Senior Research Officer

Aidspan, a Kenya-based international think tank and independent observer of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria has a global mandate.  Aidspan seeks to recruit a Senior Research Officer  (Senior Researcher) to lead Aidspan’s research team, and help grow the organization’s research skills base and products. This is an international search to fill a challenging and unique position on the Management Team in this lean, flexible and highly specialised organisation. 

Aidspan’s Research Programme

Aidspan’s goal is to become the first-port-of-call for independent research and critical analysis of the Global Fund. The Research team, led by an exceptional individual, will be an important part of meeting this goal. 

Aidspan is growing its research outputs and research capacities, as it builds upon 10 years as a small, focused watchdog agency, and grows into an organization with more flexible, policy-focused outputs that can contribute to a broader more nuanced understanding of the Global Fund and its ecology.

Aidspan conducts its research using in-house staff and external commissioned researchers, and through collaboration with external research institutions. The Senior Rearch Officer/Scientist described in this document will lead a small in-house research team consisting of a M&E officer/researcher, several part time consultants and various people among Aidspan’s current staff who devote part of their time to research.

Research outputs include a) stand-alone reports, b) working papers c) short articles and commentaries in Global Fund Observer, and d) papers submitted to peer-reviewed publications. The research programme also produces papers and presentations for international conferences.  In addition, the research programme provides white papers or overview papers that feed into Aidspan’s periodic hosting of Round-tables. 

This job focuses on generating analyses of the changing dynamics of global health policy and on how to develop focused research studies that can explain complex changes in Global Fund policy, review the architecture of the Fund, investigate reports of impact, effectiveness and accountability, and, where relevant, recommend changes to those policies. The successful candidate will, with a small staff, produce timely, high quality content. He/she will also be a mentor and a manager. Managing and developing others is a big part of this role, and the successful candidate will show how they would balance this while at the same time delivering their own ideas for research around the Global Fund.

Responsibilities

The Senior Research Officer will report to the Executive Director, and will be a member of the Management Team.  He/she will lead the programme of research and analysis, coordinate the outputs of the research team and help build the team into an effective, focused group:  

• Design and conduct research and analysis on topics related to Aidspan’s mission (making the Global Fund more effective). Approximately five discrete research projects to be completed each year.
• Commission and then manage research with outside consultants
• Develop at least one collaborative research partnership with other research organisations per year (ideally with a MOU with defined outputs)
• Attract funding for at least two discrete research ideas for external funding per year
• Liaise directly with research officers within the Global Fund, and with those focused on the Fund based in other technical partners or institutions.
• Work with and mentor Aidspan staff in research skills
• Provide information on all internal and external reports (as relevant for the Research programme) for all documentation needs, including those for donor reports and for general public relations

Qualifications, knowledge, skills and attributes

Required:

1. An advanced postgraduate research degree in the health or in social sciences such as economics, political science, sociology, or anthropology (with a global health focus).
2. At least five years’ previous experience in the field of global health
3. A record of peer-reviewed publications.
4. Experience planning, creating, managing and reporting with budgets and time frames.
5. Evidence of successful proposal writing for a range of grant giving bodies
6. Superb analytical, writing, editing and verbal communication skills.
7. Ability to work with both quantitative and qualitative data at an advanced level
8. Excellent mentoring and training skills.
9. Proven experience with independent research and research done with colleagues.
10. Well organised self-starter, with attention to detail.
11. Leader and strong team player, with excellent inter-personal relationships and a good sense of humour.

Preferred:

1. Significant knowledge of the Global Fund.
2. An existing appointment or affiliation with a university or several universities.
3. Proven experience supervising the work of other researchers in small teams.
4. Good public speaker.

Job location

This position is based at Aidspan’s office in Nairobi, Kenya.  Applicants do not have to be citizens/residents of Kenya, as this is an international search. However, preference will be given to those who are either citizens of Kenya, or who have documented proof that they are permitted by the government to work in the country. Travel of up to 20% per year may be expected and acceptable to all candidates.

Salary and benefits

Aidspan staff are given two-year contracts and salaries are paid in Kenya shillings.  A generous salary and benefits package is discussed during and after the final interviews. The salary package will be commensurate with the candidates experience and qualifications. Aidspan salaries are specified and paid in Kenya shillings.

Equal Opportunity

Aidspan is committed to encouraging diversity and eliminating discrimination.  There will be no discrimination on any grounds and we encourage all qualified applicants to apply.

Next steps

If you are interested in this position, please do as follows:

• Study the information provided in this document and some of the key documents on Aidspan’s website (for example Annual Report 2012; Annual Plan 2013, Unified Proposal 2013).
• Prepare a cover letter of up to 2 pages (addressed to Ms. Wambui Munene, Finance and Admin Director, Aidspan) which explains (a) why you are interested in the position; (b) how your qualifications and experience match the job description; and (c) why you believe you are be a strong candidate. The letter should give your salary history (in your last three positions) and should specify your salary expectations.
• Ensure that your CV has 3 references, who are aware of this application.
• Prepare a zipped folder with three publications as sample writing pieces.
• Send all documents (cover letter, CV and the 3 writing samples) to info@aidspan.org with the subject line: Senior Research Officer.

Applications must be submitted electronically by 25^th October, 2013. A short list of applicants will be contacted by phone and then called for an interview in Nairobi by mid-November, 2013. The selected candidate should be available to start work by 7^th January, 2014.