Career Opportunities at KEMRI - Centre for Global Health Research (KEMRI-CGHR)

Vacancy: K09-01-19 

Project description: The Malaria Vaccine Implementation Program (MVIP) Evaluation in Kenya is a collaboration between the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC)USA. The vaccine will be implemented by the National Vaccines and Immunizations Program (NVIP) in moderate to high malaria transmission settings in eight counties in Western Kenya: Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisumu, Migori, Siaya, and Vihiga.  The primary objective of this evaluation is to estimate the effect of the routine delivery of RTS,S/AS01 on all-cause mortality in children aged 5-48 months.  Secondary study objectives include evaluation of the safety and feasibility of vaccine implementation in this setting.  The Malaria Branch has a vacancy for Data Specialist for the Malaria Vaccine Pilot Evaluation study;

Reports To: Data Analyst

Essential qualifications

• Diploma in Computer Science, Information Technology, Mathematics of Statistics from a recognized institution 
• Minimum of 3 years working in data management preferable within a research setup 
• At least 2 years’ experience working with Open Data Kit(ODK) and other web-based and tablet-based data capture systems is essential 
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills
• Experience working with relational database management systems 

Desirable qualities

• Experience in data cleaning and validation
• Experience in source data verification other quality control activities 
• Attention to details and good work ethic 
• Good judgment in problem solving, awareness of own limitations and strong internal motivation
• Ability to prioritize tasks and meet set deadlines
• Must have good organizational skills
• Flexible and able to work well with minimum supervision 

Job Summary: Reporting to the Data Analyst, the Data Specialist will be responsible for the data management procedures of the various sites within MVIP evaluation components. S/he will be expected to work on various databases and therefore should be able to prioritize tasks so as to meet set deadlines. 

Specific duties and responsibilities

The data specialist will be required to;

• Conduct 100% source data verification, validation and discrepancy management
• Perform data cleaning and quality assurance and control
• Ensure all missing data are captured in compliance to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards and within strict study timelines
• Ensure that data is routinely backed up, anti-virus scans are conducted and security measures are adhered to in order to protect data
• Troubleshoot and solve common electronic data capture system problems
• Ensure timely and accurate data entry and validation
• Ensure timely response to data requests
• Provide field support to the study teams, as needed
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the PI

Terms of Employment:

• 1-year renewable contract as per KEMRI scheme of service and a Probation period for the first 3 months.  

Remuneration:

• Compensation is negotiable within a relevant grade, based on education levels, relevant experience and demonstrated competency.  The salary scheme is based on the KEMRI scales plus supplemental amounts.

• Bsc. Nursing, science degree, social sciences or health related degree.
• 2 years of experience in health research

• Fluency in English and Swahili, written and spoken, with fluency in the local language spoken in the study area being an added advantage
• Excellent communication skills; ability to work well in a team, with the public and to collaborate with counterparts.
• Attention to detail and systematic approach to their work.
• Previous experience and/or training in Quality Assurance will be an advantage.  
• Proven leadership skills, assertiveness, and ability to take initiative 

• Monitor study team compliance with required study procedures and GCP standards.
• Assist in monitoring, documenting and reporting adverse events to IRBs.
• Maintain documents as required by regulatory agency guidelines.
• Audit documents and pertinent files and prepare for archival storage.
• Resolve data queries and record discrepancies identified during in-house reviews
• Sign the confidentiality statement and maintain confidentiality and privacy of the research subjects as per the signed confidentiality statement.
• Report the problems requiring action from the field coordinator/study coordinator/PI.
• Assure that obtaining informed consent from participants is complete and according to GCP standards.
• Training of staff on quality assurance issues.
• Performing real – time quality control checks on source documents.
• Supervision of maintenance of subject screening and enrollment logs.
• Completion of data clarification forms.
• Writing and reviewing of study Standard Operating Procedures.
• Developing of study source documents.
• Any other duties assigned by the superiors.

• 1-year renewable contract as per KEMRI scheme of service and a Probation period for the first 3 months.  

• Compensation is negotiable within a relevant grade, based on education levels, relevant experience and demonstrated competency.  The salary scheme is based on the KEMRI scales plus supplemental amounts.

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in a health-related discipline
• At least 3 years working experience in a health research organization 
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office suite and other packages. 
• Able to communicate effectively with members of the research team and national stakeholders
• Excellent written/oral communication, interpersonal and organization skills 
• Fluency in English and Swahili, written and spoken, with fluency in the local language spoken in the study area being an added advantage
• Participated in at least one health related research activity as coordinator or supervisor

• Experience working in a research study
• Ability to write regular reports in a timely manner 
• Ability to conduct training of staff in various aspects of the conduct of research
• Certificate in “Good Clinical Practice” and/or “Human Subjects Protection”
• Knowledge of malaria and its co-morbidities 
• Ability to work long hours within a team 

• Develop an in-depth understanding of the study design and goals 
• Oversee operations related to conduct of the Impact and Feasibility components of the study 
• Participate in the development of study documents, including standard operating procedures, training materials, etc.
• Assist in training study staff at the start of the community mortality assessment (Impact component) and at the beginning of each round of household surveys (Feasibility component)  
• Supervise and provide guidance to all study staff, including community health workers and other field staff. 
• Carry out regular supervisory field visits to all sub-counties participating in the Malaria Vaccine Pilot Evaluation. 
• Ensure smooth operational and logistical arrangements to enable to produce the study results of the highest standards
• Attend and participate in local stakeholders’ meetings and other meetings as needed.
• Participate in regular team teleconference calls and provide updates
• Develop reporting mechanism for bringing critical and high priority issues to the investigators and the study coordinator
• Participate in data query resolution process.
• Ensure compliance to standard operating procedures.
• Conduct community mobilization and sensitization activities 
• Develop good working relationships with the County and Sub-County MoH, community leadership, and the research partners 
• Adequately respond to questions about the study posed by participants and the community. 
• Any other duties as assigned by the Study Management.

• 1-year renewable contract as per KEMRI scheme of service and a Probation period for the first 3 months.  
  

• Compensation is negotiable within a relevant grade, based on education levels, relevant experience and demonstrated competency.  The salary scheme is based on the KEMRI scales plus supplemental amounts.

• Bachelor’s degree in social science, community health, public health, or other related field.
• Minimum 2 years of research experience, including with household surveys, including minimum of 1 year in supervisory function. 
• Experience with performing field staff training and supervision, project quality control, data collection and management, stakeholder and community coordination, and logistics and supply management.
• Excellent knowledge and working experience with Microsoft Office suite
• Working knowledge of Good Clinical Practices and Human Subject Research principles.
• Fluency in English and Swahili, written and spoken, with fluency in the local language spoken in the study area being an added advantage
• Able to work in challenging field conditions, within tight timelines, and in the conditions of roving field operations. 

• Ability to develop an in-depth understanding of study goals and its implementation.
• Strong self-motivation and ability to work in a team, with good interpersonal skills.
• Proven leadership skills, assertiveness, and ability to take initiative 
• Ability and willingness to quickly learn additional development skills and strategies on the job and be able to apply these.
• Strong writing, communication, and public relations skills.
• Strong management, decision making, and analytical skills.
• Ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Ability to work with little or no supervision
• Experience working in complex household survey, preferably in supervisory capacity. 
• Experience with electronic data collection, preferably with tablets. 

• Make the necessary preparations for the fieldwork;
• Organize and direct the fieldwork; and
• Monitor interviewer performance with the aim of improving and maintaining the quality of the data collected. 

• Obtain sample household lists and maps for each area in which his/her team will be working.
• Become familiar with the area where the team will be working and determine the best arrangements for travel and accommodations.
• Contact local authorities to inform them about the survey and gain their support and cooperation.
• Obtain all monetary advances, supplies, and equipment necessary for the team to complete its assigned interviews and parasitemia tests.
• Lead training of field staff

• Assign work to interviewers, taking into account the linguistic competence of individual interviewers and ensuring that there is an equitable distribution of the workload.
• Maintain fieldwork control sheets and make sure that assignments are carried out.
• Regularly send (or upload) completed questionnaires and progress reports to the central office and keep headquarters informed of the team’s location and progress.
• Communicate any problems to the field coordinator/study coordinator/PIs.
• Arrange for lodging and food for the team. Accountability procedures (financing/receipts) will be specified by KEMRI.
• Take charge of the team vehicles, ensuring that it is kept in good repair and that it is used only for project work. Coordinate team’s use of public transportation when vehicles are not used.
• Ensure that biowaste materials are disposed of in accordance with the standard protocol.
• Conduct regular review sessions with each interviewer and advise them of any problems found with their work.
• Ensure completed consent forms and questionnaires are kept in order and pack them up to be sent to the central office.

