Job Details
- Expires 16 October 0 days left to apply
- Reference number: TGB16/267/0923
- Province: Western Cape
- Type of engagement: Permanent appointment
- Posted: October 9th
Background to Position
Stellenbosch University
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Department of Global Health
Institute for Life Course Health Research
Researcher (Job Level 8)
Ref. TGB16/267/0923
Stellenbosch University is an inclusive, innovative and future focused institution, a place of discovery and excellence where both staff and students are thought leaders in advancing knowledge in the service of all stakeholders. We are seeking an incumbent who will enhance our position as a leading Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
The Institute for Life Course Health Research (ILCHR) is housed within the Department of Global Health in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University. We conduct research to provide evidence about what works to improve health and well-being outcomes for people across the life course: parents, children, adolescents, and adults - in South African settings, as well as other low-resourced communities in the Southern African region and globally.
The ILCHR is seeking to appoint a researcher to manage a series of activities related to the monitoring, evaluation and learning of a portfolio of programmes focused on improving caregiving and early childhood development across East and Southern Africa. This role includes a key focus on providing technical support for initiatives aimed at improving child nutrition within primary health and community-based settings. It involves evidence gathering and synthesis through various methodologies to produce frameworks, guidance documents, and research outputs focused on improving nurturing care and nutrition to improve early childhood development in low- and middle-income countries. The researcher will also work on other general research management activities for the Institute.
Job Description
Duties:
- Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) activities, including conducting output monitoring, research evidence synthesis, analysis and recommendations of evaluations, as well as producing assessments and measurement tools, learning briefs, research reports and rapid reviews, and implementing programmes and quality analysis;
- Providing technical assistance and support (virtual and in-person) to service providers and researchers working to improve nurturing care and child nutrition within primary health and community-based settings. This includes technical support on developing an evaluable theory of change or logic model to inform the programme and/or evaluation and guide measurement, with an emphasis on implementation quality;
- Supporting regional and country-specific events and/or convenings to facilitate learning and partnership in nurturing care and child nutrition initiatives. This includes collaboration and engagement with international agencies and funding organisations;
- Planning, organising and facilitating research activities, including developing study procedures, protocols, and informed consent processes, compiling questionnaires and overseeing translation of tools;
- Conducting academic administration activities such as the development and submission of ethics applications, grant applications and progress reports;
- Facilitating and participating in community engagement activities, such as serving as a liaison between the Institute and key stakeholders within the community and broader ECD field
- (including, but not limited to, NGOs, schools, health care facilities, community forums or government entities);
- Helping to manage and conduct research activities across the Institute, including monitoring policy issues and trends that may impact or enhance the Institute's research;
- Contributing to research outputs such as publications, conference presentations and other knowledge products;
- Engaging in developing new research projects, including proposal development, budgeting, methodology and measurement selection, and training of research staff;
- Drafting Institute documents, policy papers, and other publications;
- Overseeing the planning of the Institute's conferences, seminars and workshops, including the development of topics/themes, agendas and identifying/soliciting appropriate speakers/facilitators;
- Overseeing the development of administrative and organisational systems required for the Institute;
- Working with senior management, research centre management, and the administrative manager on an ongoing basis.
Inherent Criteria
Requirements:
- A Master's degree in Public Health or another relevant field of study, i.e., Health Sciences / Development / Global Health;
- A background in public health nutrition and a relevant degree/diploma in nutrition or dietetics;
- At least four years' experience working within government or primary health care settings;
- If applicable, registration with the relevant Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA);
- Demonstrated project management experience related to nurturing care, parenting, maternal, newborn and child health, and/or early childhood development;
- At least two years' experience conducting Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) activities in public health research and programming, preferably in more than one country setting;
- At least two years' experience participating in conducting rigorous field research, including using quantitative, qualitative and/or mixed methods, and collecting and analysing quantitative and/or qualitative data;
- Practical expertise in both community-based public health and nutrition programming and research, with sound technical and practical research expertise through participation in community interactions with various government department representatives, health facilities, NGOs, community members and stakeholders;
- Mentorship and capacity-building skills to assist junior staff members by providing them with guidance, advice and training, where necessary, on key aspects of public health nutrition, research and career development;
- Advanced writing and verbal presentation skills, particularly the ability to communicate technical research considerations in a non-technical manner;
- Proven organisational and business development skills in order to coordinate and manage the submission of grant proposals to various funders;
- A valid driver's licence;
- Must be prepared to travel.
Recommendations:
- Relevant experience in stakeholder management;
- Practical work experience in community-based programming and research;
- Proven experience in working with international agencies (e.g., WHO) or funders;
- Proven experience and involvement in service to the community would be taken into account;
- The ability to work independently and as part of a team;
- Proven presentations at regional conferences.
Application Requirement
Enquiries regarding this post: Ms Zena Jacobs on 021 938 9758, or at zena@sun.ac.za
Enquiries regarding remuneration/benefits, as well as technical assistance with the electronic application process: Human Resources Client Services Centre on 021 808 2753, or at sun-e-hr@sun.ac.za.
Commencement Date: 1 January 2024
Closing Date: 16 October 2023
Stellenbosch University is committed to employment equity (EE), and appointments will be made in line with the EE plan for the specific environment as well as the institutional EE Plan of the University.
Stellenbosch University reserves the right not to make an appointment.
APPLY ONLINE BY USING THE APPLY NOW LINK AT THE TOP RIGHT-HAND CORNER OF THE SPECIFIC VACANCY PAGE.
Your application, comprising a comprehensive curriculum vitae (including the names and email addresses of at least three referees), must reach the University before or on the closing date of the advertised post.
The University reserves the right to investigate qualifications and conduct background checks on all candidates.
The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires people in occupations that entail potential exposure to certain hazards (such as, but not limited to: noise, hazardous chemical substances and hazardous biological agents) to be subjected to medical screening, to determine their fitness to work in the said occupations.
Should no feedback be received from the University within four to six weeks of the closing date, kindly accept that your application did not succeed.
