Vacancy No. CVDC/009/12/22

Position summary

The candidate will be expected to support a team of entomology fieldworkers in the implementation of the entomology operations according to the protocol. The candidate will be expected to perform all entomology filed operations within the locality/village assigned in Kwale County. The candidate will be based in the field, preferably in his/her village of residence. The candidate will report to the senior field assistants and the entomology field lead.

Job Specification

• Follow and ensure proper compliance with protocol procedures and institutional guidelines.
• Support study activities including community engagement, information giving on study aims and procedures, recruitment of households, and obtaining informed consent.
• Establish good relationships with the study participants and proceed ethically and professionally during field activities.
• Collect and record data from household participating in mosquito collection.
• Collect and record data related to mosquito collection in the field.
• Collect larval and adult stages of mosquitoes within the locality/village assigned according to the pre-established methods in the study protocol and procedures.
• Ensure proper functioning, care and storage of all material received.
• Respect with zeal and responsibility the times of the activity plan.
• Must be able to fulfil other tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Person Specification

• Must be holders of at least KCSE Mean Grade D.
• A certificate in an environmental science will be an added advantage.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Able and willing to work odd hours: early mornings and late evenings.
• Ability to meet project objectives and deadlines and collect high quality data.
• Ability to use devices for electronic data capture.
• Good communication skills, flexibility, integrity and professionalism.
• Must be a Kwale resident and fluent in a Mijikenda language.

Desired Qualities

• Previous experience working with the community is highly valued but not essential.
• Experience with environmental or health research or program is desired, but not essential).

Terms of Employment

• Ten (10) months contract as per KEMRI scheme of service. Probation period for the first 3 months. Salary is payable within the stated job grade

Vacancy No. CVDC/008/12/22

Position summary

The candidate will be expected to support a team of entomology fieldworkers in the implementation of the entomology operations according to the protocol. The candidate will be the link between the field and the lab and will support activities both in the field, laboratory and the insectary. The candidate will report to the field senior medical entomologist.

Job Specification

• Follow and ensure proper compliance with protocol procedures and institutional guidelines.
• Train, guide and supervise field workers during mosquito sampling.
• Ensure proper functioning, maintenance and timely delivery to the field of all mosquito collection materials/tools required by field workers.
• Guide and supervise field workers on best practices for preparation and storage of materials/tools before and after performing daily activities.
• Guide and supervise field workers for optimal execution of operations, reporting and problem solving while in the field.
• Report/share on the status and challenges of the daily mosquito collections with the supervising team when appropriate.
• Coordinate the transfer of mosquitoes from the field to the laboratory
• Perform morphological identification of mosquitoes.
• Conduct routine bioassays using mosquitoes in the insectary.
• Enter and maintain data correctly and in a timely manner

Person Specification

• Certificate qualification in a relevant field from a recognized institution.
• Must be a holder of at least KCSE Mean Grade D.

Key Skills and Competencies

• At least 5 years’ experience working in the field of medical entomology research or surveillance in Kwale.
• Proven ability to follow SOPs and use electronic tools.
• Team player and excellent communication skills.
• Ability to troubleshoot and solve problems under pressure.
• Ability and willingness to work odd hours: early mornings and late evenings.
• Familiar with Kwale area, culture and knowledge of a Mijikenda language is required.
• Valid motorcycle riding license is desired, but not essential.

Terms of Employment

Ten (10) months contract as per KEMRI scheme of service. Probation period for the first 3 months. Salary is payable within the stated job grade

Vacancy No. CVDC/007/12/22

Position summary

The candidate will work with a team of senior entomologists and will oversee field workers, including entomological collections in the field, bioassay using field collections mosquitoes and support whenever need laboratory and insectary-based activities.

Job Specification

• Follow and ensure proper compliance with protocol procedures and institutional guidelines.
• Attend all required trainings and ensure activities are carried out in accordance to guidance from senior field entomologist.
• Support the drafting of SOPs, operations manuals, quality assurance documentation, training materials and others.
• Train, guide and supervise field workers in the field and laboratory.
• Assist in planning, organizing and undertaking of field and laboratory activities.
• Perform sample collection, processing, preservation, storage, shipment and maintenance of study documentation and records.
• Manage and monitor equipment, reagents, consumables and other resources needed for research activities.
• Oversee data entry and data cleaning in timely manner.
• Assist with other activities if required.

