DESCRIPTION

Within the Department of Medicine at UCSD, the Center on Gender Equity and Health (GEH) focuses on conducting innovative global public health research, medical and academic training, and evidence-based intervention development and evaluation of programs related to gender inequities, gender-based violence, and sexual and reproductive health (adolescent and unintended pregnancy, family planning, HIV/STI, healthy birth spacing).

The team of social science and epidemiology researchers assembled by GEH includes leading figures in measurement and rigorous evaluation of sustainable programs working with girls, young women, their male partners and their families to understand and change gender-based behaviors and social norms that compromise health and safety. GEH epidemiologic and evaluation research is currently being undertaken in South Asia, west and east sub-Saharan Africa, and the United States. This research is supported by a diverse portfolio of public and private funders, conducted in conjunction with international NGOs, and includes engagement with local and national governments.

Under the supervision of the Principal Investigator and the Research Project Manager, the Project Coordinator is responsible for the coordination of research projects focused on evidence synthesis, sharing and utilization, social and behavior change, and networking and capacity building (professional learning networks). Current projects cover the topics of social and gender norms, very young adolescents, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, and violence against children. Projects are based in West, Central, and East Africa.

The Project Coordinator is responsible for the coordination and close monitoring of research projects from GEH’s San Diego office. Specific tasks include project meeting support, coordinating project management processes, scheduling meetings, sending meeting notes and agendas, contributing to project documents and deliverables, and coordinating large virtual and in-person events. They will spend significant time assisting with contracts and agreements with external partners. They may also provide coordination support to GEH as a center.

On occasion, this position may require local, national and/or international travel, with Principal Investigators and/or Research Project Manager to visit study sites and/or study partners for the purposes of planning, data collection and/or dissemination.

Under direct guidance of senior researcher, applies acquired skills and knowledge of applicable research discipline to support field research projects of small to medium size and intermediate scope and complexity, including but not limited to research in environmental, public health, social or biological science disciplines.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Six (6) years of related experience, education/training, OR a Bachelor’s degree in related area plus two (2) years of related experience/training.
• Demonstrates attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Proven communication skills with project team members. Ability to communicate ideas clearly and succinctly, with tact and diplomacy, both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrated experience with project or grant coordination, management, and submission experience.
• Working knowledge of safety, legal, cultural and regulatory requirements relative to field research responsibility.
• Working knowledge of research discipline, principles, concepts, analysis and / or operations being conducted at field / remote sites.
• Demonstrates ability to develop and maintain strategic relationships and partnerships with remote research partners.
• Demonstrates ability to work in ambiguous conditions.
• Proficient research and analytical skills.
• Experience writing for social-behavioral research including study progress reports, peer-reviewed manuscripts, funder reports, grey literature, etc.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to foster a good working relationship with a wide variety of people, using tact, diplomacy, confidentiality, and flexibility.
• Extensive computer experience including expertise with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Working knowledge of local customs and operations at field / remote sites.
• Prior experience as research assistant or coordinator on social and/or behavioral science research studies in the areas of gender-based violence or other gender inequities, sexual and reproductive health, or maternal and child health, or experience working on contracts and managing external partners.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, global health, anthropology, sociology, psychology preferred.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.
• Must be located in San Diego or willing to relocate to San Diego
  Ability to coordinate/participate in calls outside of normal working hours/multiple time zones, as needed, due to international collaborations.
• Must be able and willing to work a flexible schedule, outside of standard working hours including evenings, early mornings, and weekends when required.
• Must be willing and able to travel, currently have or be able to obtain a passport within 3 months.

DESCRIPTION

Within the Department of Medicine at UCSD, the Center on Gender Equity and Health (GEH) focuses on conducting innovative global public health research, medical and academic training, and evidence-based intervention development and evaluation of programs related to gender inequities, gender-based violence, and sexual and reproductive health (adolescent and unintended pregnancy, family planning, HIV/STI, healthy birth spacing). The team of social science and epidemiology researchers assembled by GEH includes leading figures inmeasurement and rigorous evaluation of sustainable programs working with girls, young women, their male partners and their families to understand and change gender-based behaviors and social norms that compromise health and safety. GEH currently has ongoing research in South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the United States. This research is supported by a diverse portfolio of public and private funders, conducted in conjunction with international NGOs, and includes engagement with local and national governments.

Under direction, the incumbent will manage complex research studies and partnerships including developing and managing global research consortia, liaising with sponsors and supervising technical staff. They will lead development and implementation of intervention research in low and middle income (LMIC) countries. The incumbent will perform state-of-the-art research related to social and behavior change and establish agency-related research and programming with a focus on gender and social norms in collaboration with academic supervisors and international partners. The incumbent will author or co-author published findings and be responsible for presenting findings at national and international conferences and meetings. They will participate in long-term strategic planning for grantmaking, program evaluation, and research strategies.

Uses advanced operational concepts and objectives to resolve highly complex issues. Regularly works on issues where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors. Exercises judgment in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results. Primarily deals with programs and proposals with broad impact across the function, research initiative, program and / or organization. Develops and oversees the implementation of new programs and processes.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Nine years of related experience, education/training, OR an Bachelor’s degree in related area plus five years of related experience/training.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with all levels of staff and influence, both verbally and in writing. Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills including tact, diplomacy, and flexibility in order to work and interact effectively with diverse, multi-cultural staff, researchers, management and funders in person and virtually.
• Thorough knowledge of organizational or initiative processes, protocols and procedures. Demonstrated expertise in the design and implementation of impact evaluation, formative research, implementation research and the translation of research results into policy and program action in global settings.
• Advanced analytical / problem-solving skills. Demonstrated ability to organize, interpret, evaluate, and present research findings in a variety of formats including research manuscripts, grant proposals, external manuscripts, and oral presentations and in collaborative and instructional scientific interactions within laboratory and discussion settings.
• Advanced knowledge of common organizational- or research-specific and other computer application programs. Demonstrated ability to prepare and format reports outlining data analyses and statistical methodologies suitable for grant submissions and scientific publications. Expertise with PC software applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint to produce reports, correspondence, graphs, and spreadsheets to generate, track, and analyze data. Proficiency with computer programs for data analysis and presentation (analyze data, prepare tables, charts, graphs, etc.).
• Ability to use discretion and maintain all confidentiality.
• Advanced project management skills.
• Ability to multi-task with demanding timeframes.
• Advanced knowledge of applicable policy analysis techniques.
• Proven ability to lead and train multi-disciplinary research teams from diverse cultural contexts to conduct research within tight time frames, fostering equitable partnerships and producing multiple dissemination products.
• Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Fluency in French.
• PhD or Master’s degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training preferred.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.
• Occasional evenings and weekends may be required due to coordination/participation in calls outside of normal working hours/multiple time zones, as needed, due to international collaborations.
• Must be willing and able to travel, currently have or be able to obtain a passport within 3 months.
• Must be able and willing to work a flexible schedule.