Background

The College of Health Sciences of Addis Ababa University is collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO) in the multi-country trials to generate knowledge that will allow countries to hospitalize only young infants with possible serious bacterial infection (PSBI) who need hospitalization and treat the others on an outpatient basis and for those who need hospitalization but improve early, continue their treatment at home. To this effect, the College of Health Sciences seeks to hire a Treatment Compliance Documentation Research Assistant (TCD-RA) for the PSBI Trials that will be conducted in five sites in Oromia and Amhara regions. The PSBI Trials project will work closely with the ministry of health and the Oromia and Amhara Regional Health Bureaus to implement the trials in selected sites.

Job Summary:  

The Treatment Compliance Documentation Research Assistant (TCD-RA) will work closely with the Study Site Coordinator and will be responsible for closely monitoring all sick young infants in the intervention and compliance arms and document using compliance monitoring tools and immediately reporting adverse outcomes. The TCD-RA will be responsible for completing and electronically submitting treatment compliance and adverse event reporting forms for each young infant. The TCD-RA will strictly follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) and protocols laid out by the study investigators to ensure the study activities are implemented meeting high standards and high-quality data are generated.

Specific roles and responsibilities include

• Work with the Study Site Coordinator to plan and implement study activities at site level
• Complete treatment record forms and adverse event reporting form at different patient contacts for each sick young infant enrolled in the studies
• Submit treatment compliance and adverse event data for each sick young infant enrolled in the studies
• Conduct observations of care and interviews of health facility care providers to document implementation learning and share with the study team
• Report performance, attend routine team meetings, and routinely communicate with the Study Site Coordinator
• Work with other study team members and Study Site Coordinator to promptly identify and resolve challenges
• Align plan coordinate with other site study team members to implement study activities
• Ensure generation and use of high-quality screening and enrollment data
• Working closely with the Study Site Coordinator implement standard operating procedure (SOP) and protocols for the interventions and proper use of instruments and protocols for data collection;
• Create and nurture a smooth working relationship with the study site health facilities and communities
• Develop monthly performance report and submit them to the Study Site Coordinator;
• Execute other tasks given by the Study Site Coordinator

Duration of work:     1 year with possible extension

Tentative Start Date:   Immediately

Number Required:    One

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or Medical Doctor/Bachelor degree in health or health-related field with at least two years of experience working in research
• Demonstrated experience using electronic device to collect data
• Demonstrated experience working in health facilities as frontline health workers managing sick children
• Familiarity with the Ethiopian health system, Ethiopian Ministry of Health and Regional Health Bureaus preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in qualitative assessment of patient care
• Written and verbal fluency in English required. Written and spoken fluency in Afan Oromo and Amharic languages is desired. Strong writing skills and exceptional oral and written communication skills required.

Additional Qualifications:

• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills necessary. Ability to handle and prioritize multiple project activities, balance conflicting priorities, and handle confidential information appropriately. Must exhibit tact and diplomacy in inter-cultural settings.
• Prior field research and academic experience related to maternal and newborn health in Ethiopia are desirable.
• Exceptional organizational skills, ability to prioritize multiple tasks, and careful attention to detail.
• Prior experience working with electronic data collection and online databases, and demonstrated experience managing databases.