Q U A L I F I C A T I O N S A N D E X P E R I E N C E
Minimum Required Qualifications and Experience:
- Master’s degree in public health, medicine, health policy, or a related field
- At least 10 years of progressive experience in public health research, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
- Extensive experience in proposal development for research, implementation, result synthesis, and reporting.
- Proven track record of conducting and publishing high-quality research in peer-reviewed journals.
- Ability to demonstrate a successful history of strategic leadership and driving impact, along with a strong desire and ambition for growth.
Desirable Qualifications and Experience:
- PhD in a relevant field.
- Experience in engaging with government and international partners at a senior level.
T E C H N I C A L A N D B E H A V I O U R A L C O M P E T E N C I E S
- Problem-Solving Skills
- Business Savvy
- Service Minded
- Good Communication Skills
- Planning and Organization
- Influencing Skills
- Initiative
- Resourcefulness
K E Y P E R F O R M A N C E A R E A S
Scientific Leadership and Innovation
Develop and execute a cutting-edge research and innovation strategy that positions RTCZ as a key player in public health science and evidence generation.
Drive the exploration and adoption of emerging scientific technologies, methodologies, and interventions to address Zambia’s pressing health challenges.
Build RTCZ’s scientific reputation by fostering a culture of innovation and ensuring that research outputs are aligned with global best practices.
Lead multi-disciplinary teams to design and implement high-impact scientific initiatives that address the intersection of infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and emerging public health priorities.
Research and Evidence Generation
- Oversee the design, implementation, and dissemination of high-quality research, including clinical trials, operational research, and epidemiological studies.
- Establish and manage partnerships with academic institutions, research organisations, and global health entities to advance RTCZ’s scientific agenda.
- Ensure all research activities adhere to ethical guidelines and receive the necessary approvals from relevant authorities.
- Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at national and international conferences to enhance RTCZ’s visibility and credibility.
- Ensure all scientific and research activities comply with local regulations, donor requirements, and international standards.
- Identify and mitigate risks associated with research activities, including ethical, operational, and financial risks.
- Maintain robust data management and protection systems to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of research data.
Programme Support and Evidence Utilization
- Collaborate with the EXCO to integrate research findings and evidence into programme design and implementation.
- Provide scientific oversight to ensure programmes are aligned with global best practices and local epidemiological trends.
- Integrate Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Adaptation (MELA) frameworks into RTCZ’s research and innovation processes to enhance programme impact.
- Promote adaptive management practices that enable RTCZ to remain responsive to emerging challenges and opportunities.
Capacity Building and Mentorship
- Build the capacity of RTCZ staff in research methodologies, data analysis, and scientific writing.
- Mentor early-career researchers and technical staff, fostering a pipeline of skilled professionals within RTCZ.
- Promote a learning environment that encourages inquiry, knowledge sharing, and professional growth.
- Contribute to the institutionalization of RTCZ’s core values—innovation, quality care, and responsiveness—within all programmes and operations.
- Lead the development of a succession plan for the Research department to reflect a long-term strategic focus.
Organisational growth and financial sustainability
- Provide strategic oversight to the Business Development Unit (BDU), ensuring the identification of funding opportunities and the successful acquisition of diverse resources to support RTCZ’s programs.
- Cultivate relationships with funders, ensuring alignment between RTCZ’s research priorities and donor interests.
- Drive RTCZ’s strategic expansion into new areas of public health research, including non-communicable diseases, climate change, and health technology.
- Strengthen RTCZ’s internal capacity to conduct high-quality research while building its profile as a local organization.
- Leverage evidence to inform RTCZ’s strategic decisions and enhance its credibility with donors, partners, and beneficiaries.
- Provide oversight to the Communications Unit and ensure that RTCZ’s impact is effectively showcased across multimedia platforms, thereby enhancing the organization’s public profile.
Reporting, Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy
- Represent RTCZ in high-level scientific forums, technical working groups, and policy discussions at the national, regional, and global levels.
- Collaborate with government ministries, donors, and partners to align research efforts with national and international priorities.
- Advocate for the inclusion of RTCZ’s research findings in policy development and public health decision-making.
- Develop and present scientific updates to the CEO and senior leadership team, ensuring alignment and transparency.
- Lead the development of research reports, policy briefs, and other publications to communicate findings effectively to diverse audiences.
- Ensure the timely and accurate submission of scientific deliverables to donors, partners, and other stakeholders.
Self-management and performance ownership
- Take ownership and accountability for tasks & activities and demonstrates effective self-management.
- Follow through to ensure that quality and productivity standards of own work are consistently and accurately maintained.
- Inform relevant parties in the event of tasks or deadlines not met and provides.
- Appropriate means of resolution
- Support and drives the business’ core values.
- Maintain a positive attitude.
- Respond openly to feedback.
- Take ownership for own career development.
- Manage colleagues and client’s expectation and communicate appropriately.
- Willing to help others and go the extra mile to meet team targets and objectives.
- Manage own disruptive emotions (handle stress in ways that do not negatively impact on the team.
A P P L I C A T I O N P R O C E E D U R E
