Research Projects Manager

Background

Jacaranda Health is a nonprofit organization whose mission for the last eight years has been to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes in the public health system. We work hand-in-hand with governments, including county health management teams and Ministries of Health, to deploy affordable and scalable solutions through public hospitals, where the majority of underserved mothers and babies receive care. These solutions include PROMPTS, an AI-enabled text messaging service for mothers, and MENTORS, a facility-based training program equipping frontline nurses with lifesaving skills and knowledge. In Kenya, we are in 22 of Kenya’s busiest counties, who co-own our interventions, and work with us to design what and how we measure impact for effective decision-making. These partnerships have helped us reach 2.4 million women with our solutions across 1,100+ health centers and hospitals and will continue to be the cornerstone of how we approach the path to national scale in Kenya. We have expanded operations within Eswatini and Ghana. 

Jacaranda Health is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regards to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. 

Job Summary

Jacaranda Health is seeking to engage an experienced and talented individual for the role of a Research Project Manager who will lead complex research projects that support the mission and growth of Jacaranda Health by providing information that advances programing. He/She will have the opportunity to support a growing team that supports the implementation, assessment, and scale of a package of maternal and child health-focused interventions in Kenya. The role will be responsible for generating insights that informs and improves the organization's program. They will provide design and analysis advice for research assessments and evaluations.

This role will provide a wide range of statistical expertise, guidance, and support to the Research Projects team and the Research, Design & Evaluation department in general. The Research Project Manager  will collect, analyze, and interpret Jacaranda Health data across multiple platforms towards answering questions of impact, implementation success, and product design.

Location: Nairobi, Kenya.

Reports to: Head of Research Projects.

Preferred start date:November 2024.

Main Responsibilities 

• Lead technical aspects of study and research design such as sample size, sampling  strategy, and analysis, enable robust evaluation of organizational research questions

• Develop analysis plans to assess organizational impact and reach, and execute them

• Analyze program data to generate insights that inform organizational strategy and program deployment.

• Apply rigorous analytic thinking in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of quantitative data for report writing and communication.

• Lead writing of sections of protocols, reports, presentations that are relevant to statistical expertise including sampling methodology, sample calculations, data management and analysis.

• Develop data analysis processes that streamline the efficiency of routine analyses and provide usable programmatic information.

• Contribute to the Research Projects strategy which supports organizational goals and sets data at the heart of the organization.

• Mentor and coach other team members to deliver high-quality data outputs

• Build and sustain collaborative relationships with individuals in different departments and serve as a subject-matter expert for teams, internal and external committees, and other constituencies and collaborators.

Requirements

● Masters degree in statistics/biostatistics/epidemiology or related field and 5 years of experience

● Proficiency in STATA, SPSS, SAS or R. 

● Experience in leading technical aspects of a study and research design

● Ability to inform program design and organizational strategy with data

● Ability to deliver data projects that contribute to the organization’s bottom line

● Ability to create data narratives

● Demonstrated ability to lead teams in quality data collection and analysis

● Demonstrated ability to use a variety of statistical software

● Completion of deliverables on schedule

● Management and coaching

● Ability to apply a range of advanced statistical techniques in support of scientific research studies and/or experiments.

● Ability to consult with scientific investigators, interpret research requirements, and determine statistical analysis strategies.

● Strong written and verbal communication skills

● Open minded, willing to learn and grow with our team

● Excellent problem-solving and interpersonal skills

● Planning & Organizing skills

● Upholds Integrity & is reliable

● Attention to detail

● Able to work effectively with a team in a culturally diverse environment

● Ability to work in a fast-paced, changing environment

Competencies

A. Technical Competencies

● Demonstrated experience in leading technical aspects of a study and research design

● Proficiency in STATA, SPSS, SAS or R. 

● Knowledge of Python, Nvivo, Atlas or GIS 

● Knowledge of Survey CTO, ODK, or KoBo Toolbox

B. Behavioral Competencies

● Leadership skills

● Communication skills and ability to synthesize information

● Good team management and people coaching skills

● Interpersonal skills

● Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities

● Ability to think strategically and creatively to solve problems

● Able to find effective and efficient ways to accomplish goals

Contract Period 

This position is expected to be a contract of 12 months, renewable.

To Apply: 

Interested candidates should send their applications via this link

No hard copies required or accepted.  

Candidates should submit their applications by 26th September, 2024.

Applications and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Early applications are highly encouraged.