Job Title:

Oncology Research Associate

Department:

Research and Training Department, Oncology Program

Reports to:

Director, Department of Research and Training (DRT).

District Program director/ Burera

Positions reporting to:

Oncology research managers, data collectors

SUMMARY OF ROLE

1

The Oncology Research Associate is a full-time position intended to provide site management of all oncology related activities including participating in writing research grants, providing technical support of research projects, supporting capacity building for IMB and partner employees, managing a central database of oncology research data sets, contributing to workflow improvements to support reliable outcomes-oriented data capture and coordinating cancer research activities. He/she will also participate in developing research and programmatic frameworks, guidelines and processes that optimize oncology research at PIH-IMB. Because most of our research is nested in the oncology program, he/she will be expected to understand the program, the data collected as well as the source documents (patient files and the electronic medical records). Under the guidance of the IMB Research Director, he/she will actively participate in research department activities including participating in strategic research planning, proposal development, research implementation, coordinating research grants and studies, analyzing research data, manuscript writing and programmatic reporting. The right candidate is also expected to develop and lead a particular area of research interest and for which they raise resources. This key role involves day-to-day interface between the IMB leadership, the MOH, other national research agencies and individual researchers and their institutions; and through this interface ensures a coordinated, legal and ethical approach to research in IMB and Rwanda.

2

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITES 

Administrative

• Provide administrative support to Director of Research and Oncology program lead on all oncology research activities including grant proposal submission, grant management, project implementation, strategic planning, budgeting and reporting and ensuring regulatory clearance and as well as allocation and management of staffing and resources
• Support the development of frameworks, guidelines and processes that enable oncology research implementation
• Maintain list of ongoing projects and provide routine feedback to study leads, PIH leaders and relevant partners on project progress
• Maintain list of IMB-affiliated publications, presentations and abstracts
• Ensure all ethical and scientific clearance documentations related to research protocols are updated
• Participate in IMB-affiliated oncology publications, presentations, and abstracts
• Provide support around MOH, IMB and Rwanda oncology research and data sharing policies
• Serve as point person for planning, preparation and implementation of large oncology research projects, including those involving multiple partners or funding institutions
• Act as resource on IMB and Rwanda Research policies and procedures, ensuring that affiliated teams comply with organizational HR, finance, and research policies
• Act as IMB liaison with National Health Research Council and Rwanda’s National Ethics Committee, facilitating study protocol application and updates and providing guidance on policies and procedures
• Manage research grants, including developing and maintaining project budgets and completing reports as required by funder
• Management of Research Assistants and Data Collectors across projects (US visitors, Rwandan clinicians, interns, UGHE students, etc)
• Liaising with researchers at UGHE

Technical support for research projects

• Develop new research project protocols as determined by leadership, staff, or partners
• Engage in every step of the research process and provide support to develop protocols and data instruments, develop and maintain databases, collect and analyze data, and disseminate work through abstracts, posters & manuscripts
• Push projects forward by allocating tasks (specifically data collection through chart review) to project team members (and visiting medical students/residents as they are available), and providing support when possible/needed (especially through database development, data collection and analysis)
• Work with collaborating statisticians and data analysts to analyze data and respond to data requests
• Meet regularly with project leads to ensure timeline goals are met and provide support
• Assist local colleagues to attend conferences and trainings

Data Management

• Develop new databases and manage the data center and research databases
• Delegate data collection duties to visiting students and relevant IMB staff; also assist with data collection as needed to ensure deadlines are met
• Ensure that data related updates are shared regularly with leadership
• Respond to data query by project leads
• Clean and prepare datasets for analysis

Research capacity building

• Organize and lead staff capacity building programs, including research trainings, dissemination opportunities, and content-specific workshops
• Develop and update research curriculum to meet needs on the ground
• Provide continuous, one on one mentorship with the individuals involved in research projects to build research capacity
• Mentor employees/students and other oncology program associated personnel in research conduct and writing

Quality Improvement

• Participate in process improvement projects on an ongoing basis as needs are identified on the ground (e.g. moving pathology reporting process to shared intranet, reviewing patient exit process, monitoring of patient call backs, etc.)

Oncology/Research Program support

• Support NCD Research Associate on regularly occurring activities in the NCD department such as NCD Writing Group meetings, trainings, and workshops as well as other PIH/IMB events that require Oncology/NCD representation
• Support Oncology program visitors’ onsite, including planning approvals and logistics prior to visit, onboarding visiting individual into their research roles at Butaro
• Work with Oncology Manager to organize regular oncology program research dissemination and updates
• Review research protocols, abstracts or manuscripts submitted to IMBRC, providing technical feedback and advising on approval decision

Grant Projects

• Support writing for new RFPs as they are identified

Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC)/Ministry of Health (MoH) Support

• Build collaboration with RBC/MoH oncology research team through writing group and involvement in other relevant meetings and projects

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Education: Master’s degree in Health-related field including Nursing, Clinical medicine, Public Health, or other related disciplines. A PHD degree will be of added value.
• 4-6 years of experience overseeing or leading research projects in the context of oncology, NCD or any other research in clinical settings, including at least two years of experience in clinical research involving electronic data capture.
• Proven ability to support capacity building of professional leaners, including health providers.
• Expertise in quantitative statistical analyses methods including regression, survival analyses, and fluency using a common statistical program such as STATA, SAS, SPSS or R
• Expertise or willingness to learn qualitative analysis and use of relevant software such as MAXQDA or NVIVO.
• Expertise in database creating and management (for example Microsoft ACCESS, REDCap, or similar).
• Expertise or willingness to learn oncology medical terminology to facilitate navigating data collection from multiple clinical data sources such as Open MRS, paper clinical charts
• Computer literacy:  Microsoft Office suite
• Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills
• Fluency in English. Proficiency in French and Kinyarwanda is a plus
• Proactive, high organizational skills, and able to work independently and deliver ahead of deadline.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks with strong attention to details and accuracy
• Honed with project management, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Sensitivity and openness to working with vulnerable populations
• Professionalism, discretion, and trustworthiness with confidential information is a must;
• Willingness to travel to the field daily for data collection;
• Willingness to work in remote areas including overnight stays;

  Ability to live PIH/IMB values:

• Ubumuntu: Compassion, Ubupfura: Integrity, Agaciro: Dignity, Kugira Ishyaka: Determination, Ubwubahane: Mutual respect, Ubunyangamugayo: Honesty, Ubumwe: Solidarity.
• PIH is committed to safeguarding Staff, children and communities with whom we work and collaborate with to assure that they are treated with dignity and respect and protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of PSEAH policy. They also commit that they will adhere to PIH policy and code of conduct for prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment.