Epicentre is an organisation created by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in 1986. We conduct field epidemiology, training, and research activities for MSF interventions. Our activities for populations in precarious situations are led from Uganda, Niger, and France, and through the programs of MSF and others. They mainly concern infectious diseases and undernutrition.

Background

Under-diagnosis and under-treatment of pediatric tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem. In 2022, the World Health Organization has recommended the use of two integrated treatment decision algorithms (for contexts with and without radiography) to provide more structured guidance to primary health care staff assessing children younger than 10 years with presumptive pulmonary TB. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Epicentre aim to evaluate the diagnostic performance of these algorithms in at least five countries (Niger, Nigeria, Guinea, South Sudan, Uganda), as well as their feasibility and acceptability.

You are looking for a meaningful professional experience?

Epicentre is looking for a Flying Multi-country Study Coordinator  to plan, support, and harmonize the implementation and conduct of the “TB Algorithm Pediatric” study in the different study countries.

The Flying Multi-country Study Coordinator position is under the responsibility of the Epicentre Coordinating Principal Investigator (PI) of the study (based in Brussels) and in collaboration with the country PIs.

You will be placed under the authority of MSF for administrative, logistics and security matters.

What you will bring 

Skills to perform your main activities:

Technical skills: with distance-support from Epicentre referent(s), you will read/review the protocol and participate to the development of study operational procedures, study forms and of training materials, participate in the elaboration and implementation of a work plan, organize and harmonize the implementation of the study in the field (incl. but not limited to study coordination, training, pilot, data collection, data entry, data management & monitoring, quality processes). You will train the study staff on the study protocol and procedures including (but not exhaustive) Ethics and GCP, inclusion and consenting procedures, standard operating procedures, methods of quantitative and qualitative interviews, study case report forms (CRF), data entry, data quality processes, data management and monitoring.

You will accompany the country PIs for :

o    Ensuring that all authorizations are obtained before the start of the study (ethical and administrative).
o    Recruiting and managing the local study staff in the field.
o    Supervising the procedure of patient’s enrolment and informed consent for participation in the study.
o    Implementing Good Clinical Practices principles, especially the ethical principles.
o    Collecting of quality data (incl. CRF fulfillment).
o    Ensuring that all documents are present in the Study site file and updated regularly.
o    Organizing the secure organization, storage and archiving of the study documents (informed consents, CRF, questionnaires, qualitative interview records and transcripts etc.). 
o    Identify and report protocol deviations to the Epicentre Coordinating Principal Investigator.
o    Define the resources needed for the study, prepare, and follow the budget.
o    Manage study resources, material stocks, orders and supply in close collaboration with logistics and the MSF team. 

You will also organize and support the visits for monitoring (supervision) the conduct of the study and its compliance with the protocol and with good clinical practice, participate in data cleaning, data analysis and in the drafting of the final study report, collaborate and act as liaison between the country PIs of the different countries, the site study staff, the MSF teams, relevant stakeholders, and the Coordinating PI, insure a regular contact with the Coordinating PI, including regular written reports on the progress of the study as well as participation to coordination meetings, be the MSF/Epicentre representative of the study internally and externally on aspects related to the study.

Team management skills:

You will be requested to coordinate activities with different collaborators and partners, and to integrate into a multi-disciplinary, multi-national and highly motivated team.

In close coordination with the HR department and following the MSF vision, policies and values, you may be involved in the processes of refining job descriptions, participating to recruitment of local staff specifically involved in the study implementation, ensuring their thorough understanding of the study protocol and methods, data management, confidentiality, and human subjects research protection standards and practices.

To do so, you will lead trainings and coaching, and contribute to performance evaluations for the team members.

International context: you are willing and able to travel internationally. You are fluent in English (speaking, reading, writing) and have a professional level in French (at least speaking, reading)

Required:

You have a medical/clinical diploma: medical doctor, or nurse, and masters of Epidemiology or Public Health, or other relevant degree with at least two years of professional experience in that field.

You have experience in working experience with Word and Excel

You have professional experience in MSF project, and you are interested in research on pediatric tuberculosis

You are appreciated for your excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and French.

You are rigorous, dynamic personality and able to work effectively within a multi-cultural and multi-lingual team.

Preferred:

Your experience in pediatrics or tuberculosis (clinical, research or project management experience) will be preferred.

You have experience in management of field health research, in epidemiology in low- and middle-income countries and knowledge of software for data entry (example: Redcap).

You have good knowledge of the Good Clinical Practice (GCP).

What you will get 

You will evolve in the humanitarian environment

Your contributions and ideas will be valued and highly appreciated

You will participate in the life of the organization and your missions will evolve as you become involved

Fixed-term contract of fulltime appointment for 9 months (the duration of the contract is flexible and will be negotiated according to the candidate's profile, ranging from 3, 6 or 9 months).

Position to start as soon as possible.

Work location: Position based in an MSF/Epicentre office

Remuneration according to experience and MSF salary grid

To apply

Please send your application (CV + cover letter) no later than 23/08/2023.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. In case we have received enough qualified applications, the job offer may be closed before the 23/08/2023.

At Epicentre, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We welcome applications from individuals and we ensure that it does not discriminate on the basis of gender, age, sexual orientation, nationality, races, religion, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics;

Epicentre pays very close attention to the protection of the personal data of its members, staff and people wanting to join the association. The data collected during your application will be processed in a fair and high-quality manner, only by the staff in charge of recruitment, wherever in the world they may be working for an MSF entity.