Consultant Co-Investigator or Consultant Research Manager Based in Lusaka, Zambia Reports to SFH Zambia M&E Director & PSI Senior Research Advisor (PI) Who We Are With over 45 years of experience, working in over 50 countries, Population Services International (PSI) is the world’s leading non-profit social marketing organization. PSI is reimagining healthcare, by putting the consumer at the center, and wherever possible – bringing care to the front door. We are working to fix market failures, shape future health markets and shift policy and funding to better support consumer empowered healthcare. There are over 7,000 “PSI’ers” around the world. We are a diverse group of entrepreneurial development professionals with a wide range of backgrounds and experience. All with unique skills that we bring to the critically important work that we do. Join us! PSI’s Malaria Department is looking for a Consultant Co-Investigator or Consultant Research Manager to support an insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) repurposing and misuse study in Zambia under the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) VectorLink project. VectorLink is equipping countries to plan and implement safe, cost-effective and sustainable life-saving malaria vector control interventions with the overall goal of reducing the burden of malaria. Through the VectorLink project, PMI supports Zambia’s National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) to fulfill its priority vector control objectives, including the strategic deployment of indoor residual spraying (IRS) and distribution of ITNs to pursue its elimination agenda. The NMEP aims to increase access to cost-effective, high-quality interventions to eliminate local malaria infection and disease by 2021. The position will report locally to the SFH Zambia M&E Director with technical oversight from the Senior Research Advisor for Malaria and WASH. The study will run from November 2019 to March 2020 in the first instance and the position is expected to cover this time period. Data collection and data analysis planned for February and March 2020. While the study includes both qualitative and quantitative components, we are seeking solicitations from strong qualitative researchers and social scientists with experience managing and analyzing focus group discussions on malaria-related topics in Zambia. Sound like you? Read on. Your contribution Contingent on funding, you will be responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing the ITN Misuse study in Zambia between November 2019 and March 2020. Further work may be required beyond March 2020, pending additional funding beyond this first SOW. Specifically, the Co-Investigator or Research Manager will be required to:

• Lead the preparation of the study protocol, including synthesizing available literature and articulating the methods for training, fieldwork and analysis of the four study components (observations, focus group discussions, household survey and rapid market scan).
• Lead the development of qualitative study tools for the focus group discussions
• Collaborate with PSI research staff to develop tools for the three quantitative study components (observations, household survey, rapid market scan), using ODK-based electronic data collection where feasible.
• Collaborate with the Senior Research Advisor, VectorLink Zambia, PMI Zambia and NMEP teams to incorporate feedback into final study documents.
• Ensure appropriate ethical review and approval in Zambia and through PSI and/or Abt Associates.
• Collaborate with the Senior Research Advisor and partners listed above to finalize selection of study sites.
• Design data cleaning and analysis guidelines in collaboration with the Senior Research Advisor.
• Recruit and support the recruitment of high-quality, experienced field team staff.
• Supervise field teams and ensure high-quality data collection during fieldwork.
• Lead the analysis of data from the focus group discussions.
• Provide support to a quantitative analysis consultant in the analysis of the observations, household survey and rapid market scan.
• Produce preliminary and final study reports from analysis covered within the scope of this contract.
• Represent VectorLink Zambia and the study at in-country meetings.
• Present study progress and preliminary results locally.

What are we looking for? The candidate we hire will embody PSI’s corporate values: Measurement: You use hard evidence to make decisions and guide your work. You set clear goalposts in advance and explain clearly if you need to move them. Pragmatism: You’ll strive to deliver the best possible result with the resources available. You won’t be paralyzed by a need to make things perfect. Honesty: You own your mistakes and are open about your shortcomings – it’s the only way you’ll learn and improve. Collaboration: You’ll quickly establish a mental map of whom you can rely on for what, on your team, at headquarters, and in our country offices – if you try to do it all yourself, you won’t succeed. Trust: You accept limits to your sphere of control and give colleagues the benefit of the doubt Commitment: You are in it for the long-haul and want to grow with the organization, just like PSI serves its consumers and partners with host-country governments through thick and thin The basics We are looking for either a Co-Investigator or Research Manager, depending on the solicitations received. The SOW is the same in both cases, but the Co-Investigator will be expected to perform more technical tasks independently and with minimal supervision. While the ITN Misuse study includes both qualitative and quantitative components, we are seeking solicitations from strong qualitative researchers and social scientists with experience managing and analyzing focus group discussions on malaria-related topics in Zambia.  

• You will ideally have a PhD in epidemiology, public health, demography or other relevant field or Master’s degree and 6+ years of experience in the design and implementation of qualitative primary data collection in developing countries including: protocol development; survey instrument design; ethical review board submission; partnerships with in-country research agencies; fieldwork management; fieldworker training; and data collection quality control.
• Demonstrated expertise in malaria research including peer-reviewed publications.
• Demonstrated qualitative data management and analysis skills required. Proficiency using qualitative data analysis software required (experience with NVivo or Dedoose preferred).
• Demonstrated experience synthesizing or collating evidence and results from qualitative and quantitative research activities.
• Excellent English written and verbal communication skills; Local language skills relevant to Luapula, Northern and Muchinga provinces are a plus.
• Ability to travel within Zambia.
• References will be required.
• Candidates with legal work status in Zambia are eligible to apply.

What would get us excited?

• Experience using electronic data collection (ODK) for quantitative studies preferred (questionnaire programming and quantitative analysis is outside the scope of this SOW).
• Demonstrated ability to work independently as part of a geographically distributed team.
• Highly organized and comfortable working on multiple simultaneous activities.

PSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of actual or perceived race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, matriculation, political affiliation, family status or responsibilities, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions or breastfeeding, genetic information, amnesty, veteran, special disabled veteran or uniform service member status or employment status.