Study Coordinator at MITU

MITU is currently collaborating with other international research partners to implement human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine trials. The Unit is now inviting applications from highly motivated and suitably qualified candidates to fill the following position:

The successful applicant will be a medical doctor with a postgraduate qualification in public health or other field related to health research. They should be able to demonstrate: proven technical expertise in the quality management of research studies; experience in clinical/laboratory procedures in research and collaborative research involving human clinical, epidemiological or laboratory outcomes, and; skills and experience in multicentre research.

Specific Responsibilities

• Assisting the lead coordinator with the day-to-day management of the study in the Mwanza region of Tanzania.
• Assisting the lead coordinator in dealing with queries, reviewing case report forms, and other relevant study documentation, and maintaining Study Master Files.
• Assisting with communication between MITU/NIMR, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the other trial partners.
• Recruiting, coordinating, training and supervising the field team staff in order to ensure that the study isconducted to GCP and other international trial standards.
• Participating in meetings and discussions regarding the research progress, findings and any other aspects of the study.
• Assisting in submission of trial documents to ethics and regulatory committees as required.
• Assisting in coordination of study monitoring visits, including preparation of responses to monitoring reports.
• Participating in writing up the study findings in reports and publications.
• Assisting with preparation of reports for the trial governance bodies (eg. Steering Committee, Data and
• Safety Monitoring Board) and the funding agency.
• Travel to progress and coordination meetings as required.
• Frequent travel to field sites to ensure the smooth running of all research activities.
• Undertaking other duties, including support to other studies, as may be required by the Principal Investigator of the study and the lead coordinator.

Essential Qualifications

• Fully qualified medical doctor with current licence to practice in Tanzania.
• A postgraduate qualification in epidemiology, public health, or equivalent experience demonstrated through publications.
• Experience of working with Ministry of Health officials at different levels including District and Regional level.
• At least one year’s relevant experience working on research studies, preferably in a coordination role, based in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Evidence of having practical experience in the management of research teams.
• Evidence of having practical experience of assisting with leading or coordinating GCP compliant studies, including familiarity of study monitoring visits.
• Evidence of experience of submitting documents to ethics boards and/or regulatory authorities.
• Evidence of having worked effectively both independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary scientific team.
• Excellent inter-personal skills and a willingness to work with others to overcome problems as and when they arise.
• Evidence of having worked effectively in a multicultural environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Swahili.
• Excellent computer skills including ability to design and format documents in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Residing in the Mwanza area or willing to relocate for this position.
• Applicants must be willing to travel extensively across the Mwanza Region.

Desirable Qualifications

Experience of working on vaccine-related research studies.