Research Field Implementation Officer

Ciheb Zambia • Full-time • Lusaka, Lusaka, Zambia • 5h ago

Organization Summary:

Ciheb-Zambia is a non-profit local Zambian organisation supporting the Ministry of Health to scale up comprehensive HIV prevention and testing services and find the best solutions to life threatening situations among communities in Zambia.

Position Summary

Ciheb Zambia is seeking a positive, highly motivated, organized individual with excellent communication skills to join our team as a Research Field Implementation Officer. The Research Field Implementation Officer will report to the Project HALO Research Study Coordinator.

The Research Field Implementation Officer will support the implementation of the Health Access for Lenacapivir Outcomes (HALO) Project by coordinating field-based research activities, ensuring high-quality implementation of the study protocol, and strengthening collaboration among participating health facilities, community stakeholders, and the research team.

He/She will oversee participant recruitment and follow-up, monitor implementation fidelity, provide mentorship to facility teams, coordinate community engagement activities, and ensure timely collection of high-quality study data.

The position requires strong experience in HIV prevention programming, implementation research, community engagement, and health systems strengthening. The officer will work closely with health facility staff, community-based organizations, peer educators, and research assistants to ensure that study activities are implemented according to the approved protocol, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), national ethical requirements, and sponsor expectations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Field Implementation and Study Coordination

Coordinate implementation of study activities at participating health facilities and community sites.
Ensure all study procedures are implemented according to the approved protocol and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Support study start-up activities, including site preparation, staff orientation, and initiation visits.
Coordinate implementation of intervention activities across study sites.
Monitor adherence to implementation timelines and study work plans.
Identify operational challenges and recommend appropriate corrective actions.

Participant Recruitment and Retention

Coordinate participant identification, recruitment, screening, enrollment, and follow-up activities.
Work with facility teams and peer educators to achieve recruitment and retention targets.
Monitor participant appointment adherence and support retention strategies.
Coordinate tracing and follow-up of participants who miss scheduled study visits.
Ensure participant confidentiality is maintained throughout the study.

Community Engagement

Coordinate community mobilization activities to increase awareness of the study.
Strengthen partnerships with community-based organizations, Ministry of Health teams, and civil society organizations.
Facilitate community sensitization meetings and stakeholder engagement activities.
Support implementation of participant education and demand-generation activities.
Ensure meaningful engagement of key populations and other priority populations in study implementation.

Facility Support and Capacity Building

Provide supportive supervision and mentorship to facility staff involved in the study.
Conduct on-site coaching on study procedures, informed consent, documentation, and protocol adherence.
Coordinate refresher training sessions for study staff and health care workers.
Monitor implementation fidelity across participating facilities.

Data Collection and Quality Assurance

Monitor completion of study source documents and case report forms.
Ensure timely and accurate data collection and submission.
Conduct routine data verification and quality assurance visits.
Identify and resolve data quality issues in collaboration with the Data Manager and Study Coordinator.
Monitor study performance indicators and site-level implementation metrics.

Monitoring and Reporting

Conduct routine monitoring visits to participating sites.
Prepare site monitoring reports and follow-up action plans.
Document implementation successes, challenges, and lessons learned.
Prepare weekly, monthly, and quarterly technical reports.
Support preparation of presentations, dissemination meetings, and study updates.

Regulatory Compliance

Ensure field implementation complies with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Human Subjects Protection, and national research ethics requirements.
Verify that informed consent procedures are conducted appropriately.
Report protocol deviations, adverse events, and implementation issues promptly.
Support monitoring visits, sponsor audits, and regulatory inspections.

Logistics and Administrative Support

Coordinate availability of study supplies, participant materials, and data collection tools.
Monitor inventory of field equipment and study commodities.
Coordinate transport and logistics for field activities.
Support procurement requests related to study implementation.

Collaboration and Communication

Maintain regular communication with the Study Coordinator regarding field implementation progress.
Collaborate closely with facility managers, Ministry of Health personnel, and implementing partners.
Participate in project planning meetings, technical working groups, and review meetings.
Represent the project during community and facility stakeholder meetings as delegated.

Other Duties

Support dissemination of study findings.
Participate in protocol amendments and implementation planning.
Perform any other duties assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Educational:

Diploma in community development, social work, project management, resource management, administrative related qualification
Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Certification.
Human Subjects Protection Certification.

Experience:

Experience working with key Populations, adolescents and young people.
Experience working on research studies will be an added advantage
Minimum of three years' experience implementing HIV, public health, or implementation research projects.
Experience working with HIV prevention programmes, including PrEP, sexual and reproductive health, or key population programming.
Experience coordinating community-based interventions and health facility implementation.
Experience supporting clinical or implementation research studies.
Experience using electronic data capture systems such as REDCap is desirable.
Experience working with donor-funded programmes

Required Skills: