Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the position of Research Assistant which has arisen at Women’s University in Africa in partnership with Liverpool Tropical School of Medicine.
Particulars of Appointment
NIHR Global Health Research Unit on the Prevention and Management of Stillbirths and Neonatal Deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Vacancy Ref: 17.5.22
Salary: This shall be revealed to shortlisted candidates
Hours: Full-time
Duration: Fixed-term (24 months) [I, July 2022 to 30 June ,2024]
Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
Responsible to: Dr Unice Goshomi (Zimbabwe lead) and Dr Carol Bedwell (UK lead)
Overview
The NIHR Global Health Unit on the Prevention and Management of Stillbirths and Neonatal Deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, led from the Centre for Childbirth, Women’s and Newborn Health at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine UK, is an established equitable multidisciplinary partnership between Africa, Asia and UK-based researchers. As an international centre of research excellence, our goal is to end preventable stillbirths and newborn deaths, ensure adequate support for parents and families whose baby dies and reduce associated stigma.
Using a whole systems approach, we work across high burden settings in India, Kenya, Malawi, Pakistan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We aim to develop, test and implement sustainable and cost-effective solutions to strengthen maternity and newborn care, reducing mortality and morbidity through high-quality, respectful and compassionate maternity and newborn care. Activities cover the entire spectrum of maternal and newborn health from preconception to post/neonatal care, with a strong focus on meaningful community and stakeholder partnerships. We co-produce research with women, families, front-line health workers and policy makers. We have methodological expertise across development including evidence synthesis, exploratory (qualitative and quantitative approaches), core outcomes sets, clinical trials and implementation research.
Capacity strengthening for maternal and newborn health research, across all partner countries is embedded throughout the Unit. We have a particular, but not exclusive, interest and experience in developing midwifery and nursing research capacity to address global shortages in these disciplines. Our development programmes span masters, PhD and post-doctoral fellowships as well as project specific and institutional skills training. All staff have regular development reviews, we have an active mentorship programme and facilitate networking opportunities across partner institutions and research sites.
Job Description
The Research Assistant will work on a project related to stillbirth and neonatal death. Globally, 2 million babies die just before or during birth each year; 84% of stillbirths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Over the last decade, increasing calls have been made for quality to be central to strategies aimed at improving maternal and newborn outcomes. Previously a neglected area, it is now generally acknowledged that quality of care in the intrapartum period is critical for maternal and newborn survival. Half of all stillbirths occur in the intrapartum period and the majority of these are avoidable. High-quality care ensures that women and newborns receive evidence-based intrapartum interventions aimed at reducing or managing complications; it also optimises the childbirth experience. The WHO proposes 6 dimensions of quality of care, stating that health care should be effective, efficient, accessible, acceptable/client-centred, equitable, and safe. These dimensions underpin the latest WHO Intrapartum guidelines for a positive childbirth experience, highlighting the importance of woman-centred care through a holistic, human rights-based approach. However, implementation of guidelines is acknowledged to be complex, and their effectiveness may be limited in the absence of a clear strategy.
This research programme brings together leading researchers, with expertise in stillbirth prevention and bereavement care to work with colleagues who have long-standing experience and skills of working in maternity care in low- and middle-income countries. The team includes midwives, obstetricians, paediatricians and research methods experts. The project will tackle 3 areas of care. We will a) develop and evaluate sustainable, cost-effective solutions to strengthen maternity and newborn care and reduce stillbirths and neonatal deaths in high-burden settings, b) determine how best to support parents, families, attending health providers and communities who experience a stillbirth or neonatal death, and c) create and embed mechanisms of knowledge-transfer in high-burden settings.
The Research Assistant will contribute to a project which aims to use a participatory approach to understand context-specific modifiable intrapartum factors and use these to implement and evaluate evidence-based intrapartum guidelines. The focus of the Research Assistant’s work will be on ensuring that the project objectives are met. This will include a range of activities including gaining ethical approvals, recruitment and data collection, contributing to data analysis, data management, providing progress reports and liaising with stakeholders, Community Engagement and Involvement (CEI) groups and the wider team. Additional research activities may also be required, according to the needs of the project. Opportunities for training will be available throughout the programme.
Overall Purpose of the job
- To ensure timely delivery of project objectives
- To fulfil the aims of the research work stream
- To contribute to project reporting, dissemination and publications
Key responsibilities, accountabilities or duties
Research
- To support the development of research protocols.
- To secure local ethical and international ethical approvals.
- To carry out recruitment of participants.
- To collect and manage data.
- Contribute to analysis of data.
- To liaise with key stakeholders.
- Meet regularly with CEI groups.
- Contribute to monitoring and evaluation activities.
- To work within research governance, ethical and safeguarding principles.
Team work
- Assist in the co-ordination of local meetings.
- Attend and contribute to relevant meetings.
- Contribute to activities outlined in the Communication Plan.
Planning
- Coordinate and ensure the implementation of the project activities and according to the action plan.
- Manage own research and administrative activities.
Communication
- Communicate research information, orally, in writing and electronically.
- Report monthly to the Work Stream lead [and research co-ordinator] on project activities.
- Provide regular written progress reports.
- Disseminate research findings, locally, nationally and internationally, through oral presentations.
- Contribute to research publications.
- Build internal contacts and join external networks for the exchange of information and to form relationships for future collaboration.
Person Specifications
Essential
Knowledge, skills and experience
- Experience of recent working in maternity care.
- Experience of multi-disciplinary working.
- Research experience in an academic and/or relevant health care setting.
- Methodological expertise relevant to the programme.
- Good overall understanding of research methods and evaluation research
- Ability to read, critique and synthesise research literature.
Interpersonal skills
- Self-motivated and able to work flexibly independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Able to liaise and work professionally, collaboratively and effectively with local and international partners.
- Experience in interactions with key stakeholders.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Ability to coordinate and facilitate of meetings.
Project skills
- Information technology literate including high proficiency in using MS Word and PowerPoint.
- Attention to detail and highly developed organisational skills.
- Able to manage own work on a day-to-day basis.
- Able to prioritise workload and manage time.
- Able to work to tight deadlines.
- Excellent report writing skills.
Other
- Excellent written and oral communication skills with a high level of attention to detail and ability to communicate to scientific, lay and stakeholder audiences.
- Commitment, motivation and flexibility
- Knowledge of developments in policy and practice
- Willingness to perform a wide range of tasks as directed and as required
Desirable
Knowledge, skills and experience
- Registered Midwife, Nurse or allied health professional.
- Experience of working with LAMRN (Including membership).
- 1st or upper second-class honours degree in relevant subject.
- Experience of participatory research approaches.
- Experience in data management and analysis.
- Familiar with regional approaches to healthcare.
- A record of publications and other dissemination activities.
- Experience of engagement with CEI groups.
Interested candidates should submit six (6) sets of applications with detailed curriculum vitae, certified copies of academic and professional qualifications by 14 June 2022 to:
Deputy Registrar (Human Resources and Administration)
Women’s University in Africa
P.O Box GD 32 Greendale
Harare
Or
Hand deliver at
Women’s University in Africa
Number 549 Arcturus Road Manresa Park
Harare