Sexual & Reproductive Health Research Consultant | SOW
Location: Remote
LOE: Up to 40 days at 8 hours per day
Timeline: June 2023 – October 2023
Reports to: Director, Sexual & Reproductive Health

BACKGROUND
Population Services International (PSI) is the world’s leading non-profit social marketing organization. We work to make it easier for people in the developing world to lead healthy lives and plan the families they desire. We’re reimagining healthcare, developing health market systems where more consumer voices, at all income levels, are shaping the development of increased consumer choices – where technology-driven, affordable, quality drugs, devices, diagnostics and information move closer to peoples’ communities and homes. We believe consumer-powered healthcare is a cost-effective sustainable path toward health for all without financial hardship.

We are seeking a research consultant to provide scientific oversight and technical assistance to a diverse portfolio of ongoing and new sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRH) research. This role will be providing short-term parental leave coverage for the SRH Department’s Senior Research Advisor, who is responsible for overseeing the technical quality of research conducted within the department. The SRH research portfolio includes a wide range of projects across multiple countries using a variety of study designs. Therefore, the SRH Department seeks a consultant with experience as an independent investigator designing, conducting, and overseeing global SRH research studies; with advanced analytic skills to support data management and analysis of both primary and secondary data as needed; and with experience engaging with and convening global technical communities of practice as a thought leader in the SRH field. Reporting to the Director of SRH, the consultant will work with the Self-Care Trailblazer Group to ensure the successful execution of a virtual scientific conference related to SRH self-care, providing scientific support in the form of providing high-level strategy direction for conference organization, convening the Scientific Steering Committee for the conference, and leading the scientific abstract review process. In addition, the consultant will provide ongoing research oversight to several ongoing cohort studies in Nigeria and Kenya, and will serve as an “on-demand” resource for research requests and needs in the department.

SCOPE OF WORK
Support the technical quality and execution of key 2023 deliverables for the Self-Care Trailblazer Group’s Evidence and Learning Group (ELWG):

• Serve as the scientific lead for a virtual conference on SRH self-care, including:
  • Finalizing the proposed conference scientific theme, tracks, and subtracks
  • Convening the Scientific Steering Committee, including providing ongoing guidance and support to volunteer members and track leads
  • Design and lead the scientific abstract review process, with a team of volunteer reviewers
  • Support final decision-making on abstract selection
  • Respond to ad-hoc requests in terms of conference organization, speaker preparation, and planning
• Participate in bi-weekly meetings with the ELWG leadership team to ensure progress towards 2023 deliverables
• Support other evidence and learning activities for ELWG as needed, including:
  • Providing technical support to partners engaging with ELWG’s research and tools

Provide research oversight and support to global strategic SRH research and evidence activities, including:

• Providing research advisory support to research activities for two ongoing longitudinal cohort studies of contraceptive use dynamics in Nigeria, including providing technical support for data collection, quality assurance, data management, analysis (including time-to-event analyses) and reporting
• Providing research support for an ongoing qualitative longitudinal cohort study assessing social norms change related to SRH and gender-based violence in Kenya
• Supporting qualitative and quantitative data analysis and reporting, including manuscript preparation and peer review (as needed)
• Serving as an “on-demand” resource for research questions in the SRH Department, including but not limited to requests for primary and secondary data analysis; protocol development; and reporting

REQUESTED APPLICATION MATERIALS

• Interested candidates should provide their cover letter and CV.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

• A doctoral-level degree in epidemiology, global health, implementation science, public health, social sciences or related degree
• Demonstrated experience designing and overseeing studies related to sexual and reproductive health; experience with longitudinal cohort study design, oversight, and analysis preferred;
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to independently execute on research-related deliverables;
• Substantial understanding of sexual and reproductive health topics, with a focus on modern contraception and abortion
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including strong scientific writing skills, a track record of peer-reviewed publications, and demonstrated participation in scientific communities of practice;
• Fluency in written and spoken English;
• Ability to work across teams, time zones and groups over whom there is no direct authority to accomplish project goals;
• Must be authorized to work in the United States. N.B. PSI will not consider work visa sponsorship for this position;
• Proven experience producing a wide variety of high quality communications products that are both stylish and substantive;
• Experience and excellence in working with large, multinational and intercultural teams.