Research Manager

Shamiri Institute is seeking an energetic, diligent, and self-motivated team player to join our team as a Research Manager to be based in our Nairobi office.

The Research team at Shamiri is tasked with the production of scientific research, primarily in the form of research articles, to test the efficacy of our interventions and contribute to the growing literature on mental health in Sub-Saharan Africa. We want to make sure our work is informed by a strong data backbone and pride ourselves on being a research-driven organization.

The Research Manager will take on the primary responsibility for planning, facilitating, and managing the organization’s research projects. S/he will collaborate with departmental heads and Shamiri’s leadership team to provide strategic input, guidance and to execute on all research projects, directly contributing to and or managing research goals, planning, design, reporting and training.  It is important—and in fact essential—that the Research Manager be well versed with human subject research, research ethics, data safety and management procedures, research methodologies, study protocol development and pre-registration, and scientific manuscript development and preparation.

In addition to the production of scientific research, the research team ensures successful implementation of an end-to-end impact evaluation process (create, capture, and communicate impact) across all our programs and offerings. As such, the Research Manager will also ensure analysis of all impact data, segmented based on internal/external needs/enquiries, generate actionable insights and collaborates closely with relevant stakeholders to close the loop and to ensure that insights may be implemented.

The Research Manager will report to the CEO.

Roles and responsibilities:

Research and strategy planning:

• Contribute to research strategy holistically and on a project-by-project basis.
• Contribute to strategy for developing and managing the annual research calendar.
• Contribute to the design of all Shamiri research projects.
• Manage the process for and contribute to the selection decisions of external research partners where applicable.
• Track, comment on, and distribute to internal stakeholders' relevant research conducted by other organizations.

Research project management:

• Develop and manage all research project management processes and procedures
• Lead in creating and managing research plans, schedules, budgets, deliverables, and stakeholder contributions.
• Track and report on research activities, progress, and outcomes .
• Supervise members of the Research team and identify recruitment needs.
• Lead in the application and maintenance of relevant Research Ethics Licenses and Approvals
• Manage the day-to-day relationships with research agency partners where applicable.
• Conduct periodic review and evaluation of efficacy of research efforts in collaboration with Shamiri's Science Board and key external stakeholders.

Data analysis and interpretation

• Conduct statistical analyses (analyze, summarize, interpret) of quantitative data for projects using R or relevant data analysis software
• Process data analysis outputs based on investigator instructions for publication in journals, reports, and presentations.
• Write detailed analysis plans and descriptions of analysis and findings for grant applications, research protocols or manuscripts.
• Calculation of sample size for proposed studies.
• Track, comment on, and distribute to internal stakeholders' relevant research conducted by other organizations.
• Visualize data for reports, presentations, and manuscripts
• Contribute to high quality data management - including data quality checks - in alignment with best practices for human subjects research.

Data analysis and interpretation

• Lead in the creation/development of research content.
• Provide primary analysis of all research data to contribute to development of key findings.
• Coordinate and contribute to creation of research reports and presentations, including the submission of manuscripts and journal articles.
• Manage the process of dissemination of research findings, and seek new/innovative dissemination methods with internal and external stakeholders.

 

Educational/Training Background & Skills

• Essential: Master or PhD in relevant field (Psychology, Social Sciences, etc.). Prospective PhD candidates or graduates are encouraged to apply.
• 2-4 years of experience of directly overseeing research planning, analysis, and project management
• Demonstrated experience participating in the design, analyses, and distribution of operationalized research for target audiences
• Demonstrated experience with academic writing with ability to present ideas and concepts effectively (i.e., published work)
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate with domestic and international collaborators
• Experience in managing research ethical approval processes
• Excellent project management skills including demonstrated ability to set and manage priorities and multiple tasks
• Excellent working knowledge of R, REDCap, KOBO, MS Excel
• Demonstration of prior data analysis skills (e.g. published work)
• Applied knowledge of advanced statistical models (e.g. linear mixed models)