TITLE: RESEARCH ADVISOR, MALAWI
DEPARTMENT: EAST AFRICA
DATE: AUGUST 2008 (post through October 19, 2008)
Population Services International (PSI) is the world’s leading non-profit social marketing organization, operating in more than 60 developing countries. PSI creates demand for essential health products and services by using private sector marketing techniques and innovative communications campaigns. On the supply side, PSI works with the commercial sector to increase the availability of these products and services at prices that are affordable to low-income populations. With a bottom-line orientation that is rare among non-profits, PSI markets products and services for family planning, maternal and child health, and the prevention of AIDS, malaria and other diseases. For more information, please visit: www.psi.org.
PSI/Malawi seeks a highly accomplished researcher to lead a challenging HIV research agenda and capacity enhancement program in Malawi. This position is based in Blantyre, with posting in the fourth calendar quarter of 2008 and reports to the program Chief of Party.
PSI/Malawi is preparing for the impmentation of a major new program in which it will identify, segment and understand groups most at-risk of contracting and transmitting HIV. Subsequent to this process, PSI will undertake an evidence-based communication campaign and facilitate access to prevention products and services including male/female condoms and counseling/testing services. The Research Advisor will lead key processes such as population segmentation, testing of communication materials and monitoring and evaluation processes in-line with PSI’s methodologies. The Advisor will also lead the recruitment and training of an accomplished team of researchers to serve the Malawi operation longer-term. The emphasis in this program is on the development of data for management decision making, completing research work of high quality on a regular basis which serves to inform better project implementation and resource allocation.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Development of research plans in accordance with project objectives, donor requirements and with full utilization of secondary resources publicly available and through collaboration with key partners;
- Training country-level researchers and strengthening capacity to design studies, oversee data collection, and analyze results;
- Work with an external consultant to conduct a mapping study (PLACE) and identify locations where populations of especially high risk congregate;
- Design quantitative studies to segment populations, monitor social marketing and franchising activities and to evaluate intervention effectiveness;
- Design qualitative studies to develop communication concepts, pretest communication strategies, and evaluation programs;
- Write reports and deliver presentations to internal and external stakeholders;
- Document and disseminate research findings through publication and other methods;
- Establish networks of information collection and sharing, and strengthening overall M&E capacity;
- Undertake recruitment, training and mentoring of PSI/Malawi’s Research team;
- Increase the capacity of program staff to participate in the “backward research” design methodology and interpret research results to guide programmatic decisions and activities; and
- Develop and implement a training curriculum to strengthen identified gaps, along with a benchmarked calendar of implementation.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Three years of developing country work experience;
- Ph.D. or Master’s with equivalent experience in social, medical, or biological sciences;
- Experience in the design, management, analysis, and dissemination of behavioral research in public health, especially HIV/AIDS;
- Experience in performance monitoring of large public health programs;
- Excellent organizational and multitasking capabilities;
- Fluency in English required; and
- Demonstrated ability to produce results.
The successful candidate will exhibit excellent oral and written communication skills and demonstrate a history of excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural skills.
* Please be advised that this position is tentative pending grant approval.
APPLY ONLINE at http://www.psi.org. No calls or emails, please.
PSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability.
