University Research Vacancies 2018

URC is a global company dedicated to improving the quality of health care, social services, and health education worldwide. With a non-profit affiliate, the Center for Human Services (CHS), URC manages projects in over 45 countries, including the United States.

Established in 1965, URC offers a range of technical assistance to strengthen health and social systems and service quality by empowering communities and health workers to identify and scale up locally appropriate solutions to critical problems. Internationally, we expand access to and improve the quality of services addressing maternal, newborn, and child health; infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria; reproductive health and family planning; food and nutrition; and vulnerable children and families. In the US, we focus on improving communication related to issues like substance abuse, with a particular focus on reaching underserved populations.

URC’s mission is to provide innovative, evidence-based solutions to health and social challenges worldwide. Please join us in carrying out our mission (http://www.urc-chs.com/).

Job Description

Job Title: Data Collector of Sick Newborn Care Study in Ghana

Division & Project Overview:

The USAID Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project is a global project dedicated to improving health, population and nutrition services through technical support to service delivery institutions, country Ministries of Health, USAID country missions, and cooperating agencies. The new project carries on the work of the USAID Health Care Improvement Project (http://www.hciproject.org) in global advocacy, development, and promotion of cost-effective methods to design and improve health care services and systems in low- and middle-income countries.

The ASSIST Project is managed by URC’s Quality and Performance Institute (QPI). Through QPI, URC has implemented quality improvement and operations research programs in health care since 1981 and continues to be at the cutting edge of health care improvement work in countries around the world.

ASSIST Project was tasked to conduct Sick Newborn and Young Infant Inpatient Care situational analysis in Ghana. This is the part of USAID-led global initiative to understand the status of sick newborn care and inform future programming. For this purpose, a global team of partners (USAID, UNICEF, WHO, and implementing partners, including ASSIST) have developed a common protocol and set of tools to assess inpatient newborn care in 10-15 facilities in each of 10 or more countries that are interested in understanding the state of sick newborn care. The objectives of the assessment is to: (i) to describe the national environment for service implementation and ensuring quality of inpatient care for newborns and young infants (0-59 months); (ii) to describe facility-level readiness to provide inpatient care for newborns and young infants; (iii) to describe issues related to quality of care for the newborn and young infant; and (iv) to elicit program insights from program managers and implementers for inpatient care of these infants. The activity will be implemented during November 2017- March 2018 in Ghana in 3 regions and 10 facilities.

Scope of Work:

Participate in data collection training
Collect data on sick inpatient newborn care in 10 facilities of Ghana through inventory review, interviews with key stakeholders, including facility in charge, care providers, parents and review of medical records of the sick newborns and young infants in selected facilities;
Complete data collection tools fully and accurately, based on the study protocol and pass numbered tools to the principal investigator of the study every day, after the fieldwork
Ensure compliance with ethics requirements and data quality procedures according to the study protocol
Provide any clarification to supervisor and/or to data entry personnel on collected information, as required during and after the study
Any other assigned activities to complete data collection in selected facilities
Length and cost of the consultancy:
Services provided within the consultancy will be up to 16 days.

Required Experience & Qualifications:

Minimum 3 years of clinical experience with newborn care services, including at inpatient level
Medical Officer, Midwife, Nurse or other relevant specialist with minimum 2 years of inpatient newborn care experiences is preferable
Experience of participating in similar studies, including data collection at health facility level
Should be familiar with sick newborn care service settings
Excellent written and communication skills (English and most commonly used local language)
Ability to understand and speak local language (s) at Greater Accra, Brong Ahafo and Upper West regions of Ghana would be an added advantage.
Must be available to travel during the data collection.
To Apply:
For immediate consideration, please visit URC’s Career Opportunities page at www.urc-chs.com/careers.

You must upload your CV/Résumé and your Cover Letter where indicated. Also, please complete your application form and attach a completed USAID Form 1420 Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet as well.

Due to the large number of inquiries we receive, only candidates who have met the required experience & qualifications for this position will be contacted. No phone calls please. However, since we are active around the world in the field of public health, we may wish to retain your CV in our database for other/future opportunities, unless you direct us otherwise. Thank you very much for your interest.