Senior Program Researcher

Title: Senior Program Researcher

Reporting to: Country Director, Mexico

Location: Mexico city, Mexico

Assignment Length: Two years, renewable by mutual consent and availability of funding.

Job description

The Senior Program Researcher will serve as a senior member of the Council’s multi-disciplinary team for Mexico. Reporting directly to the Country Director for Mexico, s/he will be responsible for the design, implementation, and management of research and activities in the Council program areas of Reproductive Health (RH), Poverty, Gender and Youth (PGY), and HIV/AIDS. The Senior Program Researcher will focus on efforts to expand access to safe and legal abortion, and to improve the health and well-being of adolescents. S/he will also engage in issues including expanding access to new and improved contraceptives, improving maternal health, prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Research efforts will address the sexual and reproductive health needs of vulnerable and hard-to-reach people, including indigenous populations. The Senior Program Researcher will primarily support Council activities in Mexico, engaging in research in other Latin American countries based on needs and opportunities.

Our ideal candidate is an experienced researcher with excellent program development, methodological, implementation, and communication skills. S/he will collaborate on existing grants as well as support the development of proposals for new funding and programming to build the Population Council’s portfolio in the region. The selected candidate will be based at the Council’s Mexico City office, and will be required to travel at approximately 20% time for program monitoring in Mexico and the region.

Candidates must be currently eligible to work in Mexico with Mexican nationals strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

1. In collaboration with the Council Country Director and research team, design, implement, monitor, and evaluate the Council portfolio of sexual and reproductive health research projects and activities in Mexico.

2. Supervise and provide technical guidance to Council program officers and local counterparts in Mexico for the development of research protocols, training materials, and data collection instruments.

3. Work closely with research and program partners in the field to develop research capacity, and to plan and implement research training, as well as support data collection and analysis.

4. Contribute to the compilation, synthesis, and documentation of research results. Provide intellectual leadership in communicating evidence for utilization and policy change at country, regional, and global levels through presentations, reports, and publications in high impact peer reviewed journals.

5. Ensure compliance with Council and donor requirements, including in-country and Council Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals and adherence to technical and financial reporting requirements.

6. Conceptualize and write proposals for new funding to address emerging and cross-cutting sexual and reproductive health issues in Mexico and the Latin America region. Participate in other development activities, including prospect research and new donor outreach.

7. Maintain and strengthen relationships with critical stakeholders, including donors, partner organizations, and public and private sector institutions.

8. Ensure proper and efficient financial and administrative management of research and activities in Mexico, including adherence to work plans and budgets, working closely with the Mexico Office Manager.

9. Provide senior support to the Country Director to ensure smooth and efficient operation of the Mexico office and staff. Take on an increasing role in leadership and management responsibilities.

10. Collaborate across the Council’s Reproductive Health, Poverty, Gender and Youth, and HIV/AIDS programs, engaging in other activities and providing South-to-South technical assistance to contribute to global improvement in sexual and reproductive health.

Qualifications

1. PhD in public health, social science, or a related field, with at least six years of relevant research experience. MAs with ten years’ experience will be considered.

2. Demonstrated expertise in the successful conceptualization, implementation, and management of sexual and reproductive health research, including quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and program monitoring and evaluation.

3. Excellent leadership skills, including proven ability to lead and manage research projects and teams.

4. Proven ability to work with government and local partners to influence program and policy change and develop capacity for the conduct and use of research.

5. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both Spanish and English, with ability to write protocols and reports, publish papers, and make persuasive presentations.

6. Demonstrated success in fund raising for social and behavioral research, including proposal writing.

7. Excellent diplomatic, representational, and interpersonal skills. Professionalism and maturity to work successfully in cross cultural settings and as part of a team.

The Population Council is an international, nonprofit, nongovernmental institution that seeks to improve the well-being and reproductive health of current and future generations around the world and to help achieve a humane, equitable, and sustainable balance between people and resources. The Council conducts biomedical, social science, and public health research and helps build research capacities in developing countries. Established in 1952, the Council is governed by an international board of trustees. Its New York headquarters supports a global network of regional and country offices. We are seeking an individual to fill the position described. If you know of a qualified candidate or are interested in applying for this position, please send resume and cover letter Senior Program Researcher, Mexico to the attention of:

Ms. Valeria Araico, Admin and HR Manager, Population Council, Mexico, e-mail: varaico@popcouncil.org.

The Population Council provides equal opportunity; it does not discriminate against any person with regard to age, color, creed, national origin, disability, political belief, veteran status, religion, marital status, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Decisions on employment are based on an individual’s qualifications as related to the position for which s/he is being considered. The Council has an affirmative action plan and especially encourages applications from qualified women and members of minority groups. The Population Council is international in the composition of its board of trustees and its staff, as well as in the nature and deployment of its activities.