Programme Specialist - International AIDS Vaccine Initiative New Delhi (Apply by: Open)

1. POSITION VACANT:  Programme Specialist, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), New Delhi

2. ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:

The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) is a global, not-for-profit, public-private product development partnership organization, whose mission is to ensure the development of safe, effective and accessible preventive HIV vaccines, for use throughout the world.  Over the last 15 years, IAVI has been instrumental in building bridges between diverse sectors, creating a unique end-to-end network of global partnerships with stakeholders in 25 countries that ensures participation across regions and domains to accelerate HIV vaccine design and development, and availability and utilization by those who need it most.

IAVI in India is focused on facilitating unique partnerships and inter-disciplinary collaborations with key stakeholders nationally and globally towards accelerating the design and development of affordable and accessible HIV vaccines and other biomedical tools of prevention, to help address diseases of public health interest in India and globally. These partnerships nurture emerging science, support capacity and capability building through trainings, information exchange and technology transfer, and assist in strengthening implementation science capacity, to aid in alleviating the health-burden created by these diseases.

For more information about International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), please visit https://www.iavi.org/

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the Senior Associate Director, Vaccine R&D, the Programme Specialist shall support the strategic development, planning, management and implementation of IAVI’s clinical research activities in India. S/he will facilitate the establishment of collaborative national and regional programs focused on engaging with communities most at risk of HIV infection to aid in design and development of novel tools of HIV treatment and prevention.  In this capacity s/he will extend or facilitate relevant support to clinical research centers and other stakeholders in conduct of social and behavioral research activities; conduct of research preparedness activities, including training, establishment of good practices and technology transfer; and policy advocacy initiatives. The position holder shall engage in representing interactions with existing and new partners of IAVI including governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, research institutions and community groups in India and Africa, as relevant for various programmatic requirements.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the design and implementation of a strategic portfolio of innovative community engagement projects. The role offers global exposure with a unique opportunity to participate in various programs of national significance.

Key Job Responsibilities:

(1) Providing expertise in epidemiology, socio-behavioral research and engagement with community for devising and executing strategic plans for identifying, engaging and retaining high-risk populations (for HIV) towards formation of cohorts and biorepositories;
(2) Enabling harmonization of common research tools and global guidelines for cohort and bio-bank formation through cross-learning and technology transfer;
(3) Providing technical and operational knowledge in community-based research programs to enable conduct of joint population-based intervention studies, including clinical trials and operational research studies of biomedical tools of prevention for HIV; 
(4) Facilitating interaction with existing and new partners of IAVI, including various partner clinical research centres (nationally and globally), and ensuring inter-sectoral coordination between various government departments for collaborative research activities to facilitate program implementation, coordination, management and governance; 
(5) Facilitating training, establishment of good practices and technology transfer, while ensuring regulatory/compliance requirements, bioethics, good participatory practices and techniques for program/project implementation; 
(6) Supporting the achievement of program targets and managing resource requirements in a cost-efficient manner for large or significant projects.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:          

Qualification: 
Applicants must be Ph.D. (or Masters) in Epidemiology (or related Public Health stream), or MD (Community Medicine) from a top institution.

Experience: 
(1) Applicants must have minimum 1-3 years of experience in conducting epidemiology and socio-behavioral research through engagement with community for formation of specific population cohorts aiding in research and development of biomedical tools and disease management strategies (preferably for HIV); Freshers with good knowledge of epidemiology and socio-behavioral research through engagement with the community shall also be considered;
(2) Experience in planning and managing public health programs is preferred;
(3) Knowledge in biostatistics, health care planning, surveillance systems, and public health improvement may be an added benefit.

Skills and Competencies: 
(1) Ability to effectively communicate expectations, aligning and energizing cross-functional teams;
(2) Maturity and poise to interact with senior leadership and both internal and external stakeholders;
(3) Strong negotiation skills for advancing and cultivating meaningful and impactful collaborations;
(4) Enjoys working both independently and collaboratively, in a small collegial team environment, with honesty, integrity, and intellectual curiosity;
(5) Self-starter with the ability to deliver under pressure, and meet deadlines effectively.

5. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

Gross compensation for the position shall be attractive. Offers to selected candidates shall be commensurate with qualifications, experience and salary history.

6. LOCATION: New Delhi

7. REFERENCE: PS-IAVI

8. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Senior Consultant
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar 
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phone Nos.: 011- 2684 2162; 4165 3612 
Email: ps-iavi@sams.co.in

10. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested to apply to ps-iavi@sams.co.in submitting a cover letter highlighting their motivation to apply and suitability for the position, along with an updated resume including names and contact details of at least three referees, current cost to organization and expected compensation, at the earliest.

Interviews with promising candidates shall commence immediately.

IAVI is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from diversity candidates.