Qualifications and Experience:

• Postgraduate degree in Public Health, Global Health, Epidemiology or a related research discipline.
  
• 12 -15 years post qualification with an excellent understanding of operational research, survey, study and evaluation approaches, especially for malaria.
  
• Substantial hands-on experience in research project management, with at least 2 years in similar roles.
  
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a programme management position.
  
• Good qualitative and quantitative data analysis skills.
  
• Demonstrated experience of working in a team of experts delivering specialized technical assistance (TA) services.
  
• Familiarity with Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) in low- and medium-income countries e.g. DHIS2.
  
• Experience in setting up standards of quality as well as internal quality assurance mechanisms.
  
• Strong skills in communicating scientific / development research to non-research audiences.
  

SMC Programme

Work with the Operations Research Specialist (ORS), OR Officers and Technical team (Technical Specialist, M&E Manager and HMIS Officer) to ensure the management of research towards successful completion.

2 SMC-VAS Project

Support the Principal Investigator towards successful baseline, mid-term and endline surveys, reports and presentations.

3 SMC-RI Project

Work with the Technical Assistants supporting programme management and M&E components of the project to deliver the research components of the project.

4 SMC-ORSZ Project

Support the SMC programme and Malaria Consortium Nigeria structures to deliver the research components of the project.

Operational Research Support (70%)

• Provide effective programme management to the research portfolio of the PF/SMC programme and other projects co-implemented/delivered or integrated on the SMC platform.
  

• Oversee effective planning and management quality implementation of the research agenda for SMC and allied projects.
  
• Support the review and contribute to strong research concept notes as required, in collaboration with the Operations Research Specialist (ORS), Country Office and UK teams.
  

Research Implementation and Budget Management (10%)

• Contribute to the development of the annual OR budget and forecasts; and support the PD in budget management/implementation, tracking and reforecasting.
  
• Support the development and approval of specific activity budgets for timely research activities.
  
• Manage the budget of research activities and obtain the required support documents to enable timely payments and allowable burn/spend rates.
  

Capacity building and institutional strengthening (10%)

• Support and participate in building project capacity in operational research, mainly in the NMEP and SMEPs but also where appropriate within SMC team.
  
• In liaison with the PD, SCTC, TS and ORS, support capacity building initiatives of the project’s Research team and contribute to the organisation’s strategic objectives.
  
• Participate in the Country Office platforms for internal learning and cross-learning among teams.
  

External Representation and Safeguarding (10%)

• As may be directed and/or in collaboration with the ORS, participate in national or regional technical working groups as relevant and/or directed.
  
• Support the synthesis of research, survey, study and evaluation findings into short, relevant briefs for policy makers and donors.
  
• Support the compliance of all research, survey, study and evaluation activities implementers to Malaria safeguarding policy, guidelines and practices.