Senior Research Manager - Myanmar

Job No: BI41

Location: Yangon, Myanmar

Employment Status: Full Time Contract

No. of Vacancies: 1

Closing Date: 27 May 2016 AEST

Location:         Burnet Institute Myanmar, Yangon. International and domestic travel as directed

Centre:            Centre for International Health

Classification:    Full time. Fixed term contract for 2 years with 6 months’ probation

This position is a locally engaged role and does not include international relocation costs or allowances.

PURPOSE

The Senior Health Research Manager will be part of an experienced team of research, development and public health professionals, both in Yangon and Melbourne, growing and implementing the Myanmar program ensuring integration and alignment with Government of Myanmar public health priorities.

Working closely with the Country Program Manager, Country Representative, Research and QA Manager, Senior Program Manager, Senior Technical Manager, Senior Technical Specialist (Research) and Program Manager (M&E) and their teams in Myanmar, this role will take responsibility for expanding the programs research portfolio by leading new and novel research work and establishing robust business and HR procedures necessary to ensure quality preparation and delivery of all research projects and program and project level M&E. 

This role will also lead in strategic planning and management of country program research and M&E including – setting the research and M&E agenda, identifying business development opportunities and proposal writing including conceptualising, designing, budgeting, implementing, and analysing research for both quantitative and qualitative methods across observational, intervention and operational research projects;  oversee and contribute to project management and contractual compliance needs; support the creation and implementation of project level M&E framework; manage and support professional development and sustainability of the in-country research and M&E team capacity.

This position will also take a lead role in facilitating a program level M&E framework, completing the Myanmar Program Research Strategy and a program of potential publications.

This position will have the opportunity to undertake investigator roles in Burnet’s research work in Myanmar. 

REPORTING AND RELATIONSHIPS

The Senior Health Research Manager will;

• report to the Country Program Manager in Melbourne on work plan and key deliverables, work performance and critical HR management issues;
• work under the day-to-day supervision of the Country Representative;
• receive guidance and mentoring from the Head, Women’s and Children’s Health Team, Melbourne;
• supervise the technical role of the Senior Technical Specialist, Research position in Yangon;
• work with the STS Research work in a team capacity with the Research & QA Manager, Melbourne.

In conjunction with the Country Representative and County Program Manager, this position will engage with Melbourne based thematic team leaders within CIH and other technical and research staff from across the Institute to ensure high quality technical input and implementation of country program activities and progression of cross centre collaborative work.

The role will establish relationships with Yangon & Melbourne based staff and coordinate across teams working closely with the Senior Program Manager; Senior Technical Manager; Senior Technical Specialist, Research; and Technical Officers, M&E; in Yangon.

The role will be required to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of government, implementing agencies and other stakeholders.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Research management

• Support and lead the implementation and conduct of high quality primary and operational research projects;
• Expand and monitor integration of research projects with mainstream development thematic programs;
• Oversee the delivery of in-country research activities ensuring activities are performed in accordance with international research guidelines including Declaration of Helsinki,  ICH-GCP and Donor contractual requirements, on time, within budget and to standards of best practice;
• Identify and support preparation of publications from across the program according to the Publication Plan;
• Ensure that in-country activities are implemented in compliance with BI policies & procedures including those specified in the CIH Field Operations Manual and as per Standard Operating Procedures for research activities;
• Conduct training and on the job professional development of relevant staff in all aspects of study design, particularly in relation to mixed methods study design, data collection and analysis.
• Ensure in-country program activities are implemented in a manner which is consistent with the ACFID Code of Conduct, including Child Protection, Fraud and Counter-terrorism Policies.
• Ensure that up-to-date files are maintained including both e files and hard copies of all key project documents including signed contracts, work plans, budgets, reports and approval documents.
• Ensure systems are in place for effective in-country activity implementation, data collection, management, storage and transfer.
• Support professional development and sustainability of the in-country research capacity.

 Strategy, Planning and Leadership

• Assist the CPM and in-country colleagues to establish and to ensure quality implementation of  country strategic and operational plans for Myanmar ensuring initiatives undertaken are consistent with the Priorities and Strategies of CIH and the wider Institute;
• Work with the CPM, CR and broader team to review and update the Myanmar Program Country Engagement Plan for 2017 to 2020.
• Lead the completion and implementation of the Myanmar Program Research Strategy 2016 to 2020 (see existing draft);
• Lead the development and implementation of a program level M&E framework and publications plan.

Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain networks consistent with strategic and operational needs of the country program;
• Establish and maintain new and ongoing relationships with in-country staff, other BI Centres, international and local stakeholders, including national bodies, development partners, donors, research institutions and other implementing agencies;
• Model and promote appropriate behaviours, which are consistent with the values of the Burnet Institute.

Business Development

• Contribute to and lead the development of high quality written proposals according to BI business processes and within in-country capacity;
• Identify, track and gather information for new research funding opportunities;
• In conjunction with the CPM and CR develop an annual country business development plan including both development and research projects as part of the Operational Plan and actively contribute to its timely implementation;
• Identify, track and gather information for new research funding opportunities in close consultation with the relevant Melbourne based staff ensuring agreed Institute business development protocols are followed.

Monitoring & Evaluation

Work with the Melbourne based Research & QA Manager and other relevant staff to:

• Contribute to the development of consistent and high quality project level M&E frameworks;
• Work with the M&E staff to establish project level databases, where necessary, and accompanying data collection systems.
• Quality assure project level reporting and ensure that M&E systems are adequately informing these reports.
• Support the identification of professional development needs for M&E to ensure constant improvement

Human Resource Management

• Contribute to human resource planning and recruitment to ensure a necessary establishment of staff to maintain and grow the program’s research and M&E capabilities.
• Provide overall leadership, direction, support and coordination to all staff related to progressing the research agenda;
• Directly supervise the Senior Technical Specialist, Research on technical issues;
• In conjunction with Senior Program Manager and Senior Technical Manager, provide leadership, direction and professional development support to research and M&E teams working across the development portfolio and support program teams conducting research activities;
• Promote and support a positive research culture within the Yangon office;
• Support supervisors in performance appraisal of their team members in terms of integrated development and research performance.

Financial Management

• Work with the Country Program Manager and Country Representative to contribute to the development of project budgets and country level budgets as required.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential

• Medical and/or post-graduate qualifications in Public Health;
• Demonstrated understanding and capacity in both quantitative and qualitative research methods;
• Demonstrated experience in the design, implementation, conduct, and analysis of research projects in a development setting;
• Demonstrated experience in manuscript writing and publication in leading peer reviewed journals;
• Demonstrated experience in proposal writing and ability to attract competitive research funding;
• Demonstrated experience in training and on the job skills development;
• Excellent relationship management and communication skills, including clients, counterpart agencies and colleagues within cross-cultural teams in Australia or overseas;
• Demonstrated capacity to work independently exercising leadership, creativity, strong judgement, decision-making and problem-solving skills;
• Good experience working with and building relationships with Government counterparts in LMIC’s;
• Demonstrated capacity to supervise staff, lead teams, coordinate and motive staff with a focus on outcomes;
• Excellent analytical and strategic decision-making skills;
• Experience working in a cross cultural environment and managing relationships remotely.

Desirable

• PhD or post-doctoral qualifications in public health or similar
• Experience in international health or health systems development;
• Overseas working experience in LMIC’s.

The Burnet Institute is a child safe organisation. The incumbent of this position may be required to undergo a Police Check or Working with Children Check in their country of origin, as a condition of their employment.

Please see attached position description for full details.

APPLICATIONS

Interested candidates are invited to submit an application letter, curriculum vitae with recent passport sized photo and copies of relevant documents to:

Human Resources Officer

Burnet Institute Myanmar

No. 226, 2nd Floor, Wizaya Plaza, U Wizaya Road

Bahan Township, Yangon

Email: recruitment@burnetmyanmar.org

Only those who are short-listed will be called for interview.

Last date for submission of application: 27th May 2016.