Job Opportunity: Research Assistant in Bamenda

Job Reference:  RA001/CRENC-IeDEA/10-2024
Location: Bamenda – Cameroon
Salary: Competitive
Terms: Full Time
Closing Date: 31^st October 2024
Expected start date: 15^th November 2024

Liaises With: Research officer, Site Supervisors, Director of Research, and CRENC IeDEA Central Coordination team.

About CRENC and IeDEA Study

Clinical Research Education, Networking and Consultancy (CRENC) is a Cameroon-based research foundation with a commitment to clinical research excellence through the quest for novelty and collaboration (www.crenc.org ). Its mission is to improve individual and community health though evidence-based interventions. CRENC implements several research projects including the International Epidemiology Database to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) study, which is the targeted project for this call.

Purpose of job

The Research Assistant (RA) will play a key role in supporting the successful execution of the IeDEA study and contribute to CRENC’s broader research initiatives. This position offers an opportunity for professional growth through practical, hands-on learning while working in a collaborative research environment. The RA will be responsible for ensuring high-quality data collection, management, and adherence to study protocols. This role aligns with CRENC’s mission of fostering health research and capacity building in Cameroon, and the RA will gain valuable experience in clinical research and public health, contributing to impactful research outcomes.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

The Research Assistant will be involved in a wide range of activities to ensure quality assurance and control in the entire data collection process for patients enrolled in HIV care in the study clinic. This is in accordance with CRENC’s core principles and values and in rigorous compliance with the IeDEA-approved protocol. Specifically, the RA will carry out the following task on day-to-day basis:

• Patient reception
• Administration and archiving of consent and assent.
• Conduct structured patient interviews.
• Clinical data abstraction from patients’ medical records.
• Data entry into the project electronic database.
• Submit weekly activity reports to the IeDEA site Research Officer.
• Participate in scientific writing, IeDEA coordination meetings, and attend national and international IeDEA meetings as required.
• Prepare and make presentations during research training meetings.
• Assist the Research Officer in any ethics or data management related activities.
• Collaborate with the research team to maintain data accuracy and protocol adherence.
• Perform such other duties related to data quality assurance and control as required by CRENC under the supervision of the Data Manager and the Director of Research.

Competencies

• Communication: Demonstrates clear and effective oral and written communication skills, essential for interacting with patients, team members, and supervisors. Actively listens and seeks clarification when needed, ensuring accurate data collection and reporting. Adjusts language, tone, and style to suit diverse audiences, maintaining openness and transparency in all communication.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with the research team and clinic staff to meet organizational and study-specific goals. Values input from colleagues, readily shares information, and actively participates in team discussions. Supports collective decisions, acknowledges team achievements, and accepts responsibility for shared challenges.
• Planning and organizing: Establishes clear, actionable goals aligned with project timelines and study protocols. Manages tasks efficiently, prioritizing activities to meet deadlines. Proactively anticipates potential challenges in data collection and reporting, adjusting plans when necessary while ensuring adherence to study protocols and quality standards.

Education

• A Master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, or any other health-related field is required.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Nursing will be considered an asset and is highly advantageous..

Work Experience

Prior experience working on health research projects is required. Specific experience in HIV-related research or clinical trials will be considered an advantage.

Languages

Fluency in both oral and written English is mandatory. Proficiency in French is an advantage.

Assessment

• The selection process will involve a review of CVs and motivation letters. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a competency-based interview.
• Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

CRENC Considerations

CRENC places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its head office and projects sites. CRENC is a non-smoking environment.

No Fee

CRENC does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing, or training). Additionally, candidates are advised that CRENC will never request bank account details during recruitment.

How to Apply: 

To apply for this position, please complete the application form by filling in your details and submitting the required documents through the following link: Apply Here.

Ensure that your CV is no more than 3 pages and that your motivation letter is either included in the form or uploaded as a PDF. All files should be named using your full name (e.g., FirstName_LastName_CV.pdf or FirstName_LastName_MotivationLetter.pdf).

The deadline for submission is 31st October 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.