Research Consultant and Project Officer

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against tuberculosis (TB), still the second most deadly infectious disease in the world.

KNCV is an international center of expertise for TB control that promotes effective, efficient, innovative and sustainable tuberculosis control strategies in a national and international context. We are an organization of passionate TB professionals, including doctors, researchers, training experts, nurses and epidemiologists. We aim to stop the spread of the worldwide epidemic of TB and to prevent the further spread of drug-resistant TB.

Over the past century we have built up a wealth of knowledge and expertise, initially by successfully controlling TB in the Netherlands. Since the 1970s, we have also shared our knowledge and expertise with the rest of the world. We operate from a central office in The Hague in the Netherlands, a regional office in Central Asia and country offices worldwide. KNCV raises funds from private, institutional, corporate, and government donors.

Challenge TB Project

KNCV is the lead partner in Challenge TB (CTB) project, the new USAID-funded 5-year global program to decrease TB mortality and morbidity in high burdened countries. We lead an international consortium with eight partner organizations: American Thoracic Society (ATS), Family Health International (FHI 360), Interactive Research & Development (IRD), Japanese Anti Tuberculosis Foundation (JATA), and Management Sciences for Health (MSH), Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), and the World Health Organization.

The overarching strategic objectives of Challenge TB are to improve access to quality patient centered care for TB, TB/HIV, and MDR-TB services; to prevent transmission and disease progression; and to strengthen TB platforms.

Challenge TB core transmission project

This multi-country project intends to evaluate the effect of USAID supported TB control interventions on transmission of tuberculosis. The project is part of the Challenge TB program. In Tanzania, this project will be implemented by a research institute in Tanzania, supported by KNCV central office in the Netherlands and the KNCV country office in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Before the project can start, several international consultants visits will take place and meetings will be held with local stakeholders to develop the proposal.

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation is recruiting the following position for the Challenge TB core transmission project in Tanzania:

1. Project Officer

The project officer will be the liaison between the KNCV central office in the Hague, the KNCV country office in Dar es Salaam and research institutes (sub awardees) in Tanzania, in order to prepare and implement part of the Challenge TB program.

Purpose of the job

The Project Officer ensures adherence to KNCV and donor rules and regulations, as well as supporting the management of the projects within their portfolio.

Position in organization

The Project Officer reports to the country representative. He/she is a member of the country team managing KNCV projects. In the country team the Project Officer supports the director operations on all project related issues and collaborates closely with the Country representative, as well as Financial Officers and KNCV central office in the Netherlands.

This position will start as a 4 month temporary position, and when the grant is awarded, may be extended to 4 years.

Location: Dar es Salaam

Results Area:

• Project management and oversight to activities and deliverables of sub awardees in the field
• Gathers up to date information of relevant donors’ rules, principles and procedures
• Ensures that the projects are designed and implemented according to the KNCV and donor specific operations manuals
• Shares the donor information with project partners and provides guidance to relevant KNCV staff based on the information
• Assists and facilitates the process of developing, revising, finalizing and submitting work plans, budgets and other necessary documentation to the local donor offices when applicable
• Coordinates the administrative processes related to the technical assistance provided by consultant(s)
• Coordinates the monitoring and reporting system of the project implementation process, including the submission of necessary regular and ad hoc reports to the relevant donors
• Ensures quality, timely implementation of all approved activities and projects against the work plan and budget
• Coordinates documentation and dissemination of project results including preparation and submission of progress reports, presentations and other relevant financial documents
• Coordinates and update project procurement procedures and ensures they are fully compliance according to KNCV and donor regulations
• Perform other related duties assigned

Result: Project is implemented on time, within budget and in accordance with the KNCV and donor requirements.

Relationship Management and Communication

• Develops and maintains relations with partners
• Prepares and reviews contractual agreements with partners and external contractors
• Coordinates regular communication between the KNCV Head Office (HO) and donor and relevant partners at country level

Result: An effective and transparent communication mechanism is in place between KNCV, donors and partners.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelors’ degree in a relevant field
• Project management training

Knowledge/Experience

• In depth knowledge of project management including project- M&E and finance
• Basic experience and knowledge in the field of public health and TB control in developing and transitioning countries
• Experience with USAID and other international donor funded programs is an added advantage
• Advanced knowledge of relevant software applications
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Kiswahili.

2. Research Consultant

Purpose of the consultancy

The Consultant will provide technical assistance to develop this project in collaboration with KNCV country representative, director operations and KNCV central office.

Position in organization

The Consultant reports to the country representative and collaborates with epidemiologists from KNCV central office. The consultant will be supported by a project officer for logistic aspects. This is a temporary consultancy for maximum 2 months full-time (possibility of longer period part-time).

Location: Dar es Salaam

Terms of reference:

·         Gather and compiles scientific background information to develop the above project in a report,

·         Give advice on scientific, strategic and quality aspects for the development of the above project,

·         Coordinate technical aspects of the activities to develop this project, such as proposal development workshop, in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders and with logistic support of the project officer.

·         Contribute to proposal writing

·         Assess requirements for submission for ethics and administrative approval and ensure proposal adheres to these

·         Maintain relations with partners and institutions.

·         Share KNCV strategic viewpoints with partners and institutions

Deliverables (in English):

·   Background information compiled in report

·   Protocol development workshop(s) held and reported

·   Proposal developed for submission to ethics and administrative approvals

·   Stakeholders satisfied with process and quality of development of the project.

Requirements

Education:

·           Masters’ degree (medicine, epidemiology, public health, technical specialization)

Knowledge/Experience:

·    In depth knowledge of policies and practices of research institutes and universities in Tanzania

·    Experience in protocol development of large TB related epidemiological studies

·    Knowledge of ongoing and emerging issues in relation to TB epidemiology, global and international policy, evidence development, and control strategies

·    Experience in developing and managing projects in coordination with Ministries of Health, universities and international partners

·    Knowledge of relevant software applications

·    Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Kiswahili.

Your application (with curriculum vitae, motivation letter, 3 professional references) should be sent before 22^nd of August 2015 to:

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, P.O. Box 11013, Dar es Salaam, to the attention of: Ms Ashura-Christina Chussu, E-mail: recruitTanzania@kncvtbc.org under subject “Project Officer Tanzania’’ and “Research Consultant Tanzania’’.

 For further information on KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, please see www.kncvtbc.org

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental handicap or status as disable.