Research and Data Use Team Lead

Job Description

About this role:

The Strategic Information (SI) Unit at Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is launching a new Research and Data Use team that is tasked with building organizational capacity to ensure robust research methods are prioritized, that research and studies outcomes are used to improve project performance and building our presence in the peer-reviewed literature. This will include ensuring that research activities are supported to:

Support projects to develop research protocols that include the research questions, hypotheses, study design, sample size, data collection, management, and analysis plans, data collection tools, research ethics considerations, consent forms, dissemination plan, and work plan/timeline. Data use is prioritized at multiple levels, including but not limited to: with the MOH and partners, and at regional and district levels. Research partners are thoroughly vetted and managed by individuals with research expertise. Develop abstracts and publications that tracked in an organizational research compendium.

The RDU Lead will work under the direction and supervision of a Strategic Information Technical Director and in partnership with the Leads for Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), and Data and Digital Health (DDH). The RDU Lead will develop and implement the RDU strategy as part of the SI one, being coherent with MSH 7-year Strategic Plan. Additionally, the RDU Lead will support projects in their research activities using a client-centered approach, serving MSH projects so they design and implement state-of-the-art research methods and activities. Findings from research activities will be shared within and across projects to further data use.

What are the main responsibilities?

RDU Team Leadership – 35%

• Develop and implement RDU strategy
• Collaborate and participate SI thought partnership with MEL and DDH leads
• Hire and manage staff
• Contribute to organizational initiatives involving research and data use

RDU Project Support – 50%

• Provide expertise in research and ensure quality assurance at all key stages of MSH research activities, especially supporting projects in the development and review of protocols
• Supervise local research agencies
• Contribute and mentor on the development of research reports, technical briefs, peer publications, and abstracts
• Lead capacity building sessions on selected research topics (e.g., protocol development, writing publications, writing abstracts
• Develop SOPs and tools to enhance data use for decision making at region and district levels

Organizational Initiatives – 15%

• Oversee the development of an MSH research compendium
• Contribute to research ethics policies, reviews, and processes, closely collaborating with MSH Scientific Committee
• May be asked to contribute to other SI initiatives based on interest and experience.

QUALIFICATIONS

What do you need to apply?

MSH employs people of passion, we seek those individuals who dream of a better world. We look for professionals who combine experience, local knowledge, and an understanding of international best practices.

Specific requirements for this role are:

Education and Experience:

Required: Master’s or Doctoral degree in relevant field of study (e.g., epidemiology, biostatistics, demography)

Required: The RDU lead brings 10+ years of advanced and demonstrated experience in each of the following areas:

• Research methods and analytics, including quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Use of multiple analytic software packages, such as SPSS, STATA, or R for quantitative data and Nvivo, Atlas.ti, or Dedoose, for qualitive data.
• Teaching, training, and/or capacity strengthening for research methods, analytics, and publications.
• Developing instructional guidance documents for research protocol development and research methods.
• Managing a research team in a matrixed organization, including coaching and mentoring staff at all levels, in a teleworking environment.
• Leading business development opportunities related to research.
• Collaborating and managing research partners.
• Publications in peer review journals and in international conferences.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong analytical and organizational skills demonstrated by ability to work both independently and within a team.

• Excellent writing and communications skills including organizing, scanning, summarizing and presenting information.
• Familiarity with USAID indicators and metrics in specific content areas.
• Full proficiency in English.
• Proficiency in French is a strong asset.
• Knowledge of US Government and non-USG funded programs, regulations, and requirements.
• Direct overseas project work experience.
• Relevant experience in project operations, management, and business development.
  

Competencies:

• Effective collaboration with professional colleagues from multiple units and within diverse socio-cultural contexts.
• Flexibility and openness in responding to changing work priorities and environments. Ability to work under tight deadlines.
• Competence in assessing priorities and solving problems using innovative, evidence-based solutions.
• Highly detail-oriented, meticulous, and consistent in the execution of work.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.

• Proactively identify areas that require support and propose constructive solutions.
• Enjoys learning and teaching. A team player and a self-starter who can use their own initiative to identify useful work.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with professional colleagues from multiple units and within various socio-cultural contexts.
• Demonstrated experience leading and collaborating with staff in a matrixed organization.
• Demonstrated competence to assess priorities and solve problems using innovative, evidence-based solutions.

Physical Demands:

• Keyboard use, pulling drawers, lifting papers <10 lbs.
• Travel requirements: up to 20%.

