Duties
Identifying opportunities for routine youth engagement and integration of youth preferences into programming and research;
Engaging key stakeholders, including adolescents and youth, in co-creating psychosocial and community-based interventions for adolescent mental health;
Undertaking relevant systematic reviews, realist reviews, and other preparatory research linked to ongoing and new intervention studies;
Planning, organising and facilitating research activities, including developing study procedures, protocols, and informed consent processes, compiling questionnaires and overseeing
translation and piloting of tools;
Overseeing and coordinating the set-up and implementation of research projects (in South Africa as well as other country sites) including formative stakeholder engagements, negotiating
entry into recruitment sites such as schools, and setting up referral pathways and links;
Coordinating and conducting training of data collection and intervention teams (virtually and in-person), piloting intervention and/or research processes;
Providing support and supervision to the data collection and/or intervention teams and overseeing the referral process of the participants who require psychosocial support;
Facilitating and participating in community engagement activities, such as serving as a liaison between the Institute and key stakeholders within the community and broader adolescent
mental health field (including, but not limited to, NGOs, schools, health care facilities, community forums or government entities);
Conducting academic administration activities such as the development and submission of ethics applications, grant applications and progress reports;
Helping to manage and conduct research activities across the Institute, including monitoring policy issues and trends that may impact or enhance the Institute's research;
Identifying opportunities for dissemination, community engagement, and social policy advocacy at community, district, and national level;
Contributing to research outputs such as publications, conference presentations and other knowledge products;
Engaging in development of new research projects, including proposal development, budgeting, methodology and measurement selection, and training research staff;
Engaging with research project partners in planning phases of new studies.
Job Requirements
A Master's degree in a relevant field of study, i.e., Psychology / Social Work / Social Policy and Management / Public Health / Global Health;
Registered as a PhD student in Public Health;
If applicable, registration with the relevant Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA), or SA Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP);
Demonstrated project management experience related to mental health, adolescence, trauma, working with refugees, substance use, and school- and/or community-based services for adolescents;
Demonstrated experience in engaging communities, including adolescents and youth, in co-designing and developing psychosocial interventions;
Previous experience in conducting reviews using systematic and realist review methodologies;
At least two years' experience overseeing and conducting rigorous field research, including using quantitative, qualitative and/or mixed methods, and collecting and analysing quantitative and/or qualitative data;
Practical work experience as a researcher in community-based research, with the ability to engage with various stakeholders such as school leadership, clinic and hospital teams, NGO
partners, community members and adolescent advisory boards. Proven experience and involvement in service to the community would be taken into account;
Relevant experience in conducting multi-country research, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa;
Experience in training and supervising research or intervention teams working with adolescent populations;
Effective communicator;
A valid driver's license;
Must be prepared to travel for extended periods.
Recommendation
Relevant experience in initiating and managing stakeholder relationships;
The ability to work independently and as part of a team;
Advanced writing and verbal presentation skills, particularly the ability to communicate technical research considerations in a non-technical manner;
A track record of presentations at international and regional conferences.
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