Independent Contractor, AVE Study Coordinator

Job Description
Terms of Reference

Position: Independent Contractor, AVE study coordinator

Location: Lilongwe, Malawi with 75% domestic travel

Number of Positions: one

Period: 9 months, from November through July 2021

Organization Overview

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries, while strengthening the capabilities of governments and the private sector in those countries to create and sustain high quality health systems that can succeed without our assistance. For more information, please visit: http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org.

Position Overview

Malawi has the highest cervical cancer incidence and mortality in the world, with an age-standardized rate of 75.9 and 49.8 per 100,000 population respectively. Cervical cancer is also the most common female cancer among women aged 15 to 44 years accounting 45.4% of all cancers in women in the country. High prevalence of HIV and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infections, inadequate screening and treatment services for precancerous lesions, late diagnosis, limited access to timely, standard treatment of cancer and palliative care are the main contributing factors for high cervical cancer incidence and mortality. HPV vaccination and effective programs to screen and treat women for pre-cancerous lesions (primary and secondary prevention, respectively) offer the opportunity to move towards elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem.

CHAI in collaboration with the Malawi ministry of Health (MOH) launched a partnership in 2019 that aims to strengthen cervical cancer secondary prevention services by leveraging existing platforms such as multiplex diagnostic and VIA screening programs to deploy innovative tools on the market that are not yet widely used in Malawi. CHAI and MOH will soon launch a research study to demonstrate effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of a promising new screening method for cervical cancer.

Position Overview:

CHAI is recruiting for an AVE study coordinator, Cervical Cancer, to support the implementation of the AVE study. The study coordinator will lead day-to-day coordination with study sites, ensure end-to-end integrity of study data systems, liaise with IT engineers to troubleshoot issues with study database, oversee patient follow-up and results tracking in collaboration with MOH, and manage frequent field visits to train providers, ensure adherence to study protocol, and collect data when necessary. Travel for this position can be expected at 75% of the time within Malawi.

The study coordinator will be based in Lilongwe and will report to the Senior Program Manager, Cervical Cancer. We are seeking a highly motivated individual with strong IT / computer skills, experience managing stakeholders, and good analytical ability. The candidate must be self-driven, adaptable, flexible, and have a high level of comfort with fast-paced work. They must be a fast learner, self-assured, and a strong team player.

Responsibilities

Data collection and management

Ensure complete, end-to-end integrity of study data. Includes:Provide basic training to onsite clinical staff and research assistants to enter data and transfer data from paper forms to study software and from on-phone AVE application to study software.
Maintain a sample of any paper records/forms and conduct regular back-checking
Develop any supplemental paper forms necessary to gather / enter data
Close cases in study software when closing criteria is met
Ensure robust linkage of eligible patients from screening appointment to colposcopy / biopsy appointment
Set up tablets / computers as needed to run study electronic database
Provide frontline support to users with minor issues / questions on study database or AVE on-phone application
Discover and communicate any software bugs or failures to global team and US-based technology partner; work with US-based IT engineers to resolve
Conduct facility-based provider and patient surveys using Survey CTO platform
Study logistics

Build and maintain trusted relationships with study site clinical staff, research assistants, MOH partners, and global study partners and stakeholders
Manage logistics for any patient benefits (per diem, transportation, meals, treatment for invasive cancer, etc.)
Develop and manage logistics for provider trainings
Serve as a trainer on study SOP, AVE on-phone application, and study software
Download AVE application onto phones with support from global team; distribute phones to sites; create AVE application accounts for “administrators” at each site / on each device
Coordinate with sites to ensure phones have network connectivity at appropriate time to receive software updates
Respond to device damage, theft, and loss
Study Protocol Maintenance

Monitor adherence of protocol by all health care workers and research assistantsSupport investigators with drafting of study SOPs
Training health care workers on study SOPS
Monitor strict adherence to study SOPs
Maintain and securely store participants’ informed consent documentation
Advise investigators on any needs of protocol amendments and/or renewals
Maintain study log forms; adverse events log, events management log, protocol deviations log, etc.
Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field such as Public Health, Nursing, Social Sciences or other health sciences with at least 2 years of experience in a demanding, results-driven environment, preferably working on a research study or clinical trial
High-level of proficiency with computers and technology; ability to quickly become a ‘superuser’ of study database and AVE on-phone application
High level of proficiency using Microsoft Excel
Meticulous attention to detail; strong organizational and problem-solving skills
Fluency in English; fluency in Chichewa and any other local language preferred
Willingness to travel frequently to study sites within Malawi

Advantages:

Experience working with governments and international partners in Malawi
Knowledge of cervical cancer
Knowledge of the Malawi health system
How to apply

Send all applications to:

Email:  [email protected]

Closing date:  15th October 2021