Background

Ongoing transmission of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) remains a major obstacle to the United Nations (UN) End-TB strategy. To reach targets of 90% reduction in tuberculosis (TB) incidence and mortality by 2035, implementation of new and improved diagnostic and treatment approaches are urgently warranted. This study will adopt a Triage-and-Treat approach using novel TB diagnostic technologies to guide implementation of short, all-oral regimens for DR-TB.

The TriAD study is a multi-center, multi-country Prospective Pragmatic Cohort study assessing the effectiveness, feasibility, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of implementing the GeneXpert MTB/XDR (Xpert XDR; Cepheid) assay for rapid triage-and-treatment of DR-TB. The proposed study aims to screen approximately 4800 GeneXpert MTB/RIF or Ultra positive (irrespective of rifampicin resistance status) patients from 9 study sites in South Africa (2), Nigeria (2) and Ethiopia (5) to enroll 880 rifampicin-resistant (RR, cohort 1) and 400 isoniazid-resistant (HR, cohort 2) patients. The Xpert XDR assay that tests for resistance to isoniazid, fluoroquinolones and second-line injectable agents, will be implemented as a reflex test to provide rapid genotypic susceptibility testing for DR-TB detection and its result will be used for selection of appropriate, evidence-based all-oral DR-TB treatment regimens of shortest possible duration. In parallel, the molecular bacterial load assay will be used to provide bacillary load monitoring over the course of treatment to assess real-time treatment response.

Outcome data among patients enrolled in Cohort 1 of this study will be compared to historic outcome data of similar DR-TB patients diagnosed and managed at study sites 12-18 months before the proposed prospective study. Diagnostic data of Xpert XDR assay screening for HR, pre-XDR and XDR will inform optimal placement of Xpert XDR within the current DR-TB diagnostic algorithm. Furthermore, operational and cost-effectiveness research generated in this study will be used to inform policies and guidelines for programmatic implementation of the triage-and-treat model.

In Ethiopia, five DR-TB treatment initiation centers (TICs) will need to enroll approximately 220 patients for cohort 1 and 100 patients for cohort 2 over the course of 18 months for the main study. For these patients, baseline and follow-up data will be collected (demographic information, detailed information about all assessments done at baseline, clinical response to treatment, as well as any treatment changes, adverse events, etc.). Additional data will be collected for cost-effectiveness and feasibility and acceptability side studies.

In Ethiopia, this project is carried out by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) in collaboration with KNCV.

Purpose of the position and organizational position

KNCV is looking for M&E and Research Officer who will lead and provide oversight on M&E and research related activities of the EDCTP TRiAD multicenter cohort study project, in close coordination with the TRiAD in-country team (KNCV and EPHI), TriAD project coordinator ,Data Management unit for TriAD at EPHI, study site coordinators ,data clerks at study sites, KNCV Netherlands, and Data management team of the consortium.

The M&E and Research Officer will report hierarchically to the TriAD project coordinator and functionally to TriAD in country team and the TriAD study team at KNCV Netherlands.

 Duties and responsibilities

• Provide overall coordination and implementation of project’s Monitoring and Evaluation activities;
• Assists research activities in developing/maintaing study tools, data collection formats, SOPs, translating patient information sheet (PIS) to local language, analysis and interpretation of data and presentation of results in tabular and graphic forms. Facilitate the IRB submission and approvals for studys related to TriAD project;
• Conduct visits to the project sites to monitor project and study activities;
• Collaborate with Data management team of TRiAD project at EPHI to ensure smooth data management of the project;
• Provide training on the data collection tool and ICF to site level study coordinators and data clerks;
• Participate on project Mid-term, Final evaluation;
• Monitor the data collection and quality of data at site level in collaboration with EPHI data management team and project coordinator;
• Identify knowledge gap at the health facility level and initiate and guides further capacity building;
• Provide update on the data management in collaboration with EPHI data management unit on bi-weekly calls with KNCV Global and TriAD support meetings;
• Support data compilation and preparation of periodic progress reports and consolidated report, the annual project report, and ad-hoc technical reports as required by KNCV and/or the TriAD consortium members, in line with the required formats;
• Do joint site visits and monitoring to supervise site level performance together with the EPHI team and the Project coordinator;
• Oversees the standard operating procedure is in place and being followed in study implementation together with the TRiAD study team;
• Provide support in data extraction of project relevant routine data;
• Ensure the data queries from TRiAD consortium and other stakeholders are addressed in an accurate and timely manner;
• Participate in workshops prepared on the TriAD study;
• Provide technical support to the planning, implementation and monitoring of program related Operation Research (OR) activities;
• Coordinate trainings concerning the study for health professionals at the site level;
• Attend the scheduled meetings on TriAD study and update the status of the data management aspect of the study to the team together with the EPHI data management person of the study;
• Contribute on evidence generation and result dissemination;  
• Participate in other scheduled activities;
• Get familiarized with the study protocol, data collection tools and consent form of the study;
• Maintain diplomacy and confidentiality;
• Other related necessary duties as per the supervisor’s request.

Job Requirements

• Master’s degree in MPH, Epidemiology, Biostatistics or other relevant field;
• Minimum of 3 years post – qualification in international NGO experience working on M&E including in the field of Tuberculosis;
• In depth knowledge and experience in research (experience in Operational Research is desirable);
• Up to date knowledge of Tuberculosis diagnosis and care is a plus;
• Knowledge of relevant software applications, e.g, Excel, MS Access, SPSS, STATA, Redcap, DHIS2, Epi-info;
• Experience on qualitative and quantitative data analysis is a plus;
• Experience with patient – based data collection and DHIS2 reporting systems;
• Able to pay close attention to details
• Excellent oral and writing skill in English
• Ability to cope with stress and to organize and prioritize workload
• Supervisory, training, management, and monitoring skill of site level study coordinators
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently
• Experience in networking with partners at all levels (EPHI ,ministry, donors, private sector, NGOs and local community-based organizations.

 What does KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation offer?

• A full time (40 hours) fixed-term contract for one year, with the intention to extend the contract;
• An informal work atmosphere in an international environment, where initiative is appreciated;
• A highly motivated team of experienced, self-driven colleagues;
• The salary is dependent upon education and relevant working experience:
• The KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation has its own HR Manual.

How to Apply

You can apply for this position by submitting your CV, including a motivation letter and 3 professional references, via CLICK HERE before 16 March 2022. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our HRM Team in Ethiopia: + 0116673801.

NB: Only consider the applications that are received through the KNCV website. Applicants that are sent to recruit email account are not taken into consideration.