New Job Vacancies at The Population Council

Job Description

• The Population Council is inviting applications from senior expert researchers to provide leadership and oversight in managing data, research, analysis and documentation components of all projects undertaken by the Council in Nigeria.
• This position requires substantial knowledge of monitoring and evaluation methods, operations research, advanced analyses of research data, scientific writing and documentation, training and capacity building in research methods as well as designing and managing of HIV/AIDS, SRH and Poverty, gender and youth programs as vehicles for strategic information dissemination to strengthen policy formulation and program development.
• The Population Council has worked in collaboration with a very broad range of Nigerian institutions.
• The Council's program includes the design and testing of innovative HIV & AIDS and Reproductive Health approaches and policy and program relevant research, training, and institutional strengthening, and is supported by a range of donors.

Responsibilities

• Establish, lead and manage the KM/OR/M&E Unit
• Continuously work with project leads to develop and implement data collection, analysis and write up of results focused on the process, outcomes and impact of all projects undertaken by the Council in Nigeria.
• Design, implement and strengthen the HMIS systems for recording and retrieving real-time data
• Analyze and synthesize research findings in ways that ensure that research is collated and directed in appropriate pathways and channels.
• Maintain excellence by ensuring the quality, ethics and policy relevance of research
• Ensure the currency, completeness and adequate storage of the Council’s research data and documents
• Ensure the communication of research findings through publications in peer reviewed journals and books and oral presentations at scientific conferences and professional meetings
• Develop and implement a research agenda for addressing key poverty, gender and youth issues in Nigeria
• Manage all research and project activities in compliance with Council policies and procedures.
• Represent the Council at research and public health community, in media, academic and professional for a locally, nationally and internationally.
• Engage in other tasks as requested by the Country Director.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Demography, Epidemiology, Social Statistics or related field, with relevant training or expertise in the SRH/HIV field and at least two years of relevant experience in a sector capacity successfully initiating, managing and implementing operations research projects
• Demonstrated ability to design and conduct public health and social science research including experience with a variety of research methodologies, research capacity building and informed policy advocacy
• Experience working with networks of SRH/HIV researchers, policy-makers and program managers as well as consultants and NGOs/CBOs geared to common research and policy agendas
• Demonstrated ability to stimulate fund raising and secure funds for program and research activities as needed
• Strong working knowledge of the HIV/AIDS and SRH fields in Nigeria, proven through past positions
• Fairly high profile in the population, health and SRH/HIV fields with a strong scientific publications records
• Capacity to understand and manage collaborations with research investigators, governmental, donor and civil society partners, service providers and consultants from a variety of fields and cultures.
• Excellent diplomatic, representational, problem-solving, management and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building.
• Excellent written and oral English language communication skills.
• Willingness to travel within country and internationally on a regular basis.

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Job Description

• The Project Director (RH-HRH) will oversee the HRH operations research strategy for the Human Resources for Health Program Area at the Council to meet their goals and objectives in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
• The PD will assume the overall responsibility for the technical quality of the HRH (MCH) program area; directly supervise technical staff and program partners and allocate the financial and human resources to carry out program area activities.
• Additionally, the PD will provide oversight of contracts and sub-awards, and personnel issues and provide quality assurance oversight related to the design, implementation and documentation of the project.
• The PD will represent the Council in matters related to the HRH (MCH) project and the Council in general when so delegated.
• The PD will be involved in fundraising activities and contribute to establishing the PGY unit.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical oversight and management of a multi-disciplinary team working to carry out a range of interventions and operations research activities to improve human resources for health.
• Provide oversight in implementing and evaluating project activities in close collaboration with the partners, government, NGOs and civil society representatives.
• Supervise and provide technical guidance to the DFATD-WHO project technical staff, sub-awardees and consultants.
• As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), actively contribute to upholding the Council’s mission, goals and ethos.
• Identify and provide staff development and training when necessary, ensure synchrony and collaboration between technical staff from the various partner organizations, and work with them to bring their ideas, findings, and lessons learned to the HRH project leadership and donors.
• Provide oversight and align deliverables with identified technical assistance needs of the HH project intervention strategies.
• Provide leadership in the development and implementation of strategies for synthesizing and disseminating key results, programmatic lessons learned, methodologies developed and other research outputs.
• Collaborate with counterparts and partner organizations, including other donor-funded projects, in work planning and project implementation.
• Provide oversight in ensuring the alignment of daily activities with project goals, approved work plans and standards for high quality, within-budget, and on-time product delivery.
• Monitor overall project, tasks, and budgets to ensure that activities are within budget through the maintenance of a program area pipeline system.
• Interact with finance staff to ensure the accuracy of project expenses entered and maintained in the Council accounting system.
• Provide financial oversight and ensure compliance with donor requirements in the management of project sub-awards.
• Ensure that reviews and approvals for all budgets are performed to comply with project budget and funding guidelines, and assess budgets to ensure that all proposed costs are allocable and allowable pursuant to appropriate cost principles or funding source requirements.
• Provide technical leadership on documentation and dissemination of findings from ongoing RH research and intervention projects.
• Provide guidance and technical assistance to the development of new RH and PGY project proposals.
• Collaborate with RH and PGY staff at the Council HQ and in other developing countries in identifying and developing potential multi-country finding opportunities.
• Ensure quality control and quality assurance in the roll-out and implementation of new RH/PGY projects.
• Lead in identifying research topics for abstract and scientific paper development and publication.
• Undertake any additional activities identified by the Country Director as deemed necessary.

