Caregiver Researcher

VillageReach transforms health care delivery to reach everyone. We are driven by a vision of a world where each person has the health care needed to thrive. VillageReach’s goal is to reduce inequities in access to quality primary health care for 350 million people by 2030. We work with governments, the private sector, partners and communities to build responsive primary health care systems that deliver health products, information and services to the most under-reached. As a locally driven and globally connected organization, VillageReach has offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and the United States.

Summary

VillageReach/Impetus/SCiDAR is seeking a 1-year contract for Caregiver/ Peer Researchers (2 female caregivers and 2 male Peer Reseachers). The role of the Caregiver/Peer Researcher is to facilitate the collection of qualitative data and facilitate human-centered design workshops with health workers, district health authorities, community leaders and caregivers and heads of household of children under the age of one on the topic of children receiving and/or missing routine immunizations delivered at 9 months of age in Zomba and Chikwawa districts. The Caregiver /Peer Researcher will bring a creative perspective to the design of an innovative research approach, support the development of data collection materials, act as lead for the collection of qualitative data, and assist with data analysis. These are Independent Consultant positions and we aim to fill these immediately.

Description

She/he will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Collaborate with VillageReach/Impetus/SCiDAR staff (based in Pakistan, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi and in the US) and other Caregiver Researchers
• Provide insights and ideas to drive final research methods and materials
• Support program team in piloting data collection tools, such as participatory interviews, health worker interviews, voice diaries and other research approaches used in the project etc.
• Participate in trainings on qualitative interview techniques, qualitative data management and working with caregivers and health care workers
• Facilitate study entry meetings in selected health facilities and communities surrounding the health facility’s catchment area
• Conduct data collection activities such as face to face participatory interviews, phone interviews, observation, SMS data collection with health workers, and provide detailed reports of the content discussed and observed in the field;
• Support study team in conducting qualitative data analysis and participate in team meetings to review data analysis findings
• Participate in program meetings with key program staff (including international program staff), as needed
• Work closely with the Project Coordinator to ensure the quality of research design and execution
• Submit written study activity reports as requested
• Review of draft peer-reviewed publications resulting from the research, evidenced by written acknowledgemen

Requirements

Education & Experience:

The ideal candidate will have the following professional qualifications and personal characteristics:

Minimum Required Experience:

• 18 years of age or older
• Direct experience in the care of a child aged 0-3 years of age
• Lives in or grew up in [Zomba and Chikwawa]
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field
• Experience in public health programming preferred, but not required
• Fluency in Chichewa. Those proficient in [any other local language/dialect] in these target districts will have an added advantage
• Ability to work under minimal supervision
• Experience with planning, conducting, and/or analyzing community-based participatory qualitative research
• Demonstrates leadership skills
• Demonstrated enthusiasm and ability to engage others
• Effective reading, writing and public speaking skills
• Ability to solve problems independently
• Strong organization skills and detail-oriented
• Demonstrates cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Experience working successfully independently and in team settings

Other Qualifications:

• Comply with VillageReach’s COVID-19 vaccination policy which requires full vaccination for in-person work or travel
• Established cultural competency in partnering with racial, cultural and linguistically diverse groups
• Demonstrated understanding of challenges with working in rural, underserved and low-income context; experience living in and/or working in a low-income country a plus
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel) and comfortable in a fast-paced technical environment

Environment and Physical Demands:

VillageReach has no private offices, employees work in a shared, open environment with task and conference rooms accessible to employees for privacy and meetings. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. Due to the time zone differences between our USA office and our Country Offices and location of other global staff, we have established core collaboration hours between 6am Pacific Time and 18:00 South Africa Time (GMT+1) Monday through Thursday. All staff, regardless of location are expected to be available between these hours. During Daylight Savings Time, this allows for 12 hours per week (3 hours/day) of collaboration time and during Standard Time, 8 hours (2 hours/day). We do not hold cross-office meetings on Friday.

APPLICATION INFORMATION:

To apply, please submit your cover letter and a resume including 3 traceable referees via our online portal: http://www.villagereach.org/join-us/. In your cover letter, please address (1) Why you are interested in this position, (2)What is one reason you think you’d be a good fit for this position and, (3) What is one strength you would bring to this position? We have immediate openings for 6 consultancies – please apply as soon as possible.

Hiring Process:

The hiring process will include the following steps:

• Shortlisting of suitably qualified candidates
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited for written and oral interviews to be conducting at the District Health Offices for each of the two districts
• Reference check
• Make an offer

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, but candidates who proceed to step 2 will be notified if they are not chosen for step 3.

Safeguarding:

VillageReach is committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults, and beneficiaries with whom it engages. We expect everyone working with us to share this commitment through our code of conduct.All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which may include criminal records. VillageReach participates in the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and, in line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By applying, the applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.