Head of Research Department at FPD

Purpose of the position:
To lead the development and sustainability of FPD’s Research Department as follows:

• Provide strategic leadership to FPD Research Department.
• Build FPD’s capacity in clinical research by securing new research grants and funding as the Primary or co-Primary Investigator.
• Generate/obtain financial resources for research implementation and department operations.
• Ensuring rigor of clinical components across all research projects.
• Take a leading role in the clinical, scientific and career development of staff and visiting researchers/interns.

The successful applicant will lead the department’s overall clinical research programme, and be provided with the freedom to build FPD’s clinical research and clinical trials portfolio in support of strategically defined and negotiated research topics including, but not limited to:

• Sexually transmitted infections
• Mental Health
• NCDs
• HIV/TB
• Neglected tropical diseases
• Adolescent health
• Men’s health
• Rural health
• Implementation Science

Main responsibilities:

Provide strategic leadership to the Clinical Research portfolio under FPD’s Research Department (10%)

• Work with Research Department and FPD leadership to develop strategic and operational goals and plans to ensure the long-tern sustainability of the department.
• Work with Research Department staff to develop operational goals and plans to optimally implement research studies.
• Representing the department at FPD organizational management meetings
• Externally represent the department by attending appropriate clinical, research or stakeholder meetings as requested/needed.
• Engage with relevant stakeholders in national, provincial and district health departments, funders, and academic institutions to enhance visibility of the department’s work and attract new opportunities.
• Establish and manage relationships with national and international academic institutions and research collaborators.
• Stay abreast of new scientific developments and expand the network of collaborative partners by attending conferences, technical working groups and academic meetings.

Build FPD’s capacity in clinical research (30%)

• Lead the Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) research portfolio by ensuring current studies is implemented according to the highest standards, new opportunities are identified, and additional funding is attracted.
• Leverage research and clinical expertise to identify opportunities and create clinical training courses for FPD’s Academic Department and serve as course faculty and/or quality assurance committee member, as appropriate.
• Lead research protocol writing/ethics applications and ensure that the clinical research projects are implemented with the highest standards.
• Disseminate Research Department findings through local and high-level scientific publications andopinion papers, articles in popular media, conference presentations, and district/provincial feedback sessions.

Generate/obtain financial resources for research implementation and department operations (45%)

• Apply for and acquire new grant funding to grow the department’s research portfolio; a strong focus must be placed on international funders.
• Expand the portfolio of clinical research activities by identification of new opportunities and subsequent application for funding.
• Identify, cultivate and leverage new sources of funding and profit generation for long-term sustainability of Research Department activities.

Ensure clinical rigour across FPD’s research programmes (10%)

• Ensure rigor of clinical component of FPD’s research projects by providing guidance during grant writing and providing training on clinical programme aspects to research staff.
• Ensure visibility of FPD during clinical meetings with local, provincial and national health departments, and facilitate linkage of FPD Research staff with the relevant clinical facilities/structures for management of research patients.
• Provide direct support and consultation on clinical components of all research studies.

Take a leading role in the clinical, scientific and career development of staff (5%)

• Host / supervise clinical and research students during internships/fellowships and elective projects.
• Provide regular training to staff on clinical topics; both in the Research Department as well as within FPD’s training programme.
• Mentor junior staff researchers in protocol, manuscript, and grant writing.

Essential Qualifications:

• MBChB with significant clinical expertise in resource-constraint settings.
• M.Med in Internal Medicine or PhD in Infectious Diseases or Public Health
• MPH or MS degree with a focus on epidemiology
• Management qualification highly desired

Additional requirements:

• Minimum of 50 peer-reviewed publications, of which 20 must be as 1st author.
• Expertise in one or more of FPD’s strategic activity areas (potentially demonstrated by 10 or more first authored publications), and significant experience in a second (potentially demonstrated by at least 10 or more co-authored publications)- please highlight in cover letter
• Must have track record of funding acquisition and implementation of research projects.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and conducting epidemiologic studies, including observational and experimental study designs and analysis.
• 10+ years progressive experience in clinical management, research output and program implementation
• Significant experience with statistical software (SPSS, STATA, or SAS)
• Experience working in rural and resource constrained settings.
• Demonstrated project management skills at a minimum level of 20 staff.
• Demonstrated teaching / training experience including supervision of students and clinical staff.
• Ability to champion research ideas and get new ideas funded and executed.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with technical experts from diverse disciplines.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills.
• Project management and budgeting experience.
• Clearly communicate basic statistical concepts to other scientists and non-scientists.
• Full fluency in written and oral English.
• Ability to communicate in another South African language would be advantageous.