Operational Research Activity Manager at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) - Switzerland

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) translates to ‘doctors without borders’. We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of professionals working in health and medical care, logistics, administration, communications, skilled trades – all bound together by our charter and serving people in need. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence, and neutrality. We are a non-profit, self-governed, member-based organisation.

MSF was founded in 1971 in Paris by a group of journalists and doctors. Today, we are a worldwide movement of over 69,000 people.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Operational Research Activity Manager

Location: Bauchi
Type of Contract: 06 Months Contract

Scope of Responsibilties and Accountabilties

• Defining, coordinating and monitoring the study activities, ensuring the implementation of the protocol and the quality of the study according to MSF protocols, standards and procedures in order to facilitate the effective field evaluation of the SmartPPE in Bauchi LTFC
• Supervising, according to the protocol, the Smart PPE study activity, ensuring that communication with staff, community and authorities are aligned with the objectives of the research and that the staff and patients participating in the research are properly informed. Reporting on the progress of data collection, on ongoing analysis of research or on any issue causing delay, in order to achieve epidemiological goals on time.
• Ensure the setup of the study, briefing of team, recruitment and training of participants.
• Ensure the safety of the participants in following donning and doffing protocols.
• Report any incidents immediately reported to the medical team and the PI
• Ensure the correct collection of all data and the cumulative totals related to suit, battery and filter usage, being sure to decommission articles when necessary
• Ensure the proper protocols for battery charging are undertaken
• Ensure the correct protocols for suit washing and drying are undertaken
• Ensure the correct protocols for testing are undertaken
• Ensure the user and patient questionnaires are consistently deployed
• Supervising data filing procedures, ensuring that all epidemiology software tools are properly used and are updated regularly, in order to ensure full data traceability and availability
• Participate in the hiring and training of the data collectors and laundry workers who will be the remaining members of the study team, and supervision of those staff in their roles during the study period, as per MSF policies and values
• Supervising, in close coordination with the Logistics Manager, that research equipment and materials are properly maintained and stock level is above minimum point in order to ensure availability and research activity continuity.

Technical and operational duties in the SPPE study:

• Daily organization and supervision of study activities
• Ensure safety of participants at all times and that donning and doffing and other safety procedures and followed at all times, reporting any issues with processes or equipment to the PI and medical team
• Supervision of the study team including two data collection officers, and 1 laundry worker
• Writing of regular reports on study progress and communication to the project, coordination, and HQ study team.

Responsible for data collection and monitoring of the study in the field, including:

• Ensuring adherence to study protocol, including informed consent procedures, and documentation of any deviations from the study protocol
• Supervision of data collection and archiving
• Verify quality of the data collected and implement the necessary improvements (regular review of the data), verify that the consent procedure of the participants is well implemented.
• Ensure daily the cumulative totals for data on filters, suits and batteries to ensure each item is followed and removed from use at the correct point
• Report problems and suggestions for adaptations to the Principal Investigator
• Ensure the data collection tools are adequate and request for adaptation if necessary.

Ensure good collaboration and communication with all partners:

• Organize and participate in study team meetings as needed
• Provide regular updates on study progress to MSF hospital team, MSF OCG project and coordination and HQ teams
• Ensure good collaboration with all partners in Bauchi.

In collaboration with the Principal Investigator and the project Administrator:

• Follow the administrative requirements of the study team,
• Participate in recruitment of daily workers as needed

In collaboration with the PI and project and mission Logistics and medical teams:

• Manage and monitor the inventory of study materials (laboratory, electronic, paper) and ensure it is in good working order, report any problems to study Principle Investigator
• Oversee the collection of filters once at end of life and ensure their efficient and safe delivery to Geneva for lab testing.
• At the end of the study ensure all data collected is safely returned to Geneva
• Participate in the analysis and review of the data in collaboration under the guidance of the PIs and epidemiology team to prepare for publication

Minimum Requirements
Education:

• Degree in any of the following fields: Nursing, Para-medical, Water and Sanitation or Research profile.
• Desirable experience or training in VHF settings.
• Desirable degree (or Master`s) in Epidemiology or Public Health with extensive training in statistics and epidemiology.

Experience:

• At least two years of professional experience in related functions
• Experience in setting up research, or clinical, observational or epidemiological studies preferred.
• Previous experience with MSF preferred.
• Team management skills required and ability to work well in a team environment.
• Previous experience communicating with other research partners (WHO, UNICEF, Ministries, INRB, ...) a plus.

Languages:

• English is essential
• Hausa is desirable.

Knowledge.

• Essential computer literacy (word, excel, internet)
• Competence in data management analysis software (Excel, Redcap, ODK, Kobo, etc.) necessary, experience in statistical software (STATA, R) a plus.

Competencies:

• People Management and Development
• Commitment to MSF Principles
• Behavioural Flexibility
• Results and Quality Orientation
• Teamwork and Cooperation.

Application Closing Date
11th May, 2026; at 15h00.