Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is a State Corporation established through the Science and Technology (Amendment) Act of 1979, which has since been amended to Science, Technology and Innovation Act 2013. The 1979 Act established KEMRI as a National body responsible for carrying out health research in Kenya.

Vacancy No. CGHR/394/01/24

Job Summary:

The officer is responsible for overseeing, coordinating programmatic and scientific activities within the project in Kenya. This position supports the program’s goals, fostering collaboration, and ensuring the successful execution of CHAMPS activities. The officer will serve as a key point of contact between the Local site and the CHAMPS Program Office at Emory University, stakeholders, and partners. In this role, the incumbent will lead activities relating to strategic planning for the CHAMPS program; clinical assessment of causes of death; administration and supervision of select staff in the program; management of financial mechanisms; planning and implementing sub-studies, operational research, routine program evaluation; provision of technical assistance and guidance to the Kenya Ministry of Health (MOH) and collaborators; and regular communication to the CHAMPS program office. Job holder shares oversight responsibilities for the development and implementation of public healthrelated technical program activities and has supervisory responsibility for day-to-day coordination of the program’s technical and administrative management activities to implement the CHAMPS program in Kenya

Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the officer will entail: –

•  Identifying research gaps in line with the Institute’s research priority areas;
•  Development of research proposals in the relevant research thematic area;
•  Implementing pre-clinical and clinical research projects and/or supervise designated aspects of the work;
•  Conducting medical examinations and writing medical reports;
•  General diagnosis, care, treatment and provision of specialized clinical care for study participants;
•  Conducting community diagnosis, care and treatment during Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities;
•  Establishing strategic partnerships for research, training, innovations, technology;
•  Sourcing for grants to fund the approved research protocols;
•  Supervising junior professional and technical staff attached to his/her pre-clinical and clinical research program,
•  Monitoring and evaluating implementation of research projects;
•  Writing manuscripts, reports and translating research findings into lay language;
•  Disseminating and translating research findings for evidence based policy formulations and implementation;
•  Identifying technology with potential for intellectual property protection;
•  Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all data collection and processing as well as for the management and deployment of study drugs;
•  Plan and coordinate meetings for both internal project staff and external collaborators/visitors;
•  Host/participate in scheduled conference calls with the international study partners.

Person Specifications

 For appointment to this grade, a candidate must have: –

•  At least four (4) years relevant work experience;
•  Bachelor’s degree in any of the following fields; – Medicine and surgery, Dentistry, Pharmacy or equivalent qualifications from a recognized Institution;
•  Master’s Degree in any of the following disciplines: – Clinical Medicine/ Surgery/ Dentistry, Pharmacy, Biomedical Sciences, Analytical Chemistry, Applied Sciences, Public Health, any relevant Social Science, or equivalent qualifications from a recognized institution;
•  Developed at least twelve (12) proposals, six (6) of which have been funded;
•  Published at least six (6) articles in refereed journals with at least three (3) article as the first or lead author;
•  Management Course lasting not less than four (4) weeks from a recognized institution;
•  At least 7-10 years of public health experience in the management of diseases relevant to child health is required, including 3 years’ experience of working with ministries of health in developing countries.
•  At least 3 years’ experience conducting public health research as a principal or a co-investigator.
•  Strong report and manuscript writing skills, with evidence;
•  Proficiency in computer application.

Key Skills and Competencies

•  Strategic thinking;
•  Proposal writing skills;
•  Analytical skills;
•  Creativity and Innovativeness;
•  Critical thinking skills
•  Research fundraising skills
•  Communication and reporting skills
•  Interpersonal and negotiation skills
•  Team player

Terms of employment:

This is a three (3) years contract, renewable subject to availability of funds, with a probation period for the first 3 months. Salary is negotiable within the KEMRI scheme of service depending on education, experience and demonstrated competency