• Develop an in-depth understanding of project design and goal and ensure that the project is conducted in compliance with project protocols and other regulatory requirements. 
• Work with the data manager to resolve any data queries in the field.
• Respond to questions about the project posed by participants, field coordinators, study coordinators, and/or PIs.
• Provide progress reports and solve reported problems encountered in the field to superiors. 
• Arrange community sensitization activities.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by field coordinators, study coordinators and/or PIs. 

• 6 months Fixed Term contract as per KEMRI scheme of service and a Probation period for the first 2 months.  

• Compensation is negotiable within a relevant grade, based on education levels, relevant experience and demonstrated competency.  The salary scheme is based on the KEMRI scales plus supplemental amounts.

• O-level Secondary education with a minimum grade of C-(Minus) 
• Must be willing to reside within the study area
• Fluency in English and Swahili, written and spoken, with fluency in the local language spoken in the study area will be an added advantage 
• At least one year of doing research work 
• Familiarity with Human Subject or Good clinical Practices

• Must be able to communicate effectively with members of the community and health facility staffs
• Work with minimal supervision and be a team player
• Able to work with tablets. If not conversant with tablet use, then they should be willing and ready to learn on the usage of handheld devices.
• Able to devote additional time for the study including working over national and public holidays, weekends

• Collect accurate, complete surveillance data in the study hospital using the tablets 
• Record information using a study form on a digital platform. 
• Resolve all the discrepancies in data and go back to the field to clarify  
• Ensure maintenance of study supplies at hospital  
• Attend all study meetings on time and report on progress of work  
• Be courteous, respectful, proactive, conscientious, punctual, honest and hardworking 
• Be a team player  
• Complete any other duties assigned or delegated by the management  

• 1-year renewable contract as per KEMRI scheme of service and a Probation period for the first 3 months.  

• Compensation is negotiable within a relevant grade, based on education levels, relevant experience and demonstrated competency.  The salary scheme is based on the KEMRI scales plus supplemental amounts.

• Must have a Diploma in Clinical Medicine. 
• S/he must be registered and with a valid practicing license from the Clinical Officers Council of Kenya. 
• At least 1 year of experience working in a hospital after internship.
• Familiarity with Kenyan Paediatric Guidelines
• Demonstrated competence in performing clinical procedures such as lumbar puncture, venipunctures, intravenous cannulation
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office suite. 
• Ability to work well with the public, in a multi-disciplinary team and able to collaborate well with counterparts. 
• Excellent written/oral communication, interpersonal and organization skills 
• Have high energy, clear goal orientation, good team worker, and strong work ethic
• Fluency in English and Swahili, written and spoken, with fluency in the local language spoken in the study area being an added advantage
• Must be willing to live or relocate near the assigned Health Facilities in Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisumu, Migori, Siaya, and Vihiga counties

• Advanced Life Support (ALS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Experience working in a research study
• Post-basic training in pediatrics will be an added advantage
• Experience using tablets (handheld computers)
• Certificate in “Good Clinical Practice” and/or “Human Subjects Protection”
• In-depth knowledge of Malaria and its co-morbidities 
• Ability to work long hours within a team 

• Develop an in-depth understanding of the study design and goals 
• Daily review of medical notes for completeness 
• Taking additional history and completing case record forms where necessary 
• Tracking that patients receive care according to clinical algorithms 
• Perform clinical procedures and duties as may be required
• Consenting parents/carers for storage of samples 
• Liaising with laboratory personnel for appropriate sample processing and storage
• Provision of regular updates to study coordination team 
• Coordinate the production of regular summary reports with the surveillance coordinator and data manager 
• Coordinate supply and ensure availability of required materials in hospitals
• Reinforce adherence to clinical algorithms by clinical teams 
• Work closely with the clinical, nursing, laboratory and health records teams to ensure smooth conduct of the evaluation. 

• 1-year renewable contract as per KEMRI scheme of service and a Probation period for the first 3 months.  

• Compensation is negotiable within a relevant grade, based on education levels, relevant experience and demonstrated competency.  The salary scheme is based on the KEMRI scales plus supplemental amounts.