Research Project Manager, Malawi

Job Description

Seed seeks to recruit a full-time Research Project Manager to support two critical components of this project: 1) Manage and coordinate the needs assessment in Malawi and 2) Oversee overall implementation in both Malawi and Uganda.

A one year fixed term contract, the Research Project manager will be responsible for the overall management of the two needs assessments. This position will be solely responsible for the project management and coordination of the Malawi assessment, while also providing oversight and support to the Uganda assessment (directly supervising the Research Project Manager in Uganda). The Project Manager will work with internal and external stakeholders to identify needs, develop study designs, manage data collection and analysis, and prepare reports and presentations of findings.

The ideal candidate for this position will have a minimum of 5 years of experience in a research role, with experience in both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The candidate should also have experience managing and coordinating research projects from start to finish, including experience with project management software. Strong writing and presentation skills are a must, as the Research Project Manager will be responsible for communicating findings to different stakeholders and donors. The Research Manager will work with the Country Director, a team of consultants, Global and Country MEL team, and Malawi MOH teams, as necessary.

Position Responsibilities

Malawi Primary Care Needs Assessment

Manage and coordinate the Malawi Assessment

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of needs assessment on the state of primary care in in Malawi
• Lead recruitment of consultant firm to undertake this assessment, supporting the operational and administrative support for recruitment and onboarding
• Facilitate discussions and decisions on scope and methods for needs assessment
• Create and manage detailed project plans detailed plans for execution and delivery; Manage day-to-day project activities and update plans on an ongoing basis in response to changing conditions
• Ongoing communication and management of consultants/ firm, ensuring timely progress and strategic alignment, and effectively representing Seed’s interests
• Ongoing and transparent communication with Seed team on timelines, progress, anticipated challenges and solutions
• Direct support as needed in mixed methods data collection and analysis (e.g., help with literature and desk reviews, survey design, interviewing, organizing and maintaining datasets)
• Monitor results and findings from data collection and analysis, providing frequent data quality checks, data validations and alignment
• Support team in analyzing data to identify trends, patterns, and relationships, and present findings in a clear and concise manner
• Lead the report writing (interim and final reports), ensuring language is clear, concise; work with graphic designer on high-quality final report deliverable
• Ensure work produced by assessment team meets a high bar, in its approach and outcomes
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Strategy & Management of Overall Implementation

Oversee and coordinate assessment in both Uganda and Malawi

• Provide oversight and coordination over both assessments to ensure alignment, shared learnings and collaboration
• Develop structure for project management of both projects, manage and update high-level timelines and progress
• Provide weekly updates on progress, challenges, and solutions to the identified challenges
• Coordination with cross-functional Seed teams, including finance, administration, development, and M&E teams
• Provide support and supervision to the Research Project Manager in Uganda
• Lead development and presentation of final reports from both Malawi and Uganda assessment for Seed, donors and other stakeholders

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant degree (population studies, public health, development or population studies, any health sciences field). A master’s degree in epidemiology, public health or Post graduate training in monitoring and evaluation is required.
• 5+ years’ experience in a research, monitoring and evaluation role, including 3 years of experience with research project and/or partnership management
• Experience with direct supervision of a team and working with external consultants.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to lead multiple time-sensitive projects on deadline; highly organized and process-driven yet flexible and adaptive to changing priorities
• Demonstrated experience with literature and desk reviews
• Expertise in mixed methods analysis (e.g. quantitative analysis with statistical software programs and qualitative analysis, using relevant platforms)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to compile and synthesizing data and findings into polished comprehensive final reports
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including flexibility.

Additional:

• A strong understanding of the Malawi Health System.
• Comfortable with high profile liaison.
• Immediate availability
• Position based in Lilongwe, Malawi
• Position open to Malawian nationals only

Submitting an Application

Interested applicants to apply via our Seed website: seedglobalhealth.org

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews. Applications for this position will be accepted until May 9th, 2023.

About the Organization

Seed Global Health (Seed) envisions a world in which every country is strengthened by a robust health workforce to best meet the health needs of its population. We aim to do this through educating a rising generation of health professionals to strengthen access to quality care with a goal of saving lives and improving health.

Seed will undertake two distinct needs assessments in Malawi and Uganda that will illustrate key barriers and opportunities for intervention to expand health care delivery to the population of each country and improve health worker investments, health policies and system strengthening, including supply chain management and other infrastructure enhancements. The needs assessment reports will be socialized with – and approved by – national government partners and key stakeholders, to then guide implementation of agreed-upon actions and investments to strengthen existing health policies and service delivery.

In Uganda the aim is to understand the state of emergency care, including the identification of challenges and opportunities, to guide how to best improve the quality of health services, health policy and patient care. In Malawi, the focus is to understand challenges, unmet needs and opportunities to support the primary healthcare system, with a focus on community level healthcare with a holistic care continuum.