Project Coordinator (Opt4TPT Implementation research) 65 views

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV) is one of the leading international non-profit organizations dedicated to fighting tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. We are an international center of expertise for TB control that stimulates effective, efficient and sustainable tuberculosis control strategies in a national and international context. We are an organization of passionate TB professionals, including medical doctors, researchers, training experts, nurses and epidemiologists.

Over the past century we have built a wealth of knowledge and expertise, initially by successfully driving back TB in the Netherlands, and subsequently by partnering in the fight against TB in over 40 countries worldwide. We operate from a central office in The Hague in the Netherlands and additional country offices worldwide. KNCV raises funds from individual, institutional and corporate donors. In Ethiopia, KNCV has more than 13 years of experience in comprehensive TB program support to the national program.

Background

TB preventive therapy (TPT), which involves giving anti-TB drugs to people with dormant TB infections, can reduce the risk of individuals developing active TB disease. But despite being recommended for PLHIV and household contacts of confirmed pulmonary TB patients, delivery and uptake of TPT have been slow and remain suboptimal globally. New innovations, such as a shorter regimen that combines two antibiotics—Isoniazid and Rifapentine—taken once a week for 12 weeks (known as 3HP), provide an opportunity to scale up TPT and are becoming available worldwide. Shorter regimens have potential advantages over the previous standard of care, Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT), including once weekly dosing, as well as better adherence and completion. However, to effectively scale these new TPT regimens, it is critical that we understand the barriers and facilitators to implementation. Achieving global targets, including those set at the September 2018 UNHLM on TB, not only requires scaling up affordable and safe TPT regimens, but also collecting evidence to guide future implementation and policies.

The Opt4TPT study is a three-year programmatic assessment of TPT delivery across three countries, namely Ethiopia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, to generate critical knowledge to improve TPT uptake, implementation and outcomes. By following a cohort of PLHIV prospectively and directly observing service delivery in health facilities, Opt4TPT’s approach will provide valuable new knowledge regarding routine use of TPT, as well as outcomes during, and following TPT. This study will create an important understanding of TPT uptake and completion from the patient perspective and delivery from the health system perspective. These results will provide actionable information for improving service delivery and the scale-up of TPT. The project also assess the cost of patients of taking TPT, seeking care for symptom of TB, as well as any TB related illness.

Purpose of the position and organizational position

As part of the implementation of Opt4TPT project in Ethiopia, we will conduct qualitative, quantitative, and health economic research to:

  • Quantify the TPT continuum of care—from treatment initiation to completion—among PLHIV eligible for TPT and describe reasons for TPT refusal, discontinuation and completion, including patient perceptions, adverse events, drug tolerability, incident TB and death.
  • Identify key system and provider characteristics, including models of care present in a clinic contributing to TPT prescribing, including clinic structures, clinician attitudes, and knowledge of and adherence to local TPT prescribing guideline.
  • Conduct cost-effectiveness analysis to compare different TPT delivery strategies.

As a Project Coordinator, you are expected to coordinate the qualitative, quantitative, and health economic implementation research and you are responsible for day-to-day coordination and management of the project.

Place in the organization

The Project Coordinator reports hierarchically to the Country representative and functionally to the Opt4TPT study team at HQ. The Project Coordinator works closely with the IMPAACT4TB project team.

 What does KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation offer?

  • A full time (40 hours) fixed-term contract for one year, with the intention to extend the contract;
  • An informal work atmosphere in an international environment, where initiative is appreciated;
  • A highly motivated team of experienced, self-driven colleagues;
  • The salary is dependent upon education and relevant working experience.

Job Requirements

Profile

As Research Coordinator you will:

  • Coordinate the qualitative, quantitative, and health economic implementation research and you are responsible for day-to-day coordination and management of the project;
  • Finalize the protocol development process with the country, KNCV HQ including coordinating necessary ethical approvals;
  • Lead in-country study preparation and implementation in line with the study protocol
  • Develop project plans for the implementation of the research protocols;
  • Get familiarized with the research protocols and TB preventive treatment implementation at the country level and develop all the necessary implementation research tools;
  • Based on the approved research protocols and guidance from the Opt4TPT Team, train research nurse, research assistant, VSM research consultants  transcriptionist and translators, and other study team members;
  • Supervise the research nurse, research assistant, VSM research consultant  focal persons and the interviewers, transcriptionists and translators;
  • Organize, support, and monitor data collection & timely data entry;
  • Validate data received from studies;
  • Conduct statistical analyses; and collaborate with IMPAACT4TB project team;
  • Participate in scheduled results dissemination activities;
  • Participate in weekly Opt4TPT calls, contribute to reports and scientific articles on the basis of the research conducted, ensure high quality and timely delivery on all contractual and study related obligations in line with the approved study budget, including reporting;
  • Facilitate the operational arrangements required to effectively implement the all aspects of the research;
  • Other related necessary duties as per the supervisor’s request.

Qualifications and experience

  • Master or corresponding degree in epidemiology, health economics, statistics, medicine, or in international public health;
  • At least 3 years’ experience, primarily in the field of health research in an international organization, preferably on TB/TB-HIV;
  • In depth knowledge of TB and TB/HIV from clinical and programmatic perspectives and based on local NTP and WHO policies;
  • Knowledge of and experience with epidemiological and statistical analysis in the field of public health;
  • Knowledge of and experience with quantitative and qualitative epidemiological research techniques;
  • Experience in Clinical Research and knowledge of ICH/GCP;
  • Having a GCP course and Human Subject Protection course is an advantage;
  • Able to pay close attention to detail;
  • Skills in applying statistical software for data validation and data analysis;
  • Ability to work as part of a team and independently;
  • Ability to cope with stress and to organize and prioritize workload;
  • Excellent oral and writing skills in English and Amharic.

More Information

  • This job has expired!

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