Background

The Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa) is a World Bank supported center of excellence for education and research at the College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The main aim of CDT-Africa is to serve as a platform for equitable access to interventions (medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and complex interventions) and bring about sustainable development in Africa through high-quality capacity development for innovative therapeutic discovery.

As part of this effort, CDT-Africa would like to hire an experienced project coordinator who can coordinate CDT-Africa “Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Intervention for People with

Severe Mental Illness in Low- and Middle-Income Country Primary Care Settings” (PTSD) project.

The Role of the Coordinator

The successful applicant will be responsible for managing PTSD project with a particular focus on co-ordinating a randomised feasibility trial of a psychosocial intervention for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder for People with Severe Mental Illness under the guidance of CDT-Africa Center Lead and study investigators.

Principal responsibilities:

• Work closely with study investigators to manage study activities.
• Frequent field trips to ensure the smooth running of the research project.
• Work closely with project leads to ensure implementation of all standardised operating procedures for quality data collection and management.
• Ensure all project staffs are aware of ethical procedures and adhere to them.
• Supervise, oversee and manage data collection, including pre-participation measures, quality control measures during the study, process evaluation metrics such as recruitment rates, duration of sessions and attendance rates, masked post-participation metrics by independent assessors, and post-trial in-depth interviews with participants and healthcare workers.
• Liaise actively with local stakeholders to support engagement in the studies and to co-ordinate the study.
• Participate in the preparation and organization of training activities, and follow up assessment of trainees and facilitators to ensure quality of training and performance.
• Train and supervise qualitative and quantitative data collections.
• Leading role in research dissemination activities.
• Additional tasks as directed by the Head of the Center and study investigators.

Terms and conditions

• Salary: negotiable depending on qualifications and experience.
• Hours of work: are governed by the laws of Ethiopia. However, the nature of the work is such that it might require working overtime and weekends, with due financial compensation.
• Holidays: are governed by the rules of Addis Ababa University for project workers.
• Length of contract: this is a one year post subject to six month contract renewal.
• Probationary period and notice period: there is a three-month probationary period for this role. The notice period is one month.

No. required: One

Terms of employment; Full-time, 1 year post subject to six month contract renewal

Reports to: CDT-Africa Center Lead

• At least an MSc in a Health-related or social science-related field, with thesis.
• At least 3 years of experience working in the capacity of a research assistant or above.
• Knowledge of health research
• Experience in participating clinical trials, feasibility studies and related research activities
• Experience in working with international collaborators
• Discretion and ability to handle confidential and sensitive information.
• Experience with both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Strong computer program literacy and knowledge.
• Willing to travel to study sites as needed.
• Strong administrative and organisational skills.

Personal attributes 

• Well organised.
• A high level of attention to detail.
• Ability to work with others, including international collaborators
• Excellent communication and organizational skills