Country: United States of America
Closing date: 13 Sep 2015
Hours: Full-time multi-year appointment
Location: Bethesda, Maryland (HQ)
Salary: Commensurate with required experience and qualifications
University Research Co., LLC (URC)
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/).
Division & Project Overview:
Background on the USAID Health Care Improvement Project:
This is one of URC’s global flagship projects funded by USAID and dedicated to improving health care in developing countries through the application of modern improvement science to delivery institutions, country Ministries of Health, USAID country missions, and cooperating agencies. The project is a global leader in the advocacy, development, and promotion of cost-effective methods to design and improve healthcare care and strengthen health systems in low and middle-income countries.
Roles and Responsibilities:
This is a key senior management position on the USAID ASSIST Project. The Director of Research & Evaluation is responsible for the research and evaluation portfolio that includes designing, developing, and overseeing the implementation of the research agenda of the USAID ASSIST Project and reports to the Director of the USAID, and manages and mentors the staff of the research and evaluation unit.
The purpose of the research and evaluation agenda is to move the frontier of knowledge on improving healthcare in lower and middle income countries. Most studies will build on opportunities within existing country programs and ongoing project activities. The research and evaluation agenda is broad and includes studying the effectiveness of Quality Improvement interventions, evaluating traditional and state-of-the art QI methods. It also includes service provider self-assessment at the community level for feasibility, variation, acceptance, and impact on performance, and on the impact of job aids for counseling on maternal and newborn care, HIV/AIDS, other diseases. Research topics include health workforce development, orphans and vulnerable children, Spread and institutionalization of quality improvement, and others. Research studies and evaluations may also be conducted on training strategies in areas such as patient monitoring, ART patient management in-service training, infant feeding counseling programs including job aids and supervisor orientation, evaluation of technical training in collaboration with nursing and medical schools and universities, and on computer-based training for TB prevention and treatment.
The Research & Evaluation agenda aims to provide knowledge on the effectiveness of improvement methods for policy makers and program implementers as they seek to strengthen health systems globally for improved outcomes for the patients we are trying to serve. R&E will develop and carry out specific strategies to monitor, evaluate and inform best practices for institutionalizing improvement that reflects local needs and available resources. Key indicators will be developed and tested in the field focused on compliance with clinical norms, competence and performance of providers and studies to examine the contribution of improvement strategies on overall performance, including the complex roles of policy, engagement, and cost sustainability.
The role of Director of Research and Evaluation includes developing and reviewing consultant and partner scopes of work, work authorizations and budgets. It involves managing relationships with partner organizations including universities and individual and company contractors as well as ensuring the work done as part of the Research and Evaluation portfolio is in compliance with USAID regulations.
The Director of Research and Evaluation is also expected to contribute to business development which includes managing, writing and reviewing proposals.
Desired Qualifications:
· A Doctoral degree in operations/applied research, public health, medicine, management, or social science
· Ten years of relevant public health research and evaluation experience working in developing countries and the US on aspects of improving health service delivery related to primary health care
· Five years of successful management experience with R&E program activities for international clients, and presenting outcome results to international audiences
· Excellent training in and experience with a variety of research and M&E techniques – applying both quantitative and qualitative research skills
· Knowledge of or willingness to learn Quality Improvement Science and methods
· Fluency in a second language (e.g., French or Spanish) in addition to English
· Excellent verbal, interpersonal, and written communication skills
· Demonstrated leadership skills in guiding and mentoring research staff and the ability to motivate staff, resolve conflicts, achieve consensus, and promote positive working environment
· Demonstrated ability to build networks and forge partnerships
· Familiarity with USAID contracts, rules and compliance regulations
· Strong time management and organizational skills
· Track record of being able to produce contract deliverables in a timely manner, and flexible enough to adapt to changing work priorities
· Ability and willingness to travel internationally about 25-30% of the time to developing and transitioning
Please note: Only candidates who are eligible to work in the United States for an indefinite period without a need for sponsorship will be considered for this position.
How 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.
URC is an E-Verify Employer
URC is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
We value and seek diversity in our workforce.
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