Clinic and Assessment Research Assistants

HSRC

The study is a clinic based psychosocial mentoring and support intervention that attempts to improve the health and well-being of HIV positive mothers and their babies during pregnancy and the early post partum period in the Vulindlela area. Staff will be based at a research site in Sweetwaters, just outside Pietermaritzburg.
The successful candidates will coordinate and manage either the assessment or the clinic activities for the study and will report to either the Intervention Coordinator or Assessment Coordinator. The period of appointment will be 18 months.

Key responsibilities:

  • Ensuring that the clinic activities run efficiently and effectively by liaising/communicating with both clinic staff and research participants
  • Managing, supervising and supporting the intervention and assessment activities at the clinic (planning, scheduling etc.) and ensuring that all assessment equipment is prepared for appointments in order to achieve agreed outcomes
  • Coordinating and planning together with the research staff to ensure that the intervention and assessment procedures are completed at the scheduled time points
  • Quality assurance of intervention and assessment components
  • Maintaining documentation and records of intervention and assessment activities in the clinic
  • Maintaining good relationships with the clinic staff and participants
  • Coordination of consent and data collection for the clinic and ensuring data are correctly stored and uploaded using data technology provided
  • Undertaking assessment interviews and related activities with the research participants
  • Providing support to the Intervention and Assessment Coordinators
  • Assist in maintaining good relationships with the clinic staff and participants over the study time period.

Key requirements:

  • A degree or diploma in the social and human sciences or related fields
  • Experience in working in research settings
  • Certificate and prior knowledge and/or experience in HIV/AIDS or PMTCT counselling
  • Fluency in English and isiZulu
  • Computer literacy
  • Sound written and verbal communication skills
  • Good interpersonal, organisational, administrative and problem solving skills
  • The ability to work accurately, independently and in a team
  • Willingness to work over weekends when required, and in rural communities.

Successful candidates will be required to work a flexible 40-hour week. From time to time the incumbent may be required to work beyond these hours.
The HSRC offers attractive, market-related packages depending on qualifications, experience and recent performance, the annual cost-to-company package.

APPLICATIONS:
Please submit your CV, together with full contact details (name, full address, e-mail address and/or facsimile number) of three referees to Ms Hlengiwe Mtolo, Project Masihambisani, Human Sciences Research Council, Sweetwaters Road, Sweetwaters Bus Depot, Pietermaritzburg, 3201. Queries can be directed to her telephonically on (033) 324 1112 Fax (033) 324 1131 or email: hmtolo@hsrc.ac.za

Closing date: 7th March 2008.

We encourage applicants to submit prior to that date. Applicants who have not been contacted within eight weeks should assume that their application has been unsuccessful.

APPLICATIONS FROM RECRUITMENT AGENCIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED