Research Assistants x2

Title:                     Research Assistants (2)

Location:              Plumtree, Zimbabwe

Reporting to:        Site Coordinator

Deadline:             30 June 2023

Pangaea Zimbabwe is an independent Zimbabwean entity registered as a local PVO in Pangaea Zimbabwe strives to transform the lives of underserved populations by working to increase access to quality, responsive, evidence based, client-centered comprehensive health services through facility and community engagement and policy advocacy.

The CATALYST Study (Catalyzing access to new prevention products to stop HIV) is a multi-year, multi-country study seeking to understand the feasibility and acceptability of providing new options for HIV prevention. The study involves both quantitative and qualitative methods. This posting is for a qualitative data collector who will conduct interviews with the range of study participants: people using HIV prevention methods, health facility staff offering HIV prevention options, community members in neighborhoods near study sites, and health officials responsible for HIV prevention.

Job Summary

• Working under the supervision of Site Study Coordinator, the Research Assistant will be mainly responsible for collecting qualitative and quantitative data for 3 years in a-multi-national research study (CATALYST).
• Participate in study training; participate in the translation.
• Testing and reviewing of interview guides.
• Working with the site-based study team and healthcare providers to identify and recruit study participants.
• Schedule interviews with study participants; conduct and document informed consent processes; securely store all informed consent documents per study procedures.
• Conduct face-to-face and phone-based quantitative interviews with participants (people interested in HIV prevention and site staff), enter data on electronic devices; conduct in-person in-depth interviews, key-informant interviews, and focus group discussions with study participants; adapt to phone interviews if required due to external circumstances.
• Tracking study participants over time; identify participants that have missed study appointments; telephone them to conduct follow-up interviews.
• Upon learning of any serious adverse event or social harm, complete required forms, enter them in electronic database, and immediately inform Supervisor.
• Obtain study forms from health care providers and enter them into electronic database; review health facility registers, and capture required information into an electronic system; provide and document participant reimbursement per study protocol; accurately complete and maintain all field logs to track study progress and other files, whether computerized or manual.
• Securely handle and store data collection forms per study procedures; work with the Data Manager and Site Study Coordinator to resolve data queries; consult and communicate in a timely manner any challenges encountered during data collection with the Site Study Coordinator.
• Transcribe recorded interviews into a standard Word template; support data analysis; organize data, create initial codes, respond to queries from qualitative analysis team.
• Flawlessly maintain study participant confidentiality.
• Adhere to the study protocol and all study procedures and implement quality control process throughout the conduct of the study.
• Share written interview notes and full transcripts on time, as agreed with Study Coordinator. Participate in regular team debriefing meetings.
• Perform any other related duties.

Requirements:

• At least 2 years of experience conducting quantitative and qualitative interviews (in-depth interviews and focus group discussions) for a research study.
• Experience interviewing adolescent girls, young women, and/or trans populations is preferred. Experience in taking notes during in-depth interviews and focus group discussions.
• Experience with quantitative data collection using tablets.
• Experience working with electronic data collection forms in ODK, RedCAP, KoboCollect, SurveyCTO or similar.
• Must reside near Plumtree District Hospital or within Plumtree
• Good knowledge of spoken and written English, Ndebele and Kalanga required.

Skills knowledge and abilities

• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to quickly establish rapport with wide range of study participants, including community members and
• Ministry of Health officials.
• Ability to effectively work as part of a team.
• Nonjudgmental attitude, humanitarian values and ethics are absolute preconditions.
• Energetic, independent, and self-motivated
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Proficiency in qualitative coding software, such as NVivo, preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or International Equivalent in Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Statistics or Related Field

To Apply: Suitably qualifying candidates can send their Curriculum Vitae and Application to: admin@pzat.org on or before 30 June 2023. Only shortlisted Candidates will be contacted.