Person Specification

• Bachelor degree in any area of biological sciences with preference for fields related to medical entomology.

Key Skills and Competencies

• At least 12 months previous field experience and/or insectary experience working with mosquitoes.
• Knowledge of mosquito morphology, biology and ecology.
• Knowledge in mosquito taxonomy, dissection procedures and other bio-assays is highly desirable.
• Good technical writing skills.
• Good critical thinking skills and interest in science.
• Excellent team player and willingness to work odd hours including early mornings, and late evenings.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Willingness to live in rural Kwale.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, high degree of integrity, cultural sensitivity.
• Previous experience working in Kwale and knowledge of a Mijikenda language is desirable

Vacancy No. CVDC/006/12/22

Position summary

The candidate will be expected to work with the data manager lead on all data related activities of the study, which is composed by several sub-studies with field activities and
data needs. Data tasks will go from tablet management and preparation for a large number of field workers, preparation of field materials, assist in field trainings, monitoring data collection activities, and data error correction.

Job Specification

• Contribute to tablet management including, keeping an inventory, charging, maintaining, storing, and setting them up as well as deployment of updated data collection forms in the tablets.
• Monitor field activities and progress and report back to the field team
• Report to the data manger any code issue (i.e.; tablet/ form misbehaviour) in a detailed manner so as to enable rapid reproduction and resolution
• Monitor data errors daily, investigate them, and provide a resolution report to the data manager
• Provide technical support to the field team about anything related to tablets, data collection tools, field materials, data error corrections, etc.
• Assist the data manager and the larger study team with the data collection related trainings for the field staff

Person specification

• Diploma in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems
• Experience with ODK, ONA, Kobo collect is desirable;
• DBMS Skills (Data Cleaning/Query resolutions, and normalization)

Key Skills and Competencies

• At least three years’ experience working in a clinical trial or research setting or equivalent
• Experience working in community-based projects
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Effective written communication skills, including project reporting, including using MS Word, Power point, and MS Excel
• Works professionally and ethically with competence, accountability, and integrity
• PPS training

Desired qualities

• Experience in research studies and field operations
• Familiarity with Data Management for Clinical trials and documentation;
• Experience working in Kwale;
• Willing to live in Kwale

Vacancy No. CVDC/005/12/22

Position summary

The candidate will be expected to perform investigational medical product (IMP) related duties from drug importation, repackaging, storage, handling, dispensing and disposal as well as ensuring adequate documentation is in place throughout. The study pharmacist will work together with a clinical team and will supervise pharmacy technologists. The pharmacist will report to the principal investigator.

Job Specification

• Develop an in-depth understanding of the study protocols, goals and logistics required to conduct the clinical trial;
• Ensure pharmacy and drug store access control and maintain safety of the IMP and other study drugs;
• Oversee IMP management including the documentation of reception and storage;
• Ensure drug dispensing and inventory logs are maintained to assure adequate supplies and accountability;
• Support and promote the safe and ethical use of investigational drugs ;
• Develop standard operating procedures for the IMP management as per study protocols;
• Coordinate and oversee IMP disposal at study close-out ;
• Ensure participant safety through monitoring of clinical and laboratory adverse events;
• Ensure timely reporting of SUSARs/SAEs and protocol deviations;
• Take the lead in training and supervising the functions of relevant clinical and pharmacy personnel;

Person specification

• Degree in pharmacy from PPB accredited institution.
• Must be registered with the Pharmacy & Poisons Board.
• Hold a valid practicing license.
• Must have previous experience working in clinical trials and knowledge of Good Clinical Practices (GCP).
• Additional qualification or training in health research related field is desirable.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Experience working in Kwale
• At least three years’ experience working in a clinical trial or research setting or equivalent
• Experience working in community-based projects
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Effective written communication skills, including project reporting, including using MS Word, Power point, and MS Excel
• Works professionally and ethically with competence, accountability, and integrity
• PPS training