Research Senior Advisor, Evidence for Health

Job title: Research Senior Advisor, Evidence for Health, Zambia

Department: Southern Africa

Based in Lusaka, Zambia

Reports to the Chief of Party, Evidence for Health

*This position will be full time position at SFH/Zambia

*Contingent upon funding

Who we are

With over 45 years of experience, working in over 60 countries, Population Services International (PSI) is the world’s leading non-profit social marketing organization. PSI is reimagining healthcare, by putting the consumer at the center, and wherever possible – bringing care to the front door. We are working to fix market failures, shape future health markets and shift policy and funding to better support consumer empowered healthcare.

There are over 8,000 “PSI’ers” around the world. We are a diverse group of entrepreneurial development professionals with a wide range of backgrounds and experience. All with unique skills that we bring to the critically important work that we do.

Join us!

PSI seeks an experienced Research Senior Advisor to support the building of evidence base for health programming in malaria, nutrition, family planning, maternal and child health, and HIV for an anticipated five-year project funded by USAID in Zambia. The Researcher Senior Advisor will oversee activities such as operations research, special studies, assessments, and big data analyses and will provide technical leadership to the Zambian research institutions and junior Zambian researchers. The successful candidate will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of Party.

Sound like you? Read on.



Your contribution

• Support a range of activities to strengthen systems needed to improve monitoring, evaluation, and research capacities within government partners and key non-government partners to support accountability and management for results in the health sector.
• Conduct rapid qualitative assessments, develop a national action plan to strengthen research practices, research communications, and research publications and the visibility of research findings from Zambian researchers.
• Create and implement capacity development plans in selected research institutions.
• Facilitate a MOH-led biannual national health research symposium to promote Zambian-led health research and practitioners and increase opportunities for dissemination of research and M&E findings.
• Help create and manage a research development fund and award small grants to fund junior Zambian health researchers who propose innovative research techniques that close gaps in current body of health research.
• Manage opportunities for formal mentorship and co-authorship opportunities for junior Zambian health researchers.
• Help conduct or commission operations research, special studies, and assessments of technical areas and/or health systems for full investigation or specific topics based on the interests of USAID.
• Provide technical assistance to the USAID Health Office and USAID Implementing Partner staff in key monitoring, evaluation, and research practices.
• Help establish an internal reporting tool for USAID/Zambia health team to provide the Health Office with a systematized reporting structure for family planning, maternal and child health, and nutrition funds.

What are we looking for?

The basics

• You have a Master’s degree in a related field, PhD preferred
• You have at least 10 years of experience in health research, involving a range of research activities and products. Qualitative and quantitative research experience.
• You have a minimum of 5 years of experience conducting research in developing countries. Wide range of publications and conference presentations.
• You have excellent oral and written communication skills in English, including evidence of quality report writing and presentations. You have demonstrated the ability to meet deadlines with quality products.
• You have the ability to execute the gold-standard quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research across a breadth of study designs and publish in peer-reviewed publications
• You have the ability to motivate, inspire, and mentor researchers at all levels of experience through the research design, execution, and publication process.
• You have the ability to provide expertise and guidance to resource-constrained research institutions to increase the quantity of research produced that meets highest international standards.
• You have the ability to explain qualitative and quantitative research, secondary data analysis, primary data collection, rapid assessments, evaluation methodologies, and advanced activity monitoring techniques to non-technical and junior research audiences.
• You have the ability to serve as a liaison with USAID, Government of Zambia, and other key stakeholders in support of the contract.
• You have proven management skills, including relevant experience in direct supervision of professional staff.
• You can work well as part of a team and effectively develop and manage a network of collaborating partners.

References will be required.

What would get us excited?

• USAID Experience. You have good experience in health project management with USAID, ideally in Zambia.
• Capacity Builder: You have experience in building institutional, local technical, management and leadership capacity.
• Results Oriented: Knows how to design and successfully implement, monitor, and disseminate results, adapting as needed to achieve the greatest impact.
• Collaborative manager. You are able to inspire a shared vision for your colleagues. You have successfully helped your staff learn, grow, and thrive in their work.
• A connector. You have experience working with Ministries of Health, public and private actors and global health donors.
• A strategist and an innovator. You are creative, innovative and a strategic thinker. You have a strong interest in private-sector approaches to development and a proven ability to produce results.

To Apply: PLEASE EMAIL APPLICATION AND CV TO: or The Director – Human Resources, Society for Family Health, Plot No. 549, Ituna Road, P.O Box 50770, Lusaka - Clearly indicate “POSITION TITLE”

PSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of actual or perceived race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, matriculation, political affiliation, family status or responsibilities, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions or breastfeeding, genetic information, amnesty, veteran, special disabled veteran or uniform service member status or employment status.