Organization: Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI)

Research Directorate: Nutrition, Environmental Health, and Non-Communicable Disease Research Directorate.

Type of Employment  :Transfer

Contract Type: As per the Government employment guideline.

Duration: Permanent

Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with potential travel to regional sites

Area of experts:  Community and clinical mental health 

Number:  One

1. Background

The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) serves as the leading public health research and policy advisory body in Ethiopia. The Nutrition, Environmental Health, and Non-Communicable Disease Research Directorate is instrumental in generating evidence to inform public health policies and strategies. Senior researcher will work on the different projects related with mental health. To be eligible to this position Senior Researcher has bring support letter from his/her Institute indicating willingness to trasfer to EPHI.

2. Objective of the Position

The Senior Researcher will lead and manage high-level research projects related to mental health and its role in NCD prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management. This position will also focus on evidence generation towards advancing policy and practice in the mental health and NCD intersection. The candidate will work closely with project leads in the directorate to generate, synthesize, and translate evidence into policies and programs.

Duties & Responsibilities:

3.1. Research Design and Implementation

• Lead the design, planning, and execution of cutting-edge research in mental health, with a focus on integrated mental health and NCD care models.

• Contribute to the development of research methodologies and tools, ensuring alignment with best practices in NCD research and mental health integration.

• Develop research frameworks to study the impact of mental health on NCD outcomes and vice versa.

• Collaborate with research teams to define clearly, and identifying cases of mental health priority.

• Develop and execute research methodologies, ensuring rigorous data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

• Lead the implementation of research projects aligned with the projects leads and other directorate’s priorities projects.

• Collaborate with EPHI, partners and the academic institution to identify research gaps, develop study protocols, and secure funding through grant applications.

• Provide support to write manuscripts, technical reports from research findings

• Produce  technical report, policy briefs from rigorous systematic reviews, in-depth analysis of studies etc.

3.2. Data Collection, Analysis and Evidence Synthesis

• Lead the collection, management, and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data related to mental health and NCDs.

• Apply advanced statistical and epidemiological methods to generate evidence that informs mental health policy, particularly in the context of NCDs.

• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to collect and analyze data across multiple settings (clinical, community, and population-level).

• Ensure data accuracy, reliability, and compliance with ethical standards.

• Utilize advanced statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R) and data visualization tools to produce high-quality analyses and reports.

• Synthesize research findings into actionable policy recommendations, technical briefs, and manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

3.3. Project Coordination and Management

• Coordinate with the project team and other stakeholders to ensure effective project planning, implementation, and monitoring.

• Develop and manage project timelines, budgets, and resources, ensuring alignment with project goals and donor requirements.

• Regularly report on project progress, challenges, and outcomes to EPHI leadership, and project funders.

3.4. Policy Support and Advocacy

• Provide expert advice on how mental health can be addressed within NCD frameworks, including the design of integrated care models.

• Advocate for mental health considerations in NCD-related policy discussions and in the development of healthcare programs.

• Engage with policymakers, program implementers, and other stakeholders to promote the use of evidence in decision-making processes.

• Contribute to the development of policy briefs, guidelines, and presentations to inform national and regional mental health policies and programs.

• Represent EPHI in national and international forums, technical working groups, and advisory committees to advocate for evidence-based community mental health interventions.

3.5. Capacity Building and Mentorship

• Provide mentorship and technical support to junior researchers, research fellows, and postgraduate students affiliated with EPHI and the academic institution.

• Facilitate training sessions and workshops on research methodologies, data analysis, and evidence-informed policymaking.

• Collaborate with academic partners to develop and deliver curriculum content mental health courses.

3.6. Collaboration and Partnership Building

• Strengthen partnerships between EPHI, donnors, the academic institutions, government ministries, and international organizations to advance the public health agenda.

• Participate in multidisciplinary research initiatives and collaborative projects that address cross-cutting issues in NCD and mental health.

• Contribute to the development of joint proposals and research initiatives with academic and research institutions.

3.7. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Develop and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the impact and effectiveness of research activities.

• Prepare comprehensive research reports, project updates, and technical documents for dissemination to stakeholders.

• Ensure timely submission of deliverables, including research technical reports, project reports, and policy briefs etc.

Job Requirements

4. Qualifications and Experience

4.1. Educational Background

• PhD or Master's in Integrated Community and Clinical Mental Health, Psychiatry, or a related field. The candidate must have recent peer reviewed publications as lead author or second/senior author.

4.2. Professional Experience

• At least 5 years of experience in mental health research, particularly in integrated mental health and NCDs.

• Strong knowledge of research methodologies, including both quantitative and qualitative research designs.

• Experience in leading large-scale, multi-site research projects.

• Track record of peer-reviewed publications, especially related to mental health and NCDs.

• Strong understanding of the links between mental health and NCDs, and how mental health affects NCD outcomes and vice versa.

• Demonstrated experience in managing research projects, including proposal development, project management, and reporting.

• Proven track record of publishing research findings in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at scientific conferences.

4.3. Technical Skills

• Advanced knowledge of mental health policy and strategies to integrate mental health into health systems and NCD programs.

• Proficiency in research methodologies, including study design, data collection, and advanced statistical analysis.

• Expertise in using statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R) 

• Strong skills in scientific writing, grant writing, and developing research proposals.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary and collaborative environment.

• Strong leadership, organizational, and project management skills.

• Ability to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders and advocate for evidence-based policies.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required. 

• Interested and qualified candidates should submit their application letter, detailed CV, copies of relevant academic qualifications, and contact information for three professional references within one PDF folder on ethio jobs portal.

6. Evaluation and Selection

The selection process will be based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and ability to fulfill the responsibilities outlined in this ToR. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview and may be required to present on a relevant research topic.

7. Reporting and Supervision

The Senior Researchers will report to the Director of the Nutrition, Environmental Health, and Non-Communicable Disease Research Directorate at EPHI. Additionally, they will provide regular updates to the project coordinator and collaborate closely with international partners

How to Apply

Note  Interested applicants can register in Online through THIS LINK   send their CVs and relevant documents at the address given below within 10  days from the first appearance of the announcement

Remarks: Please attach copies of transcripts, academic degree, work experience  letters together with the application. If not attached the copies you may be not short listed.