Technical Lead: Monitoring, Evaluation and Research at South African Medical Research Council

• This work is innovative and requires a Technical Lead: Monitoring, Evaluation and Research to lead the design and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation system of the social impact bonds, including development of study protocols, coordination of ethics and approval related processes, development of research tools and SOPs, data management, quality assurance of data, data management and security, data analysis and interpretation, and dissemination of findings. The generated data will be used to inform payments to social investors, develop prospectuses and proposals to generate income, contribute to policies, guidelines and legislation in South Africa and globally, and contribute to the inter(national) science system through publications and presentations.
• This will require a good knowledge and understanding of HIV and TB epidemics and health more broadly in the South African and global context, a sound understanding of and experience in research (including research designs, data collection tools, methodologies, SOPs, ethics committee processes and approvals, data management and security, data analyses, writing of manuscripts for publication, etc.), knowledge of social impact bonds and how data findings are used to inform decisions and payments, an ability to work with the many stakeholders (government, private investors, NGO implementers, technical partners), ability to work with researchers who will assist with the design of the interventions, and support the work of the other technical leads who will focus on innovation in programming and financing and drive overall programme implementation. This is an unusual combination of skills.
• As this is a changing growing environment this requires flexibility and adaptability in order to respond to the changing environment and new opportunities.

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the design and implementation of the Social Impact Bonds, with a focus on all the components of the evaluation of the SIBs and collection, management, interpretation and reporting of data,
• Manage data system, ensuring data security and compliance with ethical standards, making changes to data capture, dashboards and user access permissions as needed
• Coordinate with service providers to ensure that data is fully and correctly captured, the database properly maintained and data flow adequate
• Coordinate and contribute to analysis of data to inform payment mechanisms, performance management and evaluations.
• Support the dissemination and popularization of, including writing and contributing to, SIB research and evaluation data
• Translate SIB intervention and evaluation findings to contribute to policy, guidelines or legislation through peer-reviewed articles, policy briefs, reports, etc.
• Disseminate and popularise SIB generated data through presentations at conferences and stakeholder meetings
• Support and contribute to the development of proposals and prospectuses for current and future SIBs
• Contribute to the management of and reporting to stakeholders.

Core Requirements:

• Relevant Master’s degree in Public Health, Social Science, Development or any other relevant field.
• At least 5 years’ experience in a related health or social systems field.
• At least 3 years’ experience in scientific research.
• Experience in the management of projects, staff and budgets, including the coordination of a multi-year programme of work.

Preferred Requirements:

• PhD or PhD candidate
• Experience with legal, financial and reporting requirements of large internationally funded projects.
• Knowledge of social impact bonds and the use of data to inform payment mechanisms. Five years (5) of M&E experience working on monitoring, evaluation and research, managing data intensive programs, and designing monitoring and evaluation methodologies and tools, with progressively increasing responsibility.
• Knowledge of M&E issues and indicator development for system strengthening/capacity building and service delivery strengthening.

Key competencies:

Knowledge:

• Sound knowledge and understanding of HIV and TB epidemics and broader health issues in the South African and global context.
• Sound knowledge and understanding of research including research designs, data collection tools, methodologies, SOPs, ethics committee processes and approvals, data management and security, data analyses, etc.

Skills and attributes

• Strong analytical and technical skills, with expertise and experience in coordinating and implementing studies and managing data, and an ability to deliver program optimisation using data.
• Critical thinking and intellectual curiosity, including proven ability to think creatively, conceptually and analytically, and to use evidence as a basis for sound decision making.
• High level of organisational skills and ability to provide oversight over a large multi-year programme.
• Proven ability to work creatively and analytically in a problem-solving environment demonstrating teamwork, innovation and excellence and ability to apply it to day-to-day management as well as larger strategic decisions
• Strong leadership, diplomatic and motivational skills including the ability to lead up, across and down multiple stakeholders
• Experience engaging with and managing stakeholders at a senior level
• Ability to take the initiative and work with a low level of supervision within a team
• Strong track record of ethical decision-making, integrity and professionalism
• Ability to communicate in English (written, verbal) at an advanced level
• Self-motivated, decisive, with the ability to adapt to change and competing demands
• Technically competent with various software programs, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to manage people and relationships, including proven track record in influencing others, and an ability to collaborate with and develop personnel.