Project Coordinator Pediatric Evaluation Study – Ethiopia

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation is looking for a

Project Coordinator – Pediatric Evaluation Study – Full-time

Duty station: (Addis Ababa), Ethiopia

This position is contingent to the approval of the relevant regulatory approvals

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV) is one of the leading international non-profit organizations dedicated to fighting tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. We are an international center of expertise for TB control that stimulates effective, efficient and sustainable tuberculosis control strategies in a national and international context. We are an organization of passionate TB professionals; including medical doctors, researchers, training experts, nurses and epidemiologists.

Over the past century we have built a wealth of knowledge and expertise, initially by successfully driving back TB in the Netherlands, and subsequently by partnering in the fight against TB in over 40 countries worldwide.

We operate from a central office in The Hague in the Netherlands and additional country offices worldwide. KNCV raises funds from individual, institutional, and corporate donors.

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the top infectious disease causes of death worldwide and is a top 10 cause of mortality in children under five years of age and is under-recognized in children due to diagnostic and health systems challenges. TB diagnosis in young children is challenging so averting active TB disease in children through TB preventive treatment (TPT) is critical in reducing the burden of pediatric TB. However, the WHO estimates 63% of eligible children TB contacts under 5 years do not receive TPT.

Optimizing access to pediatric TPT could save millions of children’s lives and is a key component of the WHO’s END TB strategy, the Roadmap for Childhood Tuberculosis and the third sustainable development goal to reduce mortality in children under 5 years.

The new dispersible rifapentine will be commercially available from February 2024 through the global drug facility for routine implementation. The IMPAACT4TB project will facilitate the supply of the new dispersible rifapentine, to be used with isoniazid (currently available as a dispersible tablet) to several countries to improve acceptability and adherence among children. This provides an opportunity to evaluate the experience of this new formulation and preferences of policy makers, healthcare workers and caregivers of CLHIV and child contacts.

The pediatric evaluation study is funded through the Unitaid funded IMPAACT4TB project that catalyzed the introduction of 3HP in at least 12 countries, including Ethiopia. The project will evaluate the delivery of 3HP to CLHIV and child contacts to generate critical knowledge to improve delivery of TPT and, more specifically, of dispersible 3HP, in children in routine programs. This project will be implemented in Cambodia, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia and coordinated by the Aurum Institute. For the Ethiopia part of the study, a project coordinator will be recruited to lead the project in Ethiopia.

Purpose of the position and organizational position

The Project Coordinator reports hierarchically to the Ethiopia Country Representative Officer and functionally to the IMPAACT4TB study team at the KNCV Global Office. The Project Coordinator works closely with the Ethiopian Country PI.

Profile

As Research Coordinator you will:

• Coordinate all aspects of the project (including qualitative and quantitative research);
• Coordinate and manage all day-to-day aspects of the project, including logistics, procurement, planning and budget management;
• Ensure high quality and timely delivery on all contractual and study related obligations in line with the approved study budget, including reporting;
• Lead in-country study preparation and implementation in line with the study protocol;
• Finalize the protocol development/amendment process with the country stakeholders, KNCV country team, Ethiopia PI, KNCV Global Office including coordinating necessary ethical approvals and amendments;
• Liaise with the in-country partners on the drug implementation;
• Develop project plans for the implementation of the research protocols;
• Get familiarized with the research protocols and TB preventive treatment implementation at the country level and develop all the necessary implementation research tools;
• Based on the approved research protocols and training materials, train research nurse, M&E consultant, qualitative researchers, transcriptionists and translators;
• Supervise the project staff;
• Liaise closely with the Ethiopian country PI;
• Organize, support, and monitor data collection & timely data entry;
• Day-to-day supervise and support qualitative researchers during data collection;
• Validate data received from sites;
• Support analysis, and report/manuscript writing;
• Attend global study team meetings (led by Aurum), KNCV project team meetings, and conduct in-country project meetings;
• Participate in scheduled results dissemination activities;
• Other related necessary duties as per the supervisor’s request;

Who are we looking for?

• Master or corresponding degree in epidemiology, health economics, statistics, medicine, or in international public health;
• At least 3 years’ experience as project coordinator (or similar function) in an international organization with international donor funded projects in the field of health research in an international organization, preferably on TPT, TB/TB-HIV;
• In depth knowledge of TPT, TB and TB/HIV from clinical and programmatic perspectives and based on local NTP and WHO policies;
• Experience with TPT interventions and TPT focused research in Ethiopia;
• Knowledge of and experience with epidemiological and statistical analysis in the field of public health;
• Knowledge of and experience with quantitative and qualitative research techniques;
• Experience in Clinical Research and knowledge of ICH/GCP;
• Having a GCP course and Human Subject Protection course is an advantage;
• Able to pay close attention to detail;
• Skills in applying statistical software for data validation and data analysis;
• Prior working experience with KNCV is an advantage;
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently;
• Ability to cope with stress and to organize and prioritize workload;
• Excellent oral and writing skills in English and Amharic.

What does KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation offer?

• A full-time (37.5 hours) fixed-term contract until the end of the study period (June 30, 2025), contract extension might be considered if the project time-lines are extended;
• An informal work atmosphere in an international environment where initiative is appreciated;
• A highly motivated team of experienced, self-driven colleagues worldwide;
• A salary dependent upon education and relevant working experience. 

Application and information

You can apply for this position via https://www.kncvtbc.org/vacancies/ before July 26, 2024.

For more information, please contact Tesfaye Tadesse (tesfaye.tadesse@kncvtbc.org). For further information on KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, please see www.kncvtbc.org.