Research Officer, Reproductive Health - Sayana Press Project, Seattle, Washington, United States

Tracking Code 6535 Job Description

This position is contingent upon funding

PATH is an international organization that drives transformative innovation to save lives and improve health, especially among women and children. We accelerate innovation across five platforms—vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, devices, and system and service innovations—that harness our entrepreneurial approach, scientific and public health expertise, and passion for health equity. By mobilizing partners around the world, we take innovation to scale, working alongside countries primarily in Africa and Asia to tackle their greatest health needs. Together, we deliver measurable results that disrupt the cycle of poor health.

The Sayana Press Pilot Introduction Project is a four-year project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation. Sayana Press is a three-month, progestin-only injectable contraceptive product packaged in the Uniject™ injection system, a small prefilled auto-disable device. It contains 104 mg per 0.65 mL dose of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and is administered via subcutaneous injection. Because Sayana Press is small, light, easy to use, and requires minimal training, it is especially suitable for community-based distribution—and potentially for women to administer themselves through self-injection. The project is coordinating the introduction of Sayana Press in four African countries - Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger and Uganda. PATH will conduct studies in selected pilot introduction countries to assess the effectiveness of Sayana Press, distributed by Community Health Workers (CHW) and by clinic-based providers, as well as by women themselves through self-injection, compared to DMPA administered via intramuscular injection. This research will build the evidence base for global decision-making about whether and how to include Sayana Press in family planning programs in the future.

PATH is recruiting a Research Officer for Seattle. The Research Officer will serve under the direction of the Sayana Press Research Director. S/he will work closely with the Research Director and project staff based in Seattle, Uganda, Senegal, and Burkina Faso to manage a portfolio of research activities. In addition to managing specific research studies in Burkina Faso and Uganda, the Research Officer will support and provide technical assistance, as needed, to other research activities in the Sayana Press introduction countries. The Research Officer's principal responsibilities will be to:

• Liaise with in-country partners at the Ministries of Health (MOH) to plan research studies
• Develop research study protocols, data collection instruments and other study materials
• Obtain ethics and other regulatory approvals
• Develop SOPs and train study staff
• Supervise study implementation partners
• Conduct quantitative data analysis
• Work with Seattle-based and country teams to interpret findings and communicate results to relevant stakeholders
• Participate in report writing and publication of results in peer-reviewed journals
• Represent PATH at international, regional, and national meetings, and, where appropriate, present findings from research and analyses

Required Skills

• Strong expertise in health research, preferably related to family planning;
• Proven ability to effectively oversee and supervise international partners for study implementation;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills including written and oral presentation skills;
• Experience with quantitative data analysis software such as STATA, SPSS or SAS;
• Proven organizational skills;
• Ability to work harmoniously and collaboratively as a team member to achieve project goals;
• Ability to work collaboratively with NGO partners, government stakeholders and donor representatives;
• Fluency in written and spoken English, and professional proficiency in French;
• Familiarity with cost-effectiveness studies helpful;
• Willingness to travel up to 30% annually

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Required Experience

Master's degree (PhD preferred) in public health, demography, sociology, or related field, with demonstrated analytical experience; a minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience designing and implementing public health research, preferably with family planning or reproductive health components; experience living or working in developing country settings.

PATH is dedicated to diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.

PATH is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. PATH does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or orientation, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Job Location Seattle, Washington, United States Company Location United States, Seattle Position Type Full-Time/Regular

The recruiting organization (Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH)) has not specified a closing date for this vacancy. While we regularly check to ensure that this vacancy remains open, please visit the recruiting organization's website for its current status.