Job Summary:
HJFMRI-KE seeks to hire a Director, Health Research and Development for an upcoming contract. HJFMRI supports medical research, care and treatment activities around the world with a heavy emphasis in Africa where it has a Regional office in Nairobi, Kenya.
The incumbent will support HJFMRI’s ongoing operations by providing technical support and identifying and responding to opportunities to broaden medical research and public health programs throughout Africa – and especially in East Africa. The incumbent will respond to funding opportunities from various agencies in areas such as prevention, care and treatment programs, maternal, neonatal and child health, reproductive health, nutritional, and sanitation services and other health challenges. This will involve building valuable relationships with various sponsor and donors, analyzing the suitability of announcements, and coordinating the efforts of local and home office HJFMRI teams to respond to opportunities of interest. While taking a leading role in the development of research and public health proposals, the incumbent could also serve as a principle investigator one of the successful efforts.
The incumbent will also provide senior level direction and oversight in strategic planning and in the development of short-term and long-term goals and metrics based on site capacities and capabilities. The goal is to improve site sustainability, efficiency, and readiness for ongoing and new challenges and opportunities.
The incumbent will also work closely with HJFMRI Home Office teams in Bethesda, Maryland and in the region to assess existing programmatic and operational activities from a technical standpoint and to develop and implement strategies to provide improved support for HJFMRI international programs.
The position requirements will include the ability to effectively lead and contribute to complex, multidisciplinary teams.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Oversight of the international scientific operations and provides overarching technical support strategies essential to the successful establishment and sustainment of regional and local sites for HJF and/or HJFMRI international programs.
Assess and review various funding opportunities for interest and suitability for implementation of announced research and public health projects at HJFMRI sites and advise management and field sites. This will also include ability to think strategically, establish goals and priorities, and enhance the organization’s flexibility on handling a variety of tasks and shifting of priorities simultaneously.
Lead, assign and/or coordinate, the various multidisciplinary technical teams in responding in a timely and comprehensive manner to opportunities to expand impact and revenue.
Work with local and international staff to identify problems and prioritize solutions to ongoing operations from a technical or scientific point of view.
Help trouble shoot and address any barriers to responding to the funding opportunities. This will include flexibility to handle a variety of tasks and shift priorities simultaneously, and ability to quickly and effectively resolve complex issues.
Maintain communication with other departments and partners on potential opportunities for collaboration.
Develop research and public health proposals, dealing with various sponsor and donors.
Serve as a Principle Investigator on a successful proposal.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Ability to successfully lead and/or participate as a member of complex, multidisciplinary research teams.
Excellent organization, time, and project management skills, including excellent scientific written/ oral communication skills.
Excellent leadership skills with ability to nurture good working relationships with the relevant stakeholders and partners.
Ability to effectively lead and contribute to complex, multidisciplinary teams.
Education/Training:
Physician (MD or equivalent).
Master’s degree in public health (MPH) is an added advantage.
Minimum Experience: At least 5 years knowledge and experience in research and public health program implementations with various partners, communities, donors and sponsors in developing countries.
Physical Capabilities: Job performance would require movement around and between regions hence the incumbent must be able to travel regionally and internationally.
Required Licenses, Certification or Registration: The incumbent must have current registration, licensure and/or certification by GCP, HSP CITI and other relevant professional bodies. Supervisory Responsibilities/ Controls: • The incumbent may supervise multidisciplinary contract staff.
Work Environment: Office environment and regional field sites. May require working evenings and weekends.
Background: Must have lived and worked in developing countries.
