BOISTATISTICIAN – Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research 661 views

Vacancy

Job Description

Zvitambo is an internationally recognized multidisciplinary public health research institute with the mission of helping children survive and thrive through research. We work in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) to conduct research and provide technical support and education to reduce the burden of malnutrition and infectious diseases, and give children a good start in life. Zvitambo is registered as a non-profit company with the Ministry of Justice, and operates from a head office in Harare, and a field site in Shurugwi.

Job Purpose
Zvitambo is seeking an experienced Biostatistician to conduct analysis and modelling in a study examining the the implementation of care for children with advanced HIV disease (AHD) in Zimbabwe. The postholder will lead the biostatistical analyses working with the study investigators and other field researchers. This study includes both quantitative and qualitative work. The study will be conducted in Shurugwi district, where they will lead a project to evaluate current implementation of the WHO ‘STOP AIDS’ toolkit for children with AHD, then work to co- design a solution to improve coverage of the package, followed by an impact evaluation. The post holder will be based in Shurugwi.

The postholder will assist the Project Investigator and Project Lead in developing the study protocol with statistical input, will help with compiling and analysing data, and writing statistical analysis plans and writing manuscripts for publication. The quantitative portion of the study will use national DHIS2 data to examine coverage of care for AHD in children. Additionally, we will use participatory systems dynamics modeling. For the qualitative work, we will use co- design workshops with MoHCC staff, community leaders and health care workers at the community level. The final part of the study will be to disseminate findings to stakeholders. This project is a partnership between Zvitambo, MoHCC and PENTA (a paediatric infectious diseases network based in Europe), working on a Unitaid-funded project led by CHAI (Clinton Health Access Initiative).

Duties and Responsibilities

Main Duties
• Develop and validate statistical models to analyze complex biological, clinical, and epidemiological data, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of results.
• Conduct quantitative systems dynamics models of relevant systems
• Interpret study findings and communicate results effectively to researchers, clinicians, and other stakeholders through written reports, presentations, and visualizations.
• Collaborate with researchers to develop appropriate study designs, including sample size calculations, randomization procedures, and statistical analysis plans Perform advanced statistical analyses on research data using appropriate software (e.g., R, SAS, STATA) to address research questions and hypotheses.
• Lead the preparation of materials for ethical approval and fieldwork protocol guidance.
• Prepare progress reports to regulatory bodies (e.g. MRCZ and MoHCC)
• Participate in study-related training sessions and regular meetings
• Lead the qualitative data collection and analysis including translation and use of appropriate software (e.g. NVIVO).
• Contribute to writing project reports and journal publications based on research findings; the latter to be submitted to peer-review journals of high international ranking.

Qualifications and Experience

QUALIFICATIONS
Essential:
• Master’s degree in Biostatistics, Statistics, Public Health, or a related field is required
• 3 years proven experience in biostatistical analysis within a research or academic environment, preferably in the healthcare or life sciences sector.
• Proficiency in statistical software packages as well as experience with data management and manipulation.
• Strong understanding of clinical trial design, epidemiological methods, and regulatory requirements governing biomedical research.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and convey complex statistical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities and experience in mentoring junior staff or leading statistical projects on time in full.
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks governing clinical research, such as Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office software (including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Desirable:
• Experience using a variety of qualitative research methods, including conducting semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions.
• Track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals or presentations at scientific conferences demonstrating contributions to the field of biostatistics.
• Experience working with communities to co-design interventions especially in a rural setting
• Experience with systems dynamics modelling
• Experience working within a research organization
• Keen understanding of the research ecosystem in Zimbabwe.