Senior Operations and Implementation Research Advisor at RTI International

Job Description

• RTI International is seeking candidates for a Senior Operations and Implementation Research Advisor position for anticipated USAID/PEPFAR-funded Strategic HIV and AIDS Response Program (SHARP) Task Order projects in Nigeria.
• The purpose of the program will be to improve the quality and effectiveness of high-impact, evidence-based HIV interventions to meet state/Local Government Area (LGA)-specific goals and objectives.

Specific Objectives
The specific objectives include the following:

• Targeted and efficient HIV case identification and linkage to care and treatment;
• Enrollment of patients on HIV therapy with adequate adherence and minimal loss to follow-up;
• Successfully suppress HIV viral load;
• Offer specialized services that attract key populations (e.g. men who have sex with men, sex workers and people who inject drugs); and
• Increase Government of Nigeria (GON) capacity to expand, oversee and finance HIV and TB services.
• The SHARP activity is designed to focus its support for service delivery across the following intervention areas: HIV testing services, HIV diagnosis and treatment, HIV care and support, prevention of mother-to-child transition of HIV, TB/HIV service integration, RH/HIV integration, orphans and vulnerable children, laboratory services, and health systems strengthening.

Responsibilities

• The Senior Operations and Implementation Research Advisor will be in charge of leading the Operations and Implementation Research agenda and portfolio, and work with the project’s leadership team, USAID/Nigeria, program partners and country stakeholders to ensure research utilization.
• S/he will ensure the quality, methodological rigor, ethical standards, and program and policy relevance of all research activities, and provide oversight to research capacity strengthening efforts, as needed.
• S/he will provide and oversight and/or supportive role on operations and implementation research studies under this program. The position will be based in Abuja, Nigeria, and take on the following full-time (100%) duties to support the project’s goals.
• In close consultation with the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), project leadership and program partners, lead the development of a research agenda, research design and oversight of the implementation of formative and operations research in HIV prevention, care, and treatment to build the evidence base for changes in programs and policies for general and key populations.
• Lead operational and implementation science research (in collaboration with other implementing partners [IPs], as appropriate), including idea generation, protocol development and approval, data analysis, and data dissemination to inform future programming in Nigeria and abroad. This will require close collaboration with other IPs, the US Government and GON.
• Oversee documentation and dissemination efforts to communicate scientific information in formats understandable and usable to different audiences such as policy makers, program managers, donors, ministry representatives, and NGO staff (e.g., research briefs, technical reports and manuscripts).
• Supervise collection and analysis of research data in support of project M&E, in accordance with time frames set in the Performance Management Plan.
• Oversee the data analysis and interpretation activities and ensure data quality.
• Support the documentation of best practices and facilitate the use data for impact, program design and decision making.
• Identify research findings, lessons learned, and best practices for replication and scale up to disseminate to key stakeholders.
• Lead efforts, design tools and training sessions to develop an inquisitive learning culture within the project team and partners to feed innovations into organizational decision making.
• Provide information and support in the development of the work plan, quarterly reports and annual reports.
• Act as principal investigator/co-investigator on high quality research studies.
• Travel as needed to project sites for technical assistance, training, and supervision.
• May supervise research staff and/or partners.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications and Experience

• Doctorate or Master's Degree in Social Sciences, Public Health, Education, or related field, or comparable combination of education and experience with demonstrated expertise in operations research. Doctoral degree preferred.
• Nine or more years of experience in operations research or implementation science with demonstrable skills in rigorous M&E, with progressively increasing level of responsibility.
• At least 5 years' experience in managing research or programs in Nigeria.
• Solid understanding of issues related the delivery of comprehensive HIV services and programs plus behavioral, socioeconomic, institutional, policy and human rights issues in HIV programming for general and key populations.
• Knowledge of: new technologies, such as HIV self-testing, viral load testing through dried blood spots or point-of-care testing; new guidance, ‘test and start’ or ‘test and offer’; and new implementation approaches (ART distribution through technology or community platforms) preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in rigorous quantitative and qualitative research and analytical methods including research/study design and implementation, design and data analysis, and rapid appraisals.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct and promote the use of research for social development and the scale up of successful interventions.
• Excellent writing skills to produce technical reports and scientific manuscripts.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a diverse group of stakeholders, internal and external partners.
• Strong management and organizational skills. Ability to handle a heavy workload with competing priorities.
• Proficiency in both Microsoft Office and statistical analyses programs required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of USG PEPFAR and USAID procedures pertaining to project design/implementation, M&E, and financial management and reporting.
• Exceptional communication skills (including presentations) in written and spoken English required.
• Good interpersonal skills as well as strong oral and written communication skills in English are required. Additional fluency in relevant local languages would be desirable.
• Experience in working with and understanding of general and key populations.

Remuneration

• Compensation for this position is based upon RTI’s Nigeria national benefits plan and salary scale