Career Opportunities at Population Services International (PSI) - 2 Positions

Your contribution

Provide strategic leadership for research planning

• Support research and M&E activities, including strategic research planning, study design, questionnaire development, data analysis, research dissemination, and logframe development;

• Work with country-level research teams to develop annual research portfolios and manage regional and local research subcontractors;

• Provide strategic advice on research budgeting and staffing decisions to country representatives to ensure country research teams can deliver on research portfolios;

• Review and provide research inputs to proposals for funding from supported countries to ensure proposed research activities are strategic, fit-for-purpose, and budgeted adequately.
• Interface with global technical and research teams to ensure alignment between global strategy, central research projects, and regional research activities.

Provide technical inputs and oversight for research activities

• Design qualitative, marketing, quantitative and mapping research studies in collaboration with country-level researchers and programmers;

• Ensure studies are in compliance with ethical and internal quality standards;

• Build capacity among country-level research teams and partners to design studies, oversee data collection, and analyze/interpret/disseminate results;

• Assist with piloting and expanding use of newer technologies including mobile data collection, telephone surveys, etc.;
• Interface with research agencies to improve the quality of services provided within the region;

Ensure research results are disseminated for programmatic use

• Support country research teams with dissemination of research results internally and externally;

• Provide technical assistance to country platforms to build skills in interpreting research results and using evidence to guide marketing and program decisions and activities;
• Work with the Regional Monitoring Advisor to develop data dashboards and promote use of routine data for programmatic decision-making;

What are we looking for? 

The basics 

• You have at least 3 years of experience in the design, management, analysis, and dissemination of research in marketing or public health, including experience in a developing country (experience in East Africa strongly preferred)

• You have an MA, MPH, MSc or other relevant degree in public health, behavioral sciences, population studies, psychology, communication, or a related field (PhD is a plus)

• You have designed health research with a wide range of methodologies, with a preference for qualitative health research design, implementation

• You have experience analyzing qualitative data (in Atlas TI, NVivo, or similar program)

• You have experience designing and implementing marketing research. Experience in 2 or more of the following methodologies or approaches is preferred: segmentation, consumer panels, human centered design, journey mapping, retail surveys, journey mapping, pre-testing, communication effectiveness studies, pricing research, and mystery shopper/client studies.

• You have demonstrated your ability to inform programmatic decisions using research results

• You are an excellent writer and presenter

• You are fluent in English

• References will be required

• A technical test of knowledge and skills in research design and analysis may be required

• Must have work authorization for Kenya. 

What would get us excited?

• French and KiSwahili language skills are a major plus

• You have strong quantitative analysis skills including multi-variate analysis of health survey data (Stata preferred)

• You have experience working with research or M&E systems for a wide variety of public health programming, including HIV, family planning, malaria, or child survival programs

• You have substantial programmatic or research experience in WASH programming

• You have worked on behavioral segmentation research, process evaluations, operational research, evaluations of communications effectiveness, mapping studies/GIS, and mobile health technologies

• You have substantial experience with electronic data collection

• You are familiar with MIS systems and processes (especially DHIS2)

• You have experience in capacity building or training, especially structured long-term capacity building activities 

Join us!

The Global Internal Audit Department is responsible for providing objective and independent assurance and advice on the financial, operational, administrative and technical activities of the Organization.  All the work and strategic efforts are done under the umbrella of GIA’s Department Motto: “By Your Side, At Your Service, In Your Best Interest “.

We are looking for a GIA Advisor to support the development of strategic initiatives for Global Assurance, Anti -Fraud and Investigation efforts. The advisor will manage an Assurance program designed to educate and improve controls and compliance within PSI primarily through conducting risk-based audits. He/she will support Anti-Fraud and investigation efforts designed to educate, prevent, detect and investigate fraud, theft and loss within PSI. Provide cutting edge thought leadership and education on risk, control, and compliance matters. He/she will also take on ad hoc projects and initiatives to improve PSI’s delivery of its mission and the effectiveness of GIA’s work.

Sound like you? Read on

Your contribution

As part of the Global Internal Audit team, you will work in teams to ensure the systems of the internal controls maintained by PSI are adequate and effective to safeguard its assets, the reliability, accuracy and integrity of management information systems and related policies, plans, procedures and records and their adequacy to effectively accomplish intended objectives

Conduct internal audits of PSI and PSI affiliate offices

• Coordinate and conduct audits at PSI and PSI affiliate locations by liaising with local country management and Regional support teams to schedule specific audits
• Conduct audit-level risk assessment for planning purposes in accordance with GIA guidelines.
• Design audit procedures and conduct tests to determine the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls to prevent or detect errors, irregularities, and frauds.
• Determine the accuracy of financial information and other disclosures and assess level of compliance with PSI, country government, and funder laws and regulations.
• Document all planning, work, and conclusions in audit management system.
• Conduct  meetings with internal clients to communicate issues related to audits    and coordinate timely receipt of management action plans to address observations made.
• Draft reports that reflect results of audit work conducted and describe the issues, risks, and recommended corrective action.

Conduct Investigations at PSI and PSI affiliate offices

• Conduct or oversee time-sensitive investigations of irregularities, fraud, corruption, and/or other violations by analyzing and synthesizing fact patterns, developing and executing testing procedures
• Partner with key internal and external stakeholders; and providing regular and timely updates to key stakeholders on the progress of projects.
• Support the development of reports and other materials to communicate the results of investigations, including control deficiencies or weaknesses, fraud matters, recommendations to various stakeholders.
• Support the development of various communications for different audiences, situations, and uses to contribute to the collective understanding of anti-fraud and investigative trends, risks, issues, and solutions.

Knowledge and Thought Leadership

• Remain abreast of developments in risks, regulations, control activities, and leading practices within various PSI locations, programs, functions, and systems.
• Advise management on an ongoing basis, with risk-based timely feedback on accounting, reporting, control and compliance issues to prevent costly errors and irregularities.
• Support the development of various initiatives to nurture PSI Internal Audit network sharing of leading practices and development of high-quality, IIA-compliant, local internal audit practices
• Identify improvement opportunities for PSI policies and processes, both within audits and for PSI as an organization.
• Identify improvement opportunities for GIA’s working practices.
• Provide training and education on a variety of risk, control, and compliance matters to all levels within the organization.
• Contribute to annual audit risk assessment and annual audit planning, including liaising with internal clients to schedule audits.
• Provide coaching, mentoring and guidance periodically to country based Internal auditors

Ad Hoc Projects

• Lead special projects to enhance the functioning of the GIA function.
• Participate in organizational task forces or committees.

What are we looking for?

• Minimum 7-10 years of professional experience in internal or external audit
• At least 5 years of accounting and / or internal controls/ risk management experience
• At least a Bachelor’s Degree
• One or more appropriate professional certifications (Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, Certification in Information Systems Auditing, Certified Fraud Examiner)
• Ability to travel internationally at least 50%
• Experience conducting audits, investigations, and special projects overseas, particularly in the countries in which PSI works
• Excellent organizational skills and initiative
• Demonstrated attention to detail and excellent writing skills
• Superior customer service and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in use of audit management systems and computer aided audit tools
• English fluency essential; Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Honest and ethical with high levels of integrity and confidentiality 

What would get us excited?

• Experience with international development projects, including those funded by the Global Fund, USAID, DFID and other international donor organizations
• Superior communications skills, verbal and written, including the ability to engage effectively with staff at all levels
• Creativity, innovation and problem solving skills
• Proficiency in applying data analytics, information technology, and forensic auditing tools
• French language proficiency