESOURCE RESPONSIBILITY:  Work planning and task allocation, requisition and procurement of supplies, consumables and ensuring sensible use of resources.

About the project

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has one of the highest prevalences 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, organizational 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-centered programme to improve the management of hypertension

JOB DIMENSIONS:

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 determine the optimal diagnostic and risk stratification approaches for people with hypertension in Kilifi. This will involve designing and conducting community-based studies of diagnostic accuracy of various methods for screening and diagnosing hypertension, as well as determining the relationship between these diagnostic methods and measures of hypertension mediated organ damage. 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 other members of the study team and engage with local and national Ministry of Health officials. In addition, the post-holder 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 advance career wise by enrolling in advanced degree courses and to develop their own body of work 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.
• Mentor and support junior staff.
• Monitor study milestones and manage communications with local and international partners.
• Develop grant applications for funding.
• Analyse and report study findings
• Lead implementation of capacity building activities
• Conduct/attend and participate in study related meetings and other meetings as needed.
• Any other duties as may be assigned by to them by the study Principal Investigator.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• An undergraduate degree in a Medicine and Surgery or equivalent
• A MSc in Epidemiology or related field
• 1-3 years’ post qualification work experience.
• Experience in conducting field/clinical research.
• Strong quantitative skills and proficient in advanced statistical programming e.g. with Stata/R or other software
• Should be registered (or eligible to be registered) with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board
• Ability to lead, supervise and work within a team.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA:

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

COMPETENCIES:

• Good writing skills
• Good analytical and follow through ability.
• Good planning, organization and co-ordination skills and attention to detail
• Flexibility, adaptability, ability to multi-task
• Confidentiality and integrity
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Team working and ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.