Head of Research Department

Together with our client, we are hiring a Head of Research to manage all aspects of the research department. The successful applicant will lead the department’s overall clinical research programme and be provided with the freedom to build the client’s clinical research and clinical trials portfolio in support of strategically defined and negotiated research topics.

Main responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership to the Clinical Research portfolio under the clients’s Research Department (10%)
• Work with Research Department and the client’s leadership to develop strategic and operational goals and plans to ensure the long-term sustainability of the department.
• Work with Research Department staff to develop operational goals and plans to optimally implement research studies.
• Represent the department at the clients organizational management meetings.
• Externally represent the department by attending appropriate clinical, research or stakeholder meetings as requested/needed.
• Engage with relevant stakeholders in national, provincial and district health departments, funders, and academic institutions to enhance visibility of the department’s work and attract new opportunities.
• Establish and manage relationships with national and international academic institutions and research collaborators.
• Stay abreast of new scientific developments and expand the network of collaborative partners by attending conferences, technical working groups and academic meetings.
• Build the client’s capacity in clinical research (30%)
• Lead the investigator driven and clinical trials research portfolio by ensuring current studies are implemented according to the highest standards, new opportunities are identified, and additional funding is attracted.
• Leverage research and clinical expertise to identify opportunities and create clinical training courses for the client’s Academic Department and serve as course faculty and/or quality assurance committee member, as appropriate.
• Lead research protocol writing/ethics applications and ensure that the clinical research projects are implemented with the highest standards.
• Disseminate Research Department findings through local and high-level scientific publications and opinion papers, articles in popular media, conference presentations, and district/provincial feedback sessions.
• Generate/obtain financial resources for research implementation and department operations (45%)
• Apply for and acquire new grant funding to grow the department’s research portfolio; a strong focus must be placed on international funders.
• Expand the portfolio of clinical research activities by identification of new opportunities and subsequent application for funding.
• Identify, cultivate and leverage new sources of funding and profit generation for long-term sustainability of Research Department activities.
• Ensure clinical rigour across client’s research programmes (10%)
• Ensure rigor of clinical component of client’s research projects by providing guidance during grant writing and providing training on clinical programme aspects to research staff.
• Ensure visibility of the client during clinical meetings with local, provincial and national health departments, and facilitate linkage of the client Research staff with the relevant clinical facilities/structures for management of research patients.
• Provide direct support and consultation on clinical components of all research studies.
• Take a leading role in the clinical, scientific and career development of staff (5%)
• Host / supervise clinical and research students during internships/fellowships and elective projects.
• Provide regular training to staff on clinical topics; both in the Research Department as well as within client’s training programme.
• Mentor junior staff researchers in protocol, manuscript and grant writing.

Research topics including, but not limited to:

• Sexually transmitted infections
• Mental Health
• NCDs
• HIV/TB
• Neglected tropical diseases
• Adolescent health
• Men’s health
• Rural health
• Implementation Science
• Climate Change and Health

Essential Qualifications:

• MBChB with significant clinical expertise in resource-constraint settings.
• Med in Internal Medicine or PhD in Infectious Diseases or Public Health.
• MPH or MS degree with a focus on epidemiology.
• Management qualification highly desired.

Additional requirements:

• Minimum of 30 peer-reviewed publications, of which 5 must be as 1st author.
• Expertise in one or more of the client’s strategic activity areas (potentially demonstrated by 2 or more first authored publications), and significant experience in a second (potentially demonstrated by at least 3 or more co-authored publications)- please highlight in cover letter.
• Must have track record of funding acquisition and implementation of research projects.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and conducting epidemiologic studies, including observational and experimental study designs and analysis.
• 10+ years progressive experience in clinical management, research output and program implementation.
• Significant experience with statistical software (SPSS, STATA, or SAS).
• Experience working in resource constrained settings.
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Demonstrated teaching / training experience including supervision of students and clinical staff.
• Ability to champion research ideas and get new ideas funded and executed.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with technical experts from diverse disciplines.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills.
• Project management and budgeting experience.
• Ability to communicate basic statistical concepts to other scientists and non-scientists.
• Full fluency in written and oral English.
• Must be willing to travel to East London when required

Application:

To apply, submit a motivational letter (not written by Chat GPT3