Research Advisor

Since 2018 Jhpiego is working with the Ministry of Health and President Office to strengthen implementation of HPV Vaccination in Tanzania. Jhpiego through Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Health, President Office Regional Authority and Local Government will implement a study to generate evidence on sustainability factors in HPV Vaccination implementation in Tanzania from 2022-2024 from HPV vaccine introduction, switch to Single dose/MAC to routinization. To strengthen this process, a research advisor is required to provide technical expertise in research design, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings that will provide global evidence on the sustainability components, inform national immunization strategies and cervical cancer prevention program.

The Incumbent will provide technical expertise to support a study on the sustainability of HPV vaccination implementation in Tanzania. The study, led by Jhpiego in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government, with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, seeks to generate evidence on key sustainability factors across the HPV vaccination journey — from vaccine introduction, transition to a single-dose/multi-age cohort (MAC) strategy, to integration into routine immunization.

The Incumbent will lead the design, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of research findings and work very closely with Project Director, MOH and PORALG under Department of Immunization Program. The evidence generated will not only inform Tanzania’s national immunization strategies and cervical cancer prevention program but will also contribute to the global knowledge base on sustainable HPV vaccine implementation. Through this study, Tanzania is expected to contribute to Gates Foundation funded HAPPI consortium’s HPV Vaccine learning activities:

1. Sustained programming (requiring 8 key informant interviews at national and subnational levels)
2. Quantification of vaccine delivery (requiring facility data extraction for 30 health facilities)

To ensure country level learning, geographical focus of this study will consider identification of representative -1 Region and 2 District Councils from each of the 7 Zones in Tanzania namely: Northern, Eastern, Central, Lake, Southern, Southern Highland and Western Zones. To ensure effective comparison, selection of the regions /district councils will consider below criteria:

1. HPV Vaccination coverage -high vs. low
2. Geographical location-rural/hard to teach vs. urban
3. Facility ownership-Public vs. Faith Based vs. Private

This position will be closed on September 19, 2025

Research Design & Methodology

• Contribute to develop research protocols, methodologies, and tools /questionnaire aligned with study goal
• Ensure ethical standards and compliance with institutional/national research guidelines. 

Data Collection & Analysis

• Design and oversee surveys, interviews, focus group discussion during data collection
• Conduct/lead facilitation of -quantitative and qualitative data analysis using appropriate software.
• Ensure data quality, validity, and reliability.
• Lead recruitment of research assistants to support data collection and analysis 

Capacity Building

• Lead training and mentoring project staff, MOH, PORALG and research assistants in research methods.
• Provide technical support in monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL).

Technical Guidance & Advisory

• Offer subject-matter expertise as needed -with regard to in country research guideline/ethics
• Advise team on evidence-based and research policy directions. 

Knowledge Translation & Reporting

• Draft research reports, policy briefs, and scientific manuscripts for presentation
• Work with Project Director and support sharing findings to stakeholders, including government, NGOs, donors, and communities.
• Support translating complex findings into actionable recommendations.
• Identifying key areas of concern and areas of improvement in research design and implementation.
• Work with Project Director, MOH and PORALG to share findings with other researchers/key stakeholders in country
• Identify new research opportunities and funding streams. 

 Project & Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with ministries of health, research institutions/NIMR
• In collaboration with Project Director and Finance Country Team lead -manage timelines, budgets, and deliverables for research project.

Ethics & Compliance

• Coordinate IRB/ethics submissions and approvals with NIMR Tanzania.
• Uphold principles of confidentiality, informed consent, and participant safety.

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Public Health, Epidemiology, Medicine, Health Research, or a related field.
• Minimum 3-5 years of professional experience in health research, with at least 3–5 years in immunization, vaccine-preventable diseases, or HPV-related programs.
• Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, and managing large-scale health research projects.
• Proficiency in research design, monitoring and evaluation, and advanced data analysis (SPSS, STATA, R, NVivo, or similar).
• Knowledge of immunization policies, HPV vaccination strategies, and global health frameworks (Gavi, UNICEF).
• Ability to produce high-quality technical reports, policy briefs, and peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience working with ministries of health, PORALG, research institutions, and donor-funded projects.
• Previous publications in peer-reviewed journals on vaccines, immunization, or HPV-related research.
• Familiarity with implementation research.

• Familiarity with international and national health research ethics and regulatory frameworks.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to translate complex scientific findings into practical, policy-oriented recommendations.
• Good teamwork, stakeholder engagement, and facilitation skills.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken).

Jhpiego offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive employee benefits package.

Please apply at www.jhpiego.org/careers

Applicants must submit a single document for upload to include cover letter, resume, and references.

For further information about Jhpiego, visit our website at www.jhpiego.org

Note: The successful candidate selected for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation.

Jhpiego is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

                                    GM

Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins University affiliate, is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, other legally protected characteristics or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Jhpiego promotes Affirmative Action for minorities, women, individuals who are disabled, and veterans.

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