Project Coordinator at VillageReach

VillageReach transforms health care delivery to reach everyone, so that each person has the health care needed to thrive. We develop solutions that improve equity and access to primary health care. This includes making sure products are available when and where they are needed and primary health care services are delivered to the most under-reached. Radical collaboration with governments, the private sector and other partners strengthen our ability to scale and sustain these solutions. Our work increases access to quality health care for more than 58 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. VillageReach in incorporated in Washington State and has offices in Seattle (USA), Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, and Mozambique.

Summary

VillageReach is seeking a dynamic, pro-active and experienced Project Coordinator with a background in community engagement, qualitative methods, participatory research and/or human-centered design (HCD). This individual will support a variety of research projects and programs based out of our Malawi office that seek to engage with under-reached communities to ensure that primary health care systems responsive to their needs.

This individual’s primary project will be to coordinate a community based participatory and mixed methods research project to determine drivers of childhood immunization dropouts as well as context-specific v. scalable solutions to improve full childhood immunization coverage. This study builds on a pilot study VillageReach conducted in Mozambique from 2020-2021 (more info. on the study here). We are implementing this study in three-iterative phases: (2) Co-develop solutions with communities and understand communities’ roles in generating evidence and solutions; (3) Implement the co-created solutions for up to one year; and (4) Evaluate the implementation and early impact of the co-created solutions. To execute this study, we are collaborating with community members, health workers and government stakeholders, as participants and partners.

The Project Coordinator will serve as the Malawi study implementation lead. In this role, they will be responsible for ensuring execution of all study phases in Mozambique, leading implementation of the community-identified solution and coordinating with Malawi based partners and the larger study team. The Project Coordinator will contribute significantly in designing the study and supporting data collection, analysis and dissemination activities. S/he should be familiar with human-centered design (HCD), qualitative methods and community engagement practices, and have experience in managing multi-site studies. This position reports to the Study Lead and Senior Manager of Supply Chain.

Role Description:

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time.

• Manage Malawi based study operations: Ensure the smooth and efficient day-to-day operation of research and data collection activities, act as the primary point of contact recruitment sites, and as the principle operational liaison for administrative needs required by the Ministry of Health Co-Investigator.
• Coordinate with global project team: Proactively communicate with the Project Lead regarding study activities, roadblocks and successes. Participate in regular project team meetings.
• Supervise caregiver researchers: Lead the supervision of four community researchers.
• Manage data collection: Recruit study sites, maintain relationships with key points of contact at health facilities, coordinate and supervise the recruitment of study participants, and ensure all data collectors are adhering to the study protocol.
• Lead the HCD process Develop and execute the HCD ideation workshops, advice on the design of the community-identified solution and lead the solution prototyping process.
• Implement community identified solution: Execute efficient implementation of the community identified solution and ensure community leaders and research participants are consulted prior and throughout implementation. Ensure community feedback is communicated back to the global project team.
• Support Dissemination Efforts: Present study progress and results to key government, partner and community stakeholders. Contribute to grant reporting, publications and conference abstracts/presentations.
• Conduct qualitative social listening analysis: Conduct a bi-weekly analysis of call data from Chipatala cha pa Foni related to COVID-19 vaccine and compile reports for presentation to the Risk and Communications committee.
• Provide qualitative, Community Engagement and HCD expertise to other programs: Provide technical expertise to other VillageReach Malawi programs requiring qualitative data-collection, analysis, and HCD

Competencies:

The following competencies reflect what is expected of all VillageReach employees; including examples of how one might demonstrate each of these competencies in one’s role.

• Personal Motivation and Drive: Is self-directed in one’s approach to work, but asks for help when needed; holds oneself accountable; undertakes self-development activities; seeks to build and master new skills; looks for and takes advantage of opportunities within the organization
• Collaboration & Effective Communication: Establishes and maintains effective relations with coworkers, partners & stakeholders and external parties; works collaboratively with others to accomplish organizational and team goals and objectives; works actively to resolve conflicts; expresses ideas and thoughts effectively; selects and uses appropriate communication methods and maintains meaningful communication with virtual coworkers and other parties to keep them informed
• Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: Takes personal responsibility for and supports others across the organization in creating and sustaining a diverse work environment where individuals are welcomed, valued, respected and supported; personally committed to attaining cultural competency including self-awareness of one’s own attitudes about culture and cross-cultural interactions; exhibits the willingness and ability to engage openly and respectfully around issues of race, colonialism, identity and culture; upholds equity in access to sharing of information, ideas, and opportunities throughout VillageReach
• Commitment to Excellence: Produces a high output of work, both in terms of quality and quantity; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; monitors work to ensure quality; has a personal commitment to the mission of VillageReach
• Solution Orientation & Innovation: Focuses on results and desired outcomes and how to best achieve them; gets the job done; sees opportunities for creative problem-solving while staying within the parameters of good practice; sees old problems in new ways and has novel approaches to solving those problems; contributes original and/or resourceful ideas to their area of responsibility; is able to consider and articulate risks and consequences of proposed innovations and factor these into decision-making

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

The Project Coordinator will be responsible for hiring and supervising four community researchers who will carry out participant recruitment, data collection, analysis and community engagement activities. The Project coordinator will be required to carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; monitoring performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; and addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Education & Experience:

• Master’s degree in public health or related area desirable but not required. Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge and ability required to perform the duties described will be considered.
• At least 2 years’ experience in public health or in a clinical setting
• At least 2 years’ experience coordinating multi-site research projects and/or complex project implementations
• Experience employing HCD approaches, preferably within the field of health and immunization
• At least 2 years’ experience in community engagement and/or community-based participatory research
• Demonstrated experience with qualitative data collection and analysis capabilities
• Proficient computer and typing skills including advanced knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite; specifically: Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Fluency in English and Chichewa

Qualifications:

• Comply with VillageReach’s COVID-19 vaccination policy.
• Established cultural competency in collaborating with racial, cultural and linguistically diverse groups.
• Demonstrated understanding of challenges with working in rural, underserved and low-income context
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel), Atlas.Ti and comfortable in a fast-paced technical environment.
• Comfortable delegating tasks and directing the work of others.
• Demonstrated good judgment and comfort in making independent decisions, while also understanding limitations and knowing when to ask for additional support.
• Skill and experience in strategic thinking, planning, and executing projects from vision through implementation.

Environment and Physical Demands

VillageReach has no private offices, employees work in a shared, open environment with task and conference rooms accessible to employees for privacy and meetings. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. Due to the time zone differences between our Seattle office and our Country Offices and location of other global staff, US based staff are expected to be available for early morning meetings starting at 6am. In addition, our global HQ and Country office staff are expected to be available for late afternoon/evening meetings up to 6pm.

Commitment To Diversity & Inclusion:

VillageReach is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to workforce diversity. We believe that diverse, equitably weighted perspectives foster an organizational capacity to create novel solutions that improve health in the most underserved and hard-to-reach areas. To align our values, innovations and impact, VillageReach is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse global workforce.

Method of Application

This is an immediate hire and therefore resumes will be reviewed on a rolling basis until filled. To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter to our online portal: http://www.villagereach.org/join-us/

Safeguarding:

VillageReach is committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults, and beneficiaries with whom it engages. We expect everyone working with us to share this commitment through our code of conduct.All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which may include criminal records. VillageReach participates in the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and, in line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By applying, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Compensation:

VillageReach has an established compensation structure that is based on the relevant market and internally transparent. We hire people into the established range based on one’s experience and education and considering internal equity. We do not inquire about salary history.