Qualifications

• Master's, Medical degree, or doctoral degree in a Social or Health Science with a minimum of eight years of technical and program development experience and assistance in managing, developing and implementing clinical, social, or economic development research and/or interventions for internationally funded health programs.
• High level of theoretical and practical expertise in gender and adolescent programming, MCH, and reproductive and sexual health as demonstrated in achievements and positions in previous posts.
• Solid leadership, management, and staff development skills in order to effectively manage and supervise a diverse range of technical staff.
• Extended resident work experience in northern Nigeria, and fluency in Hausa language as well as experience in multiple regions of Nigeria are desirable.
• Willingness to travel internationally and locally with regular extended working visits.
• Experience in building intervention and research capacity, and in fostering the utilization of research results.
• Excellent quantitative and analytical skills as well as English language writing ability. Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent supervision and management skills to oversee finance and accounting staff.
• Strong organizational skills as well as good communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to handle a heavy workload with competing priorities.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and to also function as part of a team.

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Job Description

• Population Council (PC) Nigeria is expanding its maternal and newborn health portfolio. Currently the focus is on two major projects on prevention and treatment of preeclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E) and research around barriers to fistula repair.
• Ending Eclampsia is a five year cooperative agreement awarded by USAID which seeks to expand access to quality under-utilized interventions and commodities for the prevention and treatment of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E).
• The project focuses on strengthening and integrating health systems to more effectively provide services at scale; improve women’s access to services and health outcomes.
• The Council is also a partner on the Fistula Care Plus project managed by EngenderHealth.
• Following the completion of formative research in Nigeria, an implementation research study seeks to fully understand how various forms of barriers militating against women with obstetric fistulas can be modified or removed entirely through innovative service delivery models.
• Specifically, the project will target lack of awareness and difficulties around transportation at the community level through utilizing a mobile screening system, Interactive Voice Platform (IVP) and voucher systems.
• The research will also work closely with health care providers at none-fistula repair centers to improve their fistula identification and counseling skills for eventual referral to fistula-designated centers.
• The project will take place in Ebonyi and Katsina states.
• The position requires strong research, analytical, and oral and written communication skills; substantial knowledge of MNH/RH issues; and experience building capacity on OR/implementation science (IS).

Responsibilities

• The Senior Research Analyst will provide technical support on maternal and newborn health research activities, working closely with the Principal and co- Investigators and the study Coordinator to implement the research activities related to the above mentioned interventions.
• He/she would take the lead in developing the various data capturing tools, field-testing and data collection process.
• He/she will develop the data analysis plan and conduct appropriate data analysis, and participate actively in knowledge generation and utilization efforts, both locally and internationally.

Key Tasks/Requirements
Under the supervision of the Director, Reproductive Health Program, the Research Data Analyst will undertake (but not limited to) the following key tasks/requirements:

• Lead data collection, entry, cleaning and analysis including conducting descriptive, bi-variate and multivariate analysis
• Lead in the development and revision of survey instruments/questionnaires, field-testing and validation
• Support listing and mapping exercises in the target communities, capture and analyze same with geographic mapping software
• Assist in the retrieval, storage and analysis of secondary data such as the DHS, Education data and other data that may be available for improving the wellbeing of women with obstetric fistula in Nigeria
• Draft reports, disseminate research materials, proposal writing, presentations and other research uptake activities and other tasks as required.
• Provide technical support for program monitoring and evaluation, including the implementation of M&E systems (data collection, data management and documentation, and results reporting)
• Support in the training of staff, partners, and consultants when applicable
• Prepare tables, charts and figures and draft, review and edit documents prepared for internal and external use
• Assist with other tasks related to research projects as required.
• Represent the Council to donors, partners, policy makers, NGOs, private sector institutions, universities, and government institutions, and through participation in stakeholders’ meetings, seminars, workshops, conferences.

Qualifications

• PhD (preferred) or Master's Degree with 5 years’ work experience in research and evaluation of developmental programs, or Bachelors' Degree with 5-8 years work experience in statistics, economics, demography or related social or natural sciences.
• Proficient in the use of analytical software packages like SPSS or STATA and Qualitative research instruments including Nvvio.
• Significant experience with both qualitative and quantitative research
• Experience with longitudinal survey is very important and experience with implementing a tracking system within the context of a longitudinal survey is highly desirable
• Energetic, positive, fast learner with the ability to meet tight deadlines and willing to work with minimal supervision.
• Excellent English skills (oral and written)
• Ability to work independently and in a team with demonstrated working style that includes initiative, teamwork spirit and personal integrity and flexibility.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and to work effectively with other partners
• Willingness to travel to Population Council research sites in Ebonyi and Katsina states.
• Hausa language proficiency is a plus. One of more other languages also preferred