Vacancy Announcement

University of Liberia College of Health Sciences (ULCHS)

Title: Research Project Manager

Location: ULCHS and Rural Montserrado County

Duration: 6 months

Reports to Principal Investigator

Supervises: Study staff

Application Period: April 15 to May 15, 2024

Position Overview:

As the Research Project Manager, you will play a pivotal role in the successful execution of this public health and/or research project. You will oversee various aspects of the project, ensuring efficient coordination between ULCHS, MOH, and relevant stakeholders while overseeing study logistics and protocol implementation. Your responsibilities will include vetting and recruiting study staff, facilitating training sessions, and coordinating with procurement to ensure the availability of necessary supplies. Additionally, you will be responsible for organizing community mobilization efforts, health fairs, and ensuring the smooth operation of HPV testing, mobile treatment facilities, and post-fair household surveys. Regular review and evaluation of the work plan, periodic field visits, and where possible, data monitoring using tools like REDCap will be crucial to maintaining project integrity and adherence to timelines. If you are a proactive individual with excellent organizational and communication skills, eager to contribute to impactful research initiatives, we encourage you to apply.

Project and/or Institutional Goals

The goals of this project are (a) to evaluate the uptake and acceptability of Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical cancer screening offered through a community-based public health approach to cervical cancer prevention in Liberia and (b) to determine the factors association with uptake in community-based HPV vaccination among adolescent girls and in cervical cancer screening among women in Liberia.

Summary of project:

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in sub-Saharan Africa; infection with high-risk (hr) HPV is the primary cause of cervical cancer. The goal of the current project is implemented and evaluate a community-based public health approach to cervical cancer prevention conducted in collaboration with the Liberian Ministry of Health (MOH). ULCHS will collaborate with the MOH to implement community health fairs in three to four rural communities. Prior to the fairs, education and mobilization will be conducted by community health assistants (CHAs). During the health fairs, self-collected vaginal swabs will be obtained from women aged 30 to 65 years for testing of hr-HPV; HPV vaccination will be given to eligible girls aged 9 to 14. Women with hr-HPV will be seen by MOH mobile clinics for evaluation of cervical lesions, and either treated or referred as necessary. Two to three weeks following the health fairs, we will identify a representative sample of households within the communities. Women at selected households will be interviewed as well as parents or guardians of girls, to evaluate the acceptability and uptake of the aforementioned approach.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

1. Responsible for vetting and recruiting study staff.
2. Coordination between ULCHS, MOH, and relevant stakeholders
3. Study logistics and protocol implementation.

Specific Tasks:

• Work with principal investigators (PIs) to vet and recruit study staff.
• Work with the PIs to identify possible study sites.
• Facilitate training for study staff, including CHAs
• Coordinate between ULCHS, MOH, local government and relevant stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation of study protocols.
• Submit purchase requests and coordinate with the finance team at ULCHS.
• Work with procurement to ensure the availability of medical supplies and data collection instruments.
• Organize community mobilization, health fairs, collection of samples and transport for testing of HPV, administration of HPV vaccine, and mobile treatment facilities.
• Written weekly review and evaluation of work plan to ensure on-going activities are in adherence to project timetables.
• Make periodic field visits to study sites.
• Using data collection tools such as REDCap to monitor data quality and conducting routine data proofing for completeness and accuracy.

Qualifications and Skills needed:

• At the minimum, a bachelor’s degree in project management, management, public health, or related field.
• Experience in managing research activities or project implementation highly desirable.
• Preference is given to candidates with experience in cervical cancer research, although it is not mandatory.
• Applicants with some experiences doing independent research projects, plus/minus publications are encouraged.
• Proficiency in word processing, Excel, and PowerPoint is essential.

Applications must comprise of the following:

• Brief cover letter of intent, motivation, and suitability for the position.
• Completed CV.
• Three references: Names, positions, and contact Information.
• Copy of academic credentials.

Address all applications to https://redcap.link/8q311j0r no later than May 15, 2024. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The selection process will include shortlisting and interview.