The Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI) was founded in 1970 through the initiative of the Norwegian and Swedish Save the Children organizations seconded by the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia. The Institute got its name from the Norwegian physician, Gerhard Henrik Armauer Hansen, who first described the leprosy bacillus (Mycobacterium leprae). AHRI reorganized by the decree of the Council of Minister’s Regulation No. 530/2023 with the objectives of conducting biomedical, clinical trial and bioequivalence research, promoting and strengthening local production of pharmaceutical products and research capacity building under the Federal Ministry of Health. AHRI, over its 50 years in service, is well known for its hub function for skill and technology transfer and partnership embracing research agendas with direct impact in the development and transformation of population in Ethiopia and beyond.

The Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Research (MNTD) Division of AHRI has secured a grant from the European Union in collaboration with the Institute Pasteur Paris (IPP), the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), and other collaborators for the project entitled “Serological Testing And Treatment For P. Vivax: From A Cluster-Randomised Trial In Ethiopia And Madagascar To A Mobile-Technology Supported Intervention-PvSTATEM”. The research project sites will be in the Oromia Region, West Arsi Zone, Shashemene Zuria Wereda, Negele Arsi Wereda and Shalla Wereda.

Malaria and neglected tropical disease research division (MNTD) is seeking a qualified Assistant researcher (Pharmacist) to support its malaria research projects. The successful candidate will play a key role in treating seropositive participants, following them for 7 days, implementing research protocols, managing pharmaceutical supplies, ensuring regulatory compliance, and contributing to the overall success of the research projects. In this role, the Assistant Researcher will play a crucial part in ensuring the safe and effective use of investigational drugs, adhering strictly to the clinical trial protocol and regulatory standards. The primary responsibilities will include dispensing and administering study medications to participants, maintaining accurate and up-to-date records of drug inventory and usage, ensuring proper storage and handling of pharmaceutical supplies, and overseeing compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines.

The successful candidate will be an integral member of the trial team and will work in close coordination with clinicians, data managers, field workers, and project coordinators. This position demands a high level of professionalism, daily travel to rural kebeles to treat study participants, strong organizational skills, and a commitment to ethical standards in clinical research. The candidate must be prepared to work under pressure, manage multiple tasks efficiently, and demonstrate a flexible work ethic—being available during weekends or after hours whenever project activities require. The candidate should be willing to support the broader research team beyond pharmacy-related duties, contributing to tasks such as participant follow-up, documentation, data entry, drug inventory, logistics, and other operational activities as needed by the project manager

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Dispense and manage investigational products and medications according to study protocols and regulatory standards.

• Provide treatment and follow-up for seropositive participants over a 7-day according to the project standard operating Procedure (SOP).

• Ensure proper storage, labeling, documentation, and accountability of all pharmaceuticals used in the study.

• Support the implementation of research activities in coordination with field teams and investigators.

• Participate in community sensitization and assist with informed consent procedures related to pharmaceutical treatments.

• Monitor and report adverse drug reactions, supporting pharmacovigilance processes at study sites.

• Collaborate closely with research clinicians, nurses, and other team members to ensure safe and ethical delivery of pharmaceutical interventions.

• Maintain accurate records and assist in the preparation of technical reports and study documentation.

• Ensure compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP), and national regulatory guidelines.

• Fill out medication-related forms and/or review forms completed by health officers or nurses to ensure accuracy after drug dispensing.

• Interviews patients, completes necessary CRFs and the enters the collected data to REDCap data collection tool.

• Take on additional assignments that may be assigned by the project PI.

• Availability for Flexible Working Hours, the nature of the research activities may occasionally require working beyond standard office hours. 

• Willingness to work on weekends and public holidays as needed, particularly during time-sensitive data collection phases, fieldwork, clinical trials, or urgent project deadlines.

• Availability to work outside of regular business hours, which may include early mornings, evenings, or late nights, depending on the operational demands of the project

Job Requirements

Qualification and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy (BSc. Pharm) with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 for Male and 2.75 for Female and a minimum of four years' experience in drug handling and dispensing.

• Experience in medication handling (receipt, inventory, reconciliation) and dispensing

• Experience of conducting a clinical trial and having knowledge of GCP, GPP, and Ethiopian regulatory requirements is a PLUS.

• Experience in document preparation and handling (use of Microsoft word, excel, publisher and access data base)

• Valid license to practice pharmacy in Ethiopia.

• Excellent communication and organizational skills.

• Willingness to travel to and work in rural and remote field settings for long period of time.

• Familiarity with electronic data collection tools like REDCap is advantageous.

• Fluency in Afan Oromo language (spoken and written) is mandatory.

• The employee should stay/reside at Shashemene for at least one year duration for the job.

Duty station: West Arsi Zone, selected Woredas (Shashemene Zuria, Negele Arsi and Shalla Woreda), Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Number required: 1 (One)

Salary: ETB 15,767.00 (Fifteen Thousand Seven Hundred Sixty Seven Birr)

Terms of employment: one year contract period with full time employment basis with possibility of extension based on performance and budget availability.

How to Apply

Interested applicants who fulfill the above requirements should send their CV/resume at THIS LINK and to facilitate the screening process, applicants should also fill the online application form at THIS LINK

Please note that filling this online application form and sending your CV/resume through ethiojobs.net is mandatory and applicants who fail to do so will not be considered for screening. Multiple submissions for this job post are not allowed.