Field Supervisors| Research Assistants

Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), in partnership with the Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, and PATH, with funding from the Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiative, will conduct the  “Post-Phase II Yellow Fever Preventive Mass Vaccination Campaign Coverage Survey in Uganda (Post-phase II YFPMVCCS)”. The survey aims to evaluate the yellow fever mass vaccination campaign performance by coverage, the reach of the program interventions, and assess the equity of the vaccination campaign.

MakSPH seeks to recruit competent Field Supervisors and Research Assistants to support data collection for about one month. The survey will be conducted in six regions of Ankole, South Buganda, North Buganda, Kampala, Teso, and Karamoja.

1. Job title: Field Supervisors (18)

Reports to: The Study Coordinator

Main role: Working together with the Study Coordinator to supervise and support field data collection activities to meet the Post-phase II YFPMVCCS objectives.

Key Specific responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and support Research Assistants within the supervisor’s assigned responsibilities.
• Support training of research assistants including the pre-test data collection activities.
• Conduct district entry for the research assistants and obtain permission to proceed to enumeration areas (EAs)
• Support the identification of the EAs and obtain community entry permission for  the data collection.
• Support listing and mapping of the EAs and conduct sampling of households.
• Ensure safe custody of all data collected and adhere to quality control and assurance procedures for quality collected.
• Oversee field data collection and ensure that data are correctly saved and submitted to the designed aggregate server and hard copies of all study materials are submitted to the study coordinator.
• Hold daily debrief meetings with the research assistants to assess the implementation of the day’s activities and devise strategies to address any challenges.
• Prepare and ensure safe custody of data collection forms, devices, supplies, and equipment for the assigned team of research assistants.
• Prepare and submit daily field summary reports to the Study Coordinator.
• Perform any other tasks as assigned by the Study Coordinator.

Minimum qualifications and requirements

• At least a Bachelor’s degree, with field working experience no less than 2 similar field research activities (within the last 5 years) as a supervisor. A Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Demonstrated expertise in community entry/engagement, mapping, listing, sampling, and conducting interviews in households.
• Ability to collect, transcribe, and code qualitative data.
• A valid certificate in Good Clinical Practice and/or Human Subject Research.
• Should be willing to work beyond usual office working hours.
• Ability to work well with others and supervise teams.
• Must be ready to move to the assigned field sites to supervise, coordinate activities, and conduct interviews.

Duration: This appointment is valid for the period of training, and data collection and is estimated at about one month. The appointment shall automatically terminate on expiry of the contract period.

2. Job title: Research Assistants (18 Ankole, 18 South Buganda, 18 North Buganda, 18 Kampala, 18 Teso, and 18 Karamoja)

Report to: Field Supervisor

Main role: Working together with the project research team to conduct data collection activities and ensure the successful implementation of the study in the above regions.

Key Specific Responsibilities

• Attend all interviewer training including pre-testing sessions, and all debrief meetings.
• Ensure appropriate community entry procedures are done
• Mobilize and inform the sampled household, and obtain consent and assent from all eligible members.
• Conduct mapping and listing of all the households in selected enumeration areas (EAs)
• Conduct interviews for all eligible members in the sampled  households
• Ensure good quality data collection, including conduct callbacks to ensure coverage of all selected households and eligible members
• Capture all the data onto the hardcopies and/or digital devices as provided by the standard operating procedures
• Ensure that all data are safe, correctly saved, and appropriately uploaded to the allotted server on time.
• All study tools including maps and listing forms must be filed and handled over to the field supervisor
• Provide the supervisor with daily updates on data collection and participate in developing daily field reports.
• Obtain and prepare data collection forms, devices, supplies and equipment.
• Ensure safe custody of all study equipment and materials.
• Perform any other duties relevant to this position as may be assigned from time to time through the field supervisor.

Minimum qualifications and experience

• Must possess an undergraduate degree, or a diploma, from a recognized training institution of higher learning.

• Working experience in at least one recent similar field research activity (within the last 5 years) as a data collector with expertise in community entry/engagement, mapping, listing, and conducting interviews in households.
• Experience in collecting quantitative data in health-related surveys using electronic devices such as smartphones/tables uploaded with data capture software such as Open Data Kit (ODK) is required.  
• A valid Certificate in Good Clinical Practice and/or Human Subjects Protection is required.
• Good oral and written communication skills.  
• Ability to work well with others in teams of at least 4 persons.
• Must be able to communicate fluently (writing, reading, and speaking) in both English and the local language of survey region; Runyankore (18 RAs), Luganda (54 RAs), Ateso (18 RAs), or Ngakarimojong (18 RAs).

Duration: This appointment is valid for the period of data collection and shall automatically terminate on expiry of the contract period.

Note: Recruitment of Research Assistants will be based on the above-mentioned study regions and corresponding local languages. Candidates should indicate their most fluent (writing, reading, and speaking) local language that is relevant to the study region of preference while applying for this position. Applicants should also clearly state the minimum qualifications and experience as provided above.

Contractual appointments will be contingent on the successful completion of the training and tests/ assessments.

How to apply: Interested persons should submit their application and updated curriculum vitae (CV) stating at least one referee and their contacts by Monday, May 13, 2024, at 6.00 pm.  Applications should be addressed to: The Dean Makerere University School of Public Health and sent via recruitment@musph.ac.ug.

• Field Supervisors shall  indicate the position being applied for in the email reference
• Research Assistants shall indicate the position being applied for, preferred language and region of deployment in the email reference/ email subject 

NB: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.