Vital Strategies Principal Technical Advisor - Research Jobs in South Africa

Vital Strategies Principal Technical Advisor - Research Jobs in South Africa ; The Principal Technical Advisor, Research, CODA, will lead and coordinate all research activities under the CODA project. This includes setting and managing the research agenda, ensuring technical and methodological rigor, producing high-quality knowledge products, and adhering to timelines.

The role reports to the Project Director, Consortium Lead, CODA, and works closely with consortium partners, Centers of Excellence, the Scientific Advisory Committee, and Technical Working Groups to ensure CODA research meets international standards, informs product development, and accelerates adoption at scale.

Responsibilities

Consortium Engagement & Representation:

Engage with the Scientific Advisory Committee and TWGs, ensuring updates on research progress and findings

Work closely with consortium partners, Centers of Excellence, and experiment country stakeholders on research issues

Research & Technical Leadership:

Lead development of CODA research agenda aligned with project goals and donor priorities

Lead site selection for experimentation phases

Coordinate direct-funded research at experiment sites, ensuring timeliness and quality

Develop study protocols including design, sampling, and analysis plans, securing IRB approval

Monitor consortium partners’ research agenda development and metrics

Provide technical insights to strengthen AI models for cause-of-death assignment

Manage project budget for experimental research

Support project implementation as needed

Contribute to progress monitoring and reporting

Ethics & Data Governance:

Lead development of ethical guidelines and standards for CODA research

Contribute to data governance and sharing agreements

Ensure adherence to ethical standards, IRB processes, and national regulations

Oversee data governance, privacy, and security protocols

Knowledge Generation & Management:

Promote feedback loops to ensure findings inform product development

Lead knowledge management efforts, including global stakeholder engagement

Develop communication materials summarizing research agenda and results

Coordinate publication strategy and supervise peer-reviewed outputs

Ensure manuscripts, findings, and de-identified data are disseminated publicly

Represent the project at conferences and expert panels

Capacity Strengthening:

Support Centers of Excellence in building regional research capacity

Lead stakeholder engagement for dissemination events, workshops, and donor presentations

Other:

Support consortium proposal development for follow-on funding

Participate in annual meetings and convenings

Lead TWGs as required

Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Education:

Minimum Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, public

policy, demography, or related field

Skills & Abilities:

Ability to set and drive a comprehensive research agenda

Strong analytical and methodological skills

Capacity to synthesize complex data into actionable insights

Leadership and coordination skills in multi-stakeholder projects

Expertise in mortality measurement, cause-of-death assignment, or health information systems

Knowledge of research design, statistical analysis, and implementation methods

Familiarity with ethical and regulatory frameworks in LMICs

Strong written and oral communication skills

Ability to facilitate collaboration across consortium partners

Comprehensive project management skills

Ability to navigate complex political environments

Near-native fluency in English; other languages an advantage

Experience with knowledge management and dissemination strategies

Ability to build impactful relationships across diverse backgrounds

Commitment to inclusive working and learning environments

Experience:

Minimum 15 years’ experience in health research, with leadership in multi-country projects

Proven experience leading complex, multi-partner research initiatives

Expertise in designing, managing, and executing rigorous research agendas

Strong technical knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methodologies

Ability to translate findings into actionable insights for policy and adoption

Experience in LMICs and projects with digitalization components

Prior experience with government ministries in public health

Experience with AI, digital health, or technology-driven interventions an advantage

Proven track record of peer-reviewed publications

Experience in team management and supervision

Experience with knowledge management and dissemination of research evidence

Working Conditions

Full-time role based in Johannesburg, South Africa, employment facilitated locally through Employer of Record

Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits

International travel up to 10% required

Flexibility to work across different time zones

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; Vital Strategies Principal Technical Advisor - Research Jobs in South Africa

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