The expected salary range for this position is: $96,900.00 - $150,000.00 annually (U.S. locations only).

MSH considers multiple job-related factors when determining an offer, including but not limited to, business and organizational needs, candidate qualifications, internal equity, location, and internal budget.

Salary is just one of many aspects of our total rewards package; at MSH, our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive set of competitive benefits that includes a substantial vacation, sick and holiday policies, training and development programs, competitive insurance coverage for health, vision, dental, life, short-term and long-term disability, 401k plan, Flexible Spending Account, among others.

The selected candidate will be able to work remotely in a country where they are authorized to work and MSH is registered.

MSH is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, religion, creed, citizenship, national origin, age, veteran status, or disability unrelated to job requirements. MSH will take affirmative action to ensure that qualified applicants are employed and that employees are treated without regard to their race, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran and disability status. In compliance with U.S. Department of Labor Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Section 4212 of the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act, MSH has developed and maintains an affirmative action program and plan.

About the Organization

Management Sciences for Health, an international nonprofit organization, is dedicated to closing the gap between what is known and what is done about public health problems. MSH saves lives and improves health by helping public and private organizations throughout the world to effectively manage people, medicines, money, and information. Working from more than 30 country offices and our US headquarters, our staff from 65 nations is highly regarded for its technical expertise, integrity, and commitment to making a lasting difference in health.

Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is a nonprofit international health organization composed of more than 2,000 people from 73 nations. Their mission is to save lives and improve the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health. Together with their partners, they are helping managers and leaders in developing countries to create stronger management systems that improve health services for the greatest health impact.

EXPERTISE

MSH takes an integrated approach to building high-impact sustainable programs that address critical challenges in leadership, health systems management, human resources, and medicines. Simply put, they support stronger health systems for greater health impact.

Their expertise in these areas falls into the broad categories of management functions—for example, leadership and governance or pharmaceutical management—and health areas like tuberculosis or maternal, newborn, and child health. They apply their expertise by

• Partnering with governments, local organizations, and communities in developing nations to build their own capacity for long-term health impact;
• Providing global leadership in critical areas of health management and health care delivery;
• Bringing the best of MSH from around the globe to the people we serve, working as One MSH with a focus on lasting health system improvements.

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Leadership, Governance, & Management

They work with in-country partners to build stronger health systems to improve:

• the management and leadership of priority health programs, health organizations, and multisectoral partnerships such as The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, developing a critical mass of managers at all levels of the health system who can lead and inspire teams to achieve results;
  
• the management systems of health organizations in the public and private sector, transferring practical approaches and skills to ensure that management structures contribute to sustainable organizational success;
  
• the governance and management of health organizations and multisectoral partnerships, facilitating change and transferring knowledge to enable organizations to administer their resources efficiently and scale up their services.

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Health Service Delivery

MSH combines extensive public health expertise, proven service delivery approaches, and evidence-based interventions in five critical areas:

• HIV & AIDS
• Tuberculosis
• Maternal, newborn, and child health
• Family planning and reproductive health
• Other communicable diseases, including malaria and pandemic and avian influenza

Human Resources for Health

MSH helps governments develop multisectoral strategies and policies to plan and manage their health workforces. We use a comprehensive approach that addresses all the facets of human resources for health needed to achieve an adequate supply of well-trained and motivated health workers. MSH offers capabilities in leadership, human resource management, education, partnerships, policy, and finance to achieve these goals.

Pharmaceutical Management

Vital to our success is a participatory approach to project design and implementation, which cultivates broad-based support from all stakeholders. We also build and improve infrastructure and local capacity to effectively purchase, store, deliver, and use quality essential medicines.

Health Care Financing

MSH helps governments and NGOs assess their current financial situation and systems, understand service costs, and develop initiatives to use existing funds more effectively and generate additional revenue—all with the goal of supporting a nation’s health priorities.

Health Information

MSH has developed proven methods for rapidly strengthening the analysis and use of existing health data—normally at the province, district, and facility levels—without revising existing recording and reporting requirements. With an emphasis on learning through action, district teams undertake assessments of health services, identify gaps in performance, and design solutions to support better decision-making and, therefore, better management of improved services.

MSH has worked closely with the Health Metrics Network of the WHO to develop a comprehensive approach for enhancing the performance of health information systems and data by employing a practical, strategic planning process that can be carried out by national working groups.