Zambart is an independent Zambian research organization whose headquarters is at Ridgeway Campus in Lusaka. Zambart is globally renowned for its interdisciplinary research on HIV and Tuberculosis, and has contributed to HIV and TB policy and practice at national and global levels. Zambart’s research portfolio now includes a broader scope of urgent public health issues.

Building on a long history of conducting health-related stigma research and interventions, Zambart is leading a three-year multi-country project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The ‘Total Facility Approach: Assessing the Impact on Stigma and HIV Outcomes’ project aims to expand a Total Facility Approach (TFA) to reduce HIV stigma and discrimination in health facilities for all health staff and clients accessing HIV prevention, treatment and care services.

The TFA project has three components: 1) implementing and evaluating the impact of the TFA in two Zambian hospitals; 2) developing and evaluating a HIV stigma and discrimination reduction training curricula for nurses and continuing medical education approaches for all health cadres; 3) preparing for integrating the expanded TFA. The project partners in Zambia include Macha Research Trust, and the project will work very closely with a broad range of HIV stakeholders including the Ministry of Health. The project is also being carried out with partners in Ghana and Tanzania, with technical assistance from Research Triangle Institute (RTI) in the US.

At the start of this exciting project, we are looking to immediately fill the position following position:

Position: Stigma TFA Project Coordinator

Reporting To: Principal Investigator

Job Location: Choma

Duration: Two and half (2.5) year contract, start date March 2024

The TFA project coordinator will work closely with the multi-country project principal investigator who is based at Zambart and will primarily have responsibility for Zambian project activities as well as providing support to multi-country tasks. This position is ideal for an early to mid-career researcher who is clearly committed to implementation science, HIV and stigma. Candidates should either be clinically qualified with research, HIV and stigma experience and at least a relevant Master’s degree OR post-doctorate social scientists with mixed methods research, HIV and stigma experience.  The post will be based in Choma, with some extended visits to Zambart Head Office in Lusaka.

Roles and Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Support adjusting and expanding the TFA intervention for Zambia, working closely with master stigma trainers and developers of the TFA
• Technical support to the monitoring and evaluation protocol to evaluate the impact of the expanded TFA, and responsibility for quality implementation of monitoring and evaluation activities.
• Support the development of the pre-service nursing curricula, working closely with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia
• Support the development of the continuing medical education for all health cadres linked to the expanded TFA
• Respectful coordination with key partners including the Ministry of Health and two participating hospitals and the project advisory board
• Active engagement with relevant Zambian stakeholders at all levels (community, district, provincial, national) and with people living with HIV
• Establish a project office in Choma working with a project district administrator (currently being recruited)
• Recruitment of the site office project team
• Line management of the site office project team (numbering +/- five staff), including monitoring progress and performance
• Support to project budget and administration management
• Support to project communication strategy and disseminations
• Provide written progress reports of project activities to the Principal Investigator
• Maintain project oversight, ensuring all regulatory standards are adhered to and run in accordance with established guidelines
• Lead role in analysis and publications linked to the project deliverables
• Representation of the project at national and global events
• Flexibility to undertake any other tasks required

Qualifications and experience

• Clinician registered with Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) and holding a relevant Master’s degree OR a post-doctorate mixed-methods social scientist
• A minimum of 5 years post undergraduate qualification
• Demonstrable project management and coordination experience
• Proven commitment to quality HIV service delivery within the routine national health systems and/or research settings
• Proven commitment to reducing HIV stigma and discrimination.
• Ability to work independently as well as manage and lead a successful team.
• Proven-people management and interpersonal skills including being comfortable with working with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Excellent and proven written English language skills
• Strong computer skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office programmes (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), quantitative and qualitative software